A leading opposition councillor in Aberdeen has argued a £50million funding shortfall could exacerbate “tensions” within the ruling administration in the city.
Liberal Democrat Ian Yuill was responding to a warning from council leader Jenny Laing of possible cuts to services to address the deficit over the next five years.
The Labour-Independent-Conservative coalition expects to pass its third “no cuts” budget in three years in February, but will have to find a way to plug a projected gap of £17million in 2016/17, rising to £30million in 2017/18, £40million in 2018/19 and £52million in 2019/20.
Lib Dem group leader Mr Yuill pointed to a dispute prior to Christmas between senior Labour members and Conservative Ross Thomson as evidence that relations between the partners may not be as smooth as hoped.
Mr Thomson accused his Labour colleagues of “trying to grab headlines” after the announcement of a summit to address challenges faced by the North Sea oil and gas industry.
Mr Yuill said: “That kind of tension within the administration might makes things more difficult.
“It is important that all councillors work together across the chamber. £50million of cuts is no joke – however that is achieved there are going to be difficulties.”
Mr Yuill, who was part of the previous Lib-Dem-SNP administration, said his party deserved credit for taking “difficult decisions” that have allowed for the books to be balanced in recent years.
He said: “Labour threw abuse at us for making those tough decisions, but in the last two years have not reversed any of the things they criticised us for.
“The challenge now for the Labour group is to see if they can make the necessary difficult decisions to balance the books in future years.”
Last night, Conservative group leader Mr Thomson said he “would take no lessons” from the Lib Dems. He added: “We don’t shirk away from tough decisions, unlike the Liberal Democrats.
“Trying to balance the budget is not easy, and there are challenges ahead, but we have been unified as an admins.”
Labour finance convener Willie Young added: “We entered into a five year agreement with the Conservatives and Independents and we expect to see that through. Maybe Ian Yuill is basing his assertions on what the tensions were like between the SNP and Lib Dems. Labour left £24million in reserves when they took power, and the Lib Dems spent that and presided over £127million of cuts.”