Council Tax Increase and Budget Agreement
Council tax in Glasgow is set to increase by between 5% and 6% following an agreement between the SNP and Greens to approve the budget.
Free school meals are anticipated to be extended to all children in primary seven, and the council plans to invest in cleansing efforts, including enhanced gully cleaning to help prevent flooding.
Budget Negotiations and Borrowing Plans
The city's treasurer, SNP councillor Ricky Bell, confirmed he had reached an agreement with the city's Green group ahead of a meeting on Tuesday to set the budget for the 2026/27 financial year.
Bell intends to borrow funds, after the Scottish government permitted the council to use its capital grant to cover borrowing costs, to address a £36.8 million spending gap.
Homelessness Costs and Financial Challenges
Glasgow is confronting a homelessness bill estimated at around £56 million for the upcoming financial year and has previously engaged in discussions with the UK government seeking a resolution.
Bell, who is also the depute leader of the council, stated the city's homeless crisis is
"not of Glasgow's making"and described borrowing as a
"one-year solution to get us through this tricky position."
Cost of Living Considerations
Regarding the council tax increase, Bell emphasized the council's awareness of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
"We are very, very conscious that everybody is in a cost of living crisis,"he said, adding that many people are working full time or holding two or three jobs yet still struggle to make ends meet.
The councillor expressed his intention to keep any tax rise below a 6%
"ceiling."
Additional Funding for Health and Social Care
Additional funding will be allocated to health and social care services, which are managed by the integration joint board (IJB), an entity also facing a challenging budget situation next month.
Story by Local Democracy Reporter Drew Sandelands.
