The SNP proposed a “much fairer” five per cent council tax rise, with the increase eventually passed at seven per cent.
The North Lanarkshire SNP group have accused the Labour-run council of implementing an “unnecessarily high council tax rise” and “making cuts to vital areas” with the budget that was set by the local authority yesterday.
The SNP proposed a “much fairer” five per cent council tax rise, with the increase eventually passed at seven per cent.
In a statement on the group’s Facebook page, the SNP also highlighted how they had “proposed several measures which reflected what the public had asked of them, including funding for the condition of schools, community and leisure facilities, additional funding for road safety and maintenance, money towards CCTV and lighting in parks, and £1.2 million for a three year trial of lockable mobile phone pouches for schools”.
It went on to claim: “Yet despite there being a fully costed and competent budget that put the people of North Lanarkshire first, Labour, along with other councillors, except for two, chose to either vote for Labour’s budget or abstain.”
The local authorty’s 2026-2027 budget also sees residents set to benefit from a £10 million boost for community, culture and leisure facilities.
And the council agreed an additional £32 million in capital funding for its record five-year capital investment programme, which will be brought forward to consider schools, roads and community facilities.
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Commenting on the budget set, the SNP Group’s finance spokesperson, Councillor Denis Johnston, said: “What we found today from the Labour group was constant deflection, strawman arguments and intentional misinterpretation.
“The group clearly hoped they could distract the public from the fact that they are making cuts again to vital areas, such as education and community learning and development.
“It’s disappointing but not surprising that yet again they have proposed a budget that costs the tax payer more, and delivers less overall in comparison to our budgets which have set a lower council tax increase, whilst providing positive and much asked for measures that improve our local communities.”
Council leader Jim Logue said: “”While we are forced to increasing council tax, North Lanarkshire will continue to remain one of the lowest in Scotland.
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“We are already creating conditions to improve the lives of our residents, with record levels of business investment, creating jobs and training opportunities, real economic growth, quality housing, digital and transport networks and enhanced greenspaces.
“North Lanarkshire truly is becoming a place where people want to live, work, and invest—and we’re determined to keep that momentum going.”
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