The new Scottish Budget brings a real terms increase to councils in Scotland.

The £16.59m increase for South Lanarkshire Council comes into place in spite of Tory cuts. The increase represents an increase of 2.79% for day to day spending on essential public services.

The overall capital and revenue funding for South Lanarkshire Council rises to a total support figure of £610,417m.

The budget saw Finance Secretary Derek Mackay announce a total funding package amounting to £11.1 billion for local government. Despite a £2 billion reduction in real terms to Scotland’s block grant over the last decade, the 2019/20 budget provides local authorities with a real terms increase in overall funding of over £210 million.

Commenting, SNP MSP, Christina McKelvie, said:

“People across Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will welcome this significant investment in local services.

“Despite continued Tory cuts to Scotland’s resource budget, every local authority in Scotland has seen their funding increase in this year’s budget.

“These figures prove that the SNP government is committed to funding councils to deliver better schools, roads, housing and key services in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.