Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 15 March 2012
15 Mar 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Local Government Finance (Scotland) Amendment Order 2012 [Draft]
The budget that the Scottish Government has delivered includes money for diversionary measures in our communities, enhanced community safety, a more efficient service that is moving towards the single police and fire service, and more than 1,000 more police officers on our streets. That compares very well with what is happening in England, for example, where there has been a reduction—not a growth—of 16,000 in the number of police officers on the streets. The Scottish National Party’s record on community safety and the police service is first class.
I am delighted to be able to inform members that all 32 local authority leaders have confirmed that their 2012-13 budgets contain the full provision to enable each of the commitments to be fulfilled. As a result of that confirmation, the order seeks approval for each local authority’s share of the £70 million that has been set aside to compensate councils for the council tax income that they have foregone as a result of their decision to freeze the council tax.
The decision to freeze the council tax and maintain police and teacher numbers will benefit every household in Scotland. There are many other examples of how local authority budget decisions will impact on various groups of people, including the allocation of money for tackling youth unemployment and poverty, as well as providing a living wage for local authority staff, and improving infrastructure in local areas. Councils are clearly focusing on contributing to economic recovery. Those steps are very welcome and will help to deliver better outcomes for people who are living and working in our communities across Scotland.
The Government’s commitment to continuing to support families in what is still a challenging financial environment is demonstrated by our on-going support for the council tax freeze. That support is vital, because it will ease the financial pressures that are being faced by households and communities, and it will stimulate our local economies, because household spending has the potential to provide a cost-effective stimulus as we work towards economic recovery. We have, of course, committed to working with local authorities to extend the council tax freeze over the lifetime of this parliamentary session. The agreement of all local authorities to extend the council tax freeze for 2012-13 means that our commitment will have saved households the length and breadth of Scotland more than £1 billion.
In England between 2008 and 2011, council tax increased by almost 9 per cent, whereas in Scotland it remained unchanged. In addition, an annual study by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy found that 43 per cent of homeowners in England will see a rise in their council tax bill next year. People in England appear to be having the worst of all worlds with deeper cuts in their council budgets and 45 per cent of all households facing higher council tax bills and other bills as a result of the United Kingdom Government’s policies. The average council tax bill for a band D property in England in 2011-12 was £1,439, which is more than £290 higher than it is in Scotland.
Since the main order was approved in February, there has been one further change in relation to the distribution of the £37.6 million for the teachers induction scheme. That funding has traditionally been held back until the number of probationary teachers who are allocated to each local authority is known, when it is distributed accordingly. Following a request from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, it has been agreed to distribute £10 million of that funding up front, and I confirm that that sum is included in the amendment order for approval. The remaining £27.6 million will be allocated later in the year.
I confirm that all 32 local authorities have now agreed to the 2013 targets of the business rates incentivisation scheme. That means that all local authorities will have the opportunity to directly benefit from maximising their existing business rate income and from growing their business tax base. Under the scheme, any council that exceeds its target will be able to retain half of the additional amount collected over and above the target figure. Equally, any council that does not reach its target will still be compensated by the Scottish Government up to the amount that is set out in the amendment order. The introduction of the business rates incentivisation scheme means, therefore, a winning, no-lose situation for councils and a potential gain for the Scottish Government and all the people of Scotland as a result of incentivising increased economic growth.
In summary, approval of the amendment order will authorise the distribution of a further £80 million to local government, to support the essential services that local authorities deliver to our communities. If all the councils had not accepted the offer, that would have undermined the constructive relationship that we have developed with our local authorities. However, they have accepted it and they have constructed their budgets in a way that contributes to the Government’s priorities, such as the preventative spend agenda.
To vote against the amendment order would be to go against the wishes of each and every local authority in Scotland and to deprive communities of £80 million of essential services, such as education, social work, police and fire services.
