Report states challenges for Midlothian Council

23/01/17 GV of Midlothian House, the main office for Midlothian Council, Buccleuch Street, Dalkeith

The ‘Local government in Scotland: Challenges and performance 2019’ highlighted changes in core funding for Scotland’s 32 local authorities and highlighted that ring-fenced funding, such as for social care and education, now makes up 69 per cent of council net expenditure which has squeezed output on other services. It states: “As a result, as we have previously reported, councils have made larger reductions to services other than education and social work. These include economic development, waste management and planning services, which are still important for maintaining the health, safety and wellbeing of residents.”

The report’s analysis of core funding in Midlothian Council highlighted a 4.4 per cent reduction since 2013/14. The analysis also underlined that deprivation remains an issue for Midlothian and noted that its non-working age population has risen.

South Scotland List MSP, Michelle Ballantyne (Con)expressed her concerns with the report and highlighted that decreases in core funding impacts the provision of public services, she said: ““Despite being one of the fastest growing areas in Scotland, the SNP Government has cut core funding for Midlothian Council over the past five years.

“With our population growing, Midlothian needs more support from the Scottish Government to ensure that our public services are not hurt. Sadly, this has not been the case.

“This report underlines that core council funding has fallen by 4.4 per cent, which has had a significant impact on the provision of local public services.

“Ring-fenced funding for social care and education increasing is part of the issue, despite being ‘a priority’ of the Scottish Government, its allocated funding does not seem its public ambitions, leaving councils to pick up the pieces.”