Conservatives claim Perth and Kinross Council faces "extremely challenging financial circumstances" due to funding cuts from the Scottish Government
dailyrecord.co.ukPerth and Kinross Conservatives have claimed essential council services are under pressure due to Scottish Government funding cuts.Conservative group leader Cllr John Duff is concerned about the "extremely challenging financial circumstances" facing Perth and Kinross Council in the face of increased ring-fencing of funds from the Scottish Government.But Local Government Empowerment Minister Joe FitzPatrick has dismissed the claims made by local Conservatives as untrue.In its annual report - published in May - Audit Scotland warned the pandemic had affected performance across all service areas in Scotland's councils.It said there were signs Scotland's adult social care sector is "in crisis" and warned housing and environmental services and culture and leisure were at risk.
Highland Perthshire councillor John Duff said: “Councils continue to face extremely challenging financial circumstances and the lack of adequate funding of local authorities by the Scottish Government over the last several years is a major factor.
Audit Scotland has acknowledged this issue and the consequences of the Scottish Government’s increasing ring-fencing of a large proportion of council budgets - almost 23 per cent, for their priorities.
Combined with demand and workforce pressures, council funding will reduce in real terms. "Audit Scotland’s 2023 overview of the Local Government situation reports that several areas of council services are declining as a result, with performance in adult social care, housing and homelessness, environmental services and culture and leisure services being most at risk.
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