Cuts to Local Authority Budgets

That the Parliament condemns what it sees as the sustained and continued cuts to local authority budgets; understands that councils, including North Lanarkshire Council, are being forced to make cuts to services because of the Scottish Government reducing the local authority grant settlement every year; believes that, since the SNP came into power in 2007, North Lanarkshire Council has faced an overall £258 million reduction in its budget; considers that the subsequent cuts are having a catastrophic impact on communities and services; expresses its deep sadness at the prospect of losing amenities in North Lanarkshire, such as the Kilbowie Outdoor Centre, which it believes are as a direct result of these cuts; believes that the council would not be considering such action if it received a fair grant settlement from the Scottish Government, and calls on the Scottish Ministers to increase the grant settlement.