North Lanarkshire Council leader calls on Holyrood to give clarity over funding

link!“The Scottish government budget once again fails to provide sufficient funding to maintain vital local services in our communities – the proposed settlement to all councils falls well short of the budget increase from Westminster.“Yet again we will be faced with having to cut services or jobs to balance the books; every SNP councillor, MSP and MP in North Lanarkshire has a responsibility to join us in fighting for their constituents.”

link!Representative for East Kilbride Central North, Councillor Fagain said the budget failed to meet the needs of local government. He told the News : “It doesn’t even come close.

£57 million of cuts over the next three years, and accused the Scottish government of “holding councils to ransom” on local taxation after offering conditional funding to freeze rates for householders in the year ahead.

Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser: “It once again fails to provide sufficient funding to maintain vital local services in our communities – the proposed settlement to all councils falls well short of the increase in the Scottish Government’s budget from Westminster.

link!Committee convener, Councillor Angela Campbell, said: “Community safety is the number one priority for us as councillors and this five year plan will help us tackle what residents tell us is most important to them.“Tackling anti-social behaviour, reducing serious violence and disorder, reducing harm from unintentional injury and fire, tackling gender based violence, protecting people at risk of harm and improving road safety – all of these crucial issues are being addressed with this new

link!“As the pandemic continues and restrictions remain in place, it is too early to fully assess the medium to long-term economic impact but it is clear the effects are already being severely felt, with many businesses closing and unemployment increasing,” said Pamela Humphries, head of planning and regeneration.“In North Lanarkshire, the number of people claiming benefits is around 78 per cent higher than before the pandemic, and between March and July 2020, 52,300 residents (one in three)

Click here for more news from the Airdrie and Coatbridge AdvertiserDedicated volunteer Emma said: “This is something I’ve been aiming towards since my first session as a peer educator in 2017, so to finally have reached this milestone is unbelievable.“Each of these sessions represents girls and young women who have been positively impacted by the amazing peer education programme Girlguiding has developed.”The 23-year-old is a leader with both the 3rd and 7th Chryston Brownie units as well as 1st

link!An SNP spokesperson said: “As the First Minister has said, we expect this May’s elections to go ahead as scheduled.“This is a decision for the Scottish Parliament, and in December MSPs unanimously backed legislation to make sure the election on May 6 can take place fairly and safely during the coronavirus pandemic.“The Scottish General Election (Coronavirus) Bill contains contingency measures for in-person voting supported by appropriate physical distancing, the potential for the election

link!There would also be four two-bedroom bungalows for private sale as well as four three-bedroom semi-detached homes and a mix of three, four and five bedroom detached properties.The homes would be less than a mile from nearby Allanton Primary School and Hartwood Train Station.

link!“All gritters are currently deployed and working hard to clear priority one roads, pavements and cycleways – including routes to our Covid-19 vaccination centres.“Showers are expected throughout the day: remember, only travel if it’s essential.”

link.“I also want to protect Burnbank Family Centre. It’s a first-class facility for parents and carers who need advice and support.

the region - allowing pupils to keep up with their studies while schools remain closed.

South Lanarkshire Council’s risk register were given to councillors this week and the effects of Britain leaving the EU remain a concern.

link!More than £7m of mobilisation funding is still outstanding but the Scottish Government have reassured councils that “all reasonable costs will be reimbursed”.Councillor Catherine McClymont (Clydesdale North) was concerned the Scottish Government had not fully reimbursed the council and asked: “How long has this been outstanding?”Director of health and social care Val de Souza said they were expecting the funds “in the next two to three weeks”.Education saw the largest overspend at £4

Click here for more from the Airdrie and Coatbridge AdvertiserPeople are also being encouraged to light a candle and place it in their windows, as part of a campaign to encourage remembrance being run by the Holocaust Memorial Trust.North Lanarkshire provost Jean Jones said: “Today is such an important occasion as we remember the terrible human cost of Holocaust.“It is vital these harrowing tragedies are never forgotten and we must try to prevent future genocides and create a better safer future

North Ayrshire Council leader Joe Cullinane has shown off his dramatic weight loss and revealed how lockdown helped change his life for the better.The 34-year-old said ditching quick lunches and easy dinners – and taking up running – had helped him drop below 13 stone for the first time since his university days.The Labour politician, council leader since 2016, decided to go on a self-imposed health kick after several 'crazy' months of working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic.He took

contract providing unlimited