Moray unions says £15m council cuts are avoidable

Moray Council can avoid budget cuts if the Scottish Government uses its full devolved taxation powers, according to local trades unions.

The council is currently debating how it can save £15million over the next two years.

However it's being claimed these cuts could be avoided if the Scottish Government enacts the recommendations of a new report compiled by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC)

‘Raising taxes to deliver for Scotland’, which has been issued in advance of Tuesday's budget, details how the government could raise an additional £3.7billion to pay for public services.

The STUC proposes creating a new income tax band between the current higher rate and top rate thresholds (i.e. between £75,000 and £125,000).

It also wants to scrap council tax in favour of a Proportional Property Tax using up-to-date values for homes.

Moray Council has recently been consulting the public to determine how best to make the £15million of cuts it forecasts as necessary to balance its books.

The most recent phase of the consultation closed on November 22 and detailed around £500,000 of budget cuts for 2024/5.

These include getting rid of the mobile library service, reducing support for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, and cutting the number of hours that Moray's recycling centres are open.

Substantial further reductions would be required for the council to reach the £15million figure.

Moray TUC spokesperson David Blair said: "We've heard from members that Moray council, schools, the fire service, UHI Moray and NHS Grampian are all facing severe budget pressures.

"All of us rely on these services whether directly or indirectly, and we need action at all levels of government to protect them.

"The UK Chancellor’s Autumn Statement did not deliver the changes we need to protect public services here in Moray. It's therefore now up to the Scottish Finance Secretary to show she can do better using the taxation powers of the Scottish Parliament.

"The latest research by the STUC provides clear examples of how the Scottish Government can protect public services and make the tax system fairer at the same time."

Moray TUC has also issued an open letter to Shona Robison, the Scottish Finance Secretary calling for urgent progressive tax reform to protect public services.

This has been co-signed by the Moray Labour council group, Moray’s Green councillor and Moray Lib Dems.

Progressive taxation is the technical term used for a system whereby the wealthiest people pay proportionally more.

The other signatories are Sandy Keith (Labour, Elgin North), John Divers (Labour, Elgin South), Ben Williams (Labour, Fochabers-Lhanbryde) Draeyk van der Horn (Forres, Scottish Greens,) and Neil Alexander the Moray Liberal Democrats convenor.