During questions on finance, employment and sustainable growth earlier today, James Kelly suggested that the cuts to local government were disproportionate, but they are not. I have researched the figure of 88 per cent cuts to local government. It is only possible to arrive at such a figure if £2.5 billion of Scottish Government contribution is excluded from local government spend. If James Kelly wants to ignore the £2.5 billion that is going towards local government, the figure of 88 per cent would be absolutely correct, but the £2.5 billion contribution exists in reality. It is part of a fair and decent settlement for local government. He need not take my word for it, because the president of COSLA has said that our financial deal for local government is the best possible deal under the circumstances.
On that note, I am happy to move,
That the Parliament agrees that the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Amendment Order 2012 [draft] be approved.
16:37
I am delighted to be able to inform members that all 32 local authority leaders have confirmed that their 2012-13 budgets contain the full provision to enable each of the commitments to be fulfilled. As a result of that confirmation, the order seeks approval for each local authority’s share of the £70 million that has been set aside to compensate councils for the council tax income that they have foregone as a result of their decision to freeze the council tax.
The decision to freeze the council tax and maintain police and teacher numbers will benefit every household in Scotland. There are many other examples of how local authority budget decisions will impact on various groups of people, including the allocation of money for tackling youth unemployment and poverty, as well as providing a living wage for local authority staff, and improving infrastructure in local areas. Councils are clearly focusing on contributing to economic recovery. Those steps are very welcome and will help to deliver better outcomes for people who are living and working in our communities across Scotland.
The Government’s commitment to continuing to support families in what is still a challenging financial environment is demonstrated by our on-going support for the council tax freeze. That support is vital, because it will ease the financial pressures that are being faced by households and communities, and it will stimulate our local economies, because household spending has the potential to provide a cost-effective stimulus as we work towards economic recovery. We have, of course, committed to working with local authorities to extend the council tax freeze over the lifetime of this parliamentary session. The agreement of all local authorities to extend the council tax freeze for 2012-13 means that our commitment will have saved households the length and breadth of Scotland more than £1 billion.
In England between 2008 and 2011, council tax increased by almost 9 per cent, whereas in Scotland it remained unchanged. In addition, an annual study by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy found that 43 per cent of homeowners in England will see a rise in their council tax bill next year. People in England appear to be having the worst of all worlds with deeper cuts in their council budgets and 45 per cent of all households facing higher council tax bills and other bills as a result of the United Kingdom Government’s policies. The average council tax bill for a band D property in England in 2011-12 was £1,439, which is more than £290 higher than it is in Scotland.
Since the main order was approved in February, there has been one further change in relation to the distribution of the £37.6 million for the teachers induction scheme. That funding has traditionally been held back until the number of probationary teachers who are allocated to each local authority is known, when it is distributed accordingly. Following a request from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, it has been agreed to distribute £10 million of that funding up front, and I confirm that that sum is included in the amendment order for approval. The remaining £27.6 million will be allocated later in the year.
I confirm that all 32 local authorities have now agreed to the 2013 targets of the business rates incentivisation scheme. That means that all local authorities will have the opportunity to directly benefit from maximising their existing business rate income and from growing their business tax base. Under the scheme, any council that exceeds its target will be able to retain half of the additional amount collected over and above the target figure. Equally, any council that does not reach its target will still be compensated by the Scottish Government up to the amount that is set out in the amendment order. The introduction of the business rates incentivisation scheme means, therefore, a winning, no-lose situation for councils and a potential gain for the Scottish Government and all the people of Scotland as a result of incentivising increased economic growth.
In summary, approval of the amendment order will authorise the distribution of a further £80 million to local government, to support the essential services that local authorities deliver to our communities. If all the councils had not accepted the offer, that would have undermined the constructive relationship that we have developed with our local authorities. However, they have accepted it and they have constructed their budgets in a way that contributes to the Government’s priorities, such as the preventative spend agenda.
To vote against the amendment order would be to go against the wishes of each and every local authority in Scotland and to deprive communities of £80 million of essential services, such as education, social work, police and fire services.
