Glasgow City Council freeze council tax

Feb 3 2010 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

RESIDENTS of King’s Park, Croftfoot, Toryglen and Castlemilk will have their council tax frozen for a fifth successive year.

Councillors in Glasgow agreed a budget for education, as Glasgow City Council agreed to commit millions to improve school buildings; provide more books and equipment.

In the wake of the winter freeze, which has caused major damage to roads all over Scotland, members agreed to bankroll a blitz on potholes - trebling roads maintenance budgets to £12 million.

Some £8 million will be added to existing roads budgets – enough to reinstate an additional 10,000 potholes and reinstate 90 junctions.

Investment was also announced in 1000 new apprenticeships for school leavers – a place for every young person in Glasgow who qualifies.

An additional £6 million has been committed to improving the school estate and school supplies budgets will increase by and inflation-busting 10 per cent.

City Treasurer Bailie Gordon Matheson said: “This Administration is clear about its priorities, which it shares with the people of Glasgow - education and early years, skills and the economy, and targeted support of the vulnerable.

“We have built a budget that invests in those priorities; but we also have to live within our means and we have a £61million hole in our finances this year which we have filled.

“Our financial situation has been made a great deal worse by the settlement we received from the Scottish Executive which is not only the smallest in Scotland, but is by some way the worst settlement we have received since devolution, compared to all other local authorities.”

The authority set a zero rise in the Council Tax rate. The level for Band D properties in 2009/10 will remain at £1213, which is now unchanged since 2005.

The council will also reinstate an Air Route Development Fund and discussions are planned with operator BAA on how best Glasgow can support the critical economic role played by the airport, following the cancellation by ministers of a crucial rail link.

The budget proposals were approved at a meeting of the full council.