Local Government funding needs to be protected to help the recovery from the pandemic and to tackle climate change, according to Glasgow’s City Treasurer.

As Kate Forbes, Scottish Finance Secretary, is set to deliver the Scottish Budget today, Richard Bell said councils like Glasgow are in the front line of the recovery.

Forbes will announce the cash allocations for the various departments with Local Government having seen its cash cut in recent years, leading to service reductions and job cuts.

Once the local government settlement is agreed Glasgow City Council will begin its budget process, including setting council tax, which will be finalised early next year.

Richard Bell, City Treasurer, said: “We hope that the Scottish budget will go the extra mile to protect local government.

Glasgow Times:

“We are the bulwark against so many of the challenges faced by citizens as a result of the policies of this hard-right Tory Government, providing frontline services to millions of people every year.

“We have seen throughout almost two years of the pandemic just how important local services are.

“We hope that our message to Government colleagues has been heard and is responded to.”

He said cash was needed to tackle climate change and to allow Glasgow to continue actions it has started.

He said: “Cities are where our planet will make real and substantial inroads on climate action over the next decade.

“We need the resource to accelerate the changes we need to make so we can deliver on transition, keep 1.5c on track and meet our 2030 Net Zero plans.”

Councillor Bell said he understood the pressure on the Scottish budget and that cuts from Westminster make the budget challenging.

He said: "This Scottish Government budget will be amongst the most challenging of the past decade. The basic fact is the Tories at Westminster haven’t delivered on their “levelling-up” promises with the funding required for Scotland’s needs.

"That’s the nature of the relationship within the UK and the fundamental one needing changed. But the outcome for the here and now is that difficult decisions will have to be made."

It is expected there will be protection for key areas that the Treasurer said will benefit services in Glasgow.

He said: "Within the settlement, we know however that the SNP will continue record spending in our health and social care services and double the Child Payment.

"This is welcome and will put much needed money into the pockets of families across the city who bear the brunt of Boris' Britain and he and his cronies’ ideological attacks on the poor."