During questions on finance, employment and sustainable growth earlier today, James Kelly suggested that the cuts to local government were disproportionate, but they are not. I have researched the figure of 88 per cent cuts to local government. It is only possible to arrive at such a figure if £2.5 billion of Scottish Government contribution is excluded from local government spend. If James Kelly wants to ignore the £2.5 billion that is going towards local government, the figure of 88 per cent would be absolutely correct, but the £2.5 billion contribution exists in reality. It is part of a fair and decent settlement for local government. He need not take my word for it, because the president of COSLA has said that our financial deal for local government is the best possible deal under the circumstances.
On that note, I am happy to move,
That the Parliament agrees that the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Amendment Order 2012 [draft] be approved.
16:37
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-02336, in the name of Derek Mackay, on the draft Local Government Finance (Scotland) Amendment Order 2012...
The Minister for Local Government and Planning (Derek Mackay)
SNP
On 9 February, Parliament approved the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2012, which enables Scotland’s local authorities to set their revenue budget...
James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
I note that one of the commitments was about police officer numbers. Does the minister accept that although that commitment might have been delivered, as we ...
Derek Mackay
SNP
The budget that the Scottish Government has delivered includes money for diversionary measures in our communities, enhanced community safety, a more efficien...
James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
Let me make it clear from the outset that the Labour Party will support the amendment order at 5 o’clock. We have to accept that council leaders have been pu...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
James Kelly
Lab
Not for the moment.
Kevin Stewart
SNP
I did not think that he would.
James Kelly
Lab
I would be happy to take an intervention once I have developed my argument.I want to explain a few home truths about the settlement and the SNP’s attitude to...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will the member give way?
James Kelly
Lab
Not for the moment.The £70 million has not increased in the five years since the SNP came to power, so inflation has not been taken into account. Moreover, a...
Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
James Kelly
Lab
Let me finish this point. On the agreement on police officer numbers, the SNP is playing a numbers game in which, while the numbers are being maintained, the...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
I am very pleased that crime is at a 35-year low and that the streets of Dundee are the safest that they have been in decades.Mr Kelly referred to strings be...
James Kelly
Lab
In relation to the impact on front-line services, 89 per cent of the cuts in the current budget have been passed to local government: £658 million of the tot...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will Mr Kelly give way?
James Kelly
Lab
Let me finish my point.That point was reinforced only this morning in a report by the Accounts Commission, which drew attention to the fact that, based on th...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Mr Kelly, I cannot give you additional time for taking interventions.
Kevin Stewart
SNP
I thank Mr Kelly for giving away—rather, giving way and giving away nothing, come to think of it.Why have Labour leaders of councils across the country accep...
James Kelly
Lab
Mr Stewart must look at the practical effects of the SNP budget on the ground. We saw in statistics that were published only yesterday that there have been 6...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
Will the member give way?
James Kelly
Lab
I have already given way to Mr FitzPatrick.The reality of the budget cuts is that bus services are being cut and pensioners are not able to get out and reach...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Can we settle down, please?
James Kelly
Lab
They are getting a bit excited, Presiding Officer.We are moving towards the local elections campaign and the single-issue campaigners on the SNP benches will...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You need to wind up, Mr Kelly.
James Kelly
Lab
We look forward to the elections and to building hope and defending jobs and services.16:43
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
The Local Government Finance (Scotland) Amendment Order 2012 acts as an amending instrument to the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2012, which was ...
Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP)
SNP
The settlement is good news for Scotland’s local authorities. It completes the funding for the delivery of vital services that the people of Scotland deserve...
James Kelly
Lab
Does Mr FitzPatrick accept that his Government has doubled the cut from Westminster in the cut that it has passed on to local councils? I repeat that there a...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
No, I do not accept that—Mr Kelly is wrong. Just about every member of the Parliament agrees that health spending should be protected, although there is deba...