Moray SNP News

'48 HOURS TO STOP MORAY EDUCATION CUTS'

SNP Councillors say it is not too late for the region’s Tory/Independent Councillors to rethink budget plans that would see savage cuts to key education services, despite more than 4 million pounds of unexpected income from the Scottish Government.

Alternative proposals from the SNP protect a range of education services that support vulnerable young people such as Home School Link Workers, as well as keeping school librarians, school technicians and Visiting Specialists.

SNP Councillors will also vote to protect funding for Moray Citizens Advice Bureau, to help ensure that the most vulnerable people in Moray can continue to receive vital advice and support on welfare issues, debt management and much more besides.

Other SNP proposals include income generation proposals for the Council and a commitment to pursue shared services and management restructuring to protect frontline service delivery.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Moray Council budget debate SNP Opposition Co-Leader Cllr Graham Leadbitter said:

“We have 48 hours to stop Moray education cuts. The SNP have proposed a balanced alternative budget that would halt the savage education cuts being proposed by the Tory/Independent Council Administration.

“With 4 million pounds more available to the Council than was anticipated this is an opportunity to protect education services and still set a balanced budget.

“There is still a lack of strategy from the Council’s Administration and they have simply adopted a policy of slash and burn.

“I would urge people in Moray to use the next 48 hours to challenge the Tory and Independent Administration in Moray to rethink their budget and stop the savage education cuts they are proposing.”

Moray’s MSP Richard Lochhead said:

“It is unjustifiable that the Tories and Independents in power in Moray Council are not prepared to use the millions more than predicted level of funding to protect education. If these cuts to services, which support some of our most vulnerable young folk, go ahead, then the cost to Moray and to Moray Council further down the line will be much, much higher.

“In 48 hours the Council will have the chance to vote for an SNP budget proposal that protects education or a budget from the Tory and Independent Administration that is short-sighted and damaging to Moray.

“I am urging people to make their voices heard to the Council’s Administration and I am urging the Council’s Administration to listen and act on those concerns.”