The Scottish Government has been accused of “punishing” local authorities amid the “continuing uncertainty” around their budgets.
Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing has said Holyrood needs to take urgent action to help alleviate the strain on local authorities.
Writing in today’s Press and Journal, she claimed ministers have ignored repeated requests from the authority to try and find a solution to the financial pressures faced in the area.
And finance convener Willie Young went further – suggesting Finance Secretary John Swinney was deliberately holding out on providing cash-strapped councils with more funding.
Senior figures in the Aberdeenshire Alliance – Aberdeenshire Council’s main opposition group – echoed their comments, and that the situation was “hopeless”.
However, SNP councillors on both councils insisted the blame lay on the UK Government’s policies of austerity – with the Aberdeen group also pointing the finger at the Labour-led administration’s decision to withdraw from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla).
But Mr Young said Mr Swinney has the power to ease the impact of the austerity measures, but has chosen not to act.
He said the finance secretary had to tell councils what “his priorities are”, adding: “Aberdeen has been an excellent council over the past three years, with no cuts. But Mr Swinney has put us in a straitjacket, and it’s really difficult to get out of that – he has the power to get us out, and he either wants to or doesn’t.
“He has absolutely punished local authorities, that’s where all the cuts have gone to, and I think it’s a disgrace.”
On Thursday, a furious row broke out at a meeting of the council’s finance, policy and resources committee over the decision to withdraw from Cosla.
And last night, SNP councillor David Cameron, who sits on the committee, said the administration had potentially cut the council out of any future discussions with ministers.
He added: “It’s all very well for individual councils to complain about a lack of funding but, at the end of the day, that comes down to Westminster’s doing – they give the Scottish Government the block grant.”
In neighbouring Aberdeenshire, opposition groups were unanimous in calling on the Scottish Government to use its tax raising powers to prevent local authorities bearing the brunt of austerity.
Jim Gifford, leader of opposition group Aberdeenshire Alliance, said: “Local government are looking at a substantial cut in their grants settlement and it’s completely unsustainable.
“Tying our hands in raising money any other way with the council tax freeze puts us in impossible situation. We’re getting our money cut but we’re not being given the flexibility to do anything about it. It’s hopeless.”
Deputy group leader Karen Clark said that – having served in administration at the local authority – the Liberal Democrats “recognise tough decisions will have to be taken”.
“But it feels very different this time and we are clearly going to be forced into making decisions we would rather not take,” she said.
But members of the SNP-led administration were hesitant to criticise lawmakers in Holyrood.
Labour councillor Alison Evison said: “A budget settlement which does not counter the damage caused by Tory austerity, will cause even more uncertainty and worry.
“We need the Scottish Government to listen to the issues facing all councils across Scotland, no matter their political make-up, and to use the powers it has to respond effectively on behalf of local communities.”
The Scottish Government defended its handling of the country’s finances despite cuts of 9% to its budget from Westminster, and added: “All Scottish local authorities, including Aberdeen City Council, are in receipt of their fair share of the total funding.
“Aberdeen City Council has benefited by an extra £7million over the period 2012-15 as a result of the new 85% funding floor formula this government introduced that ensures Aberdeen gets a better deal than ever before. They will get a further £11.3million in 2015-16 included in their £338million allocation in 2015-16.
“Scottish Ministers will publish future budget plans on December 16.”
A spokesman for the Scotland Office said: “The Scottish Government received a fair settlement in the recent spending review by the UK Government, and that’s determined by the Barnett Formula which is supported by all sides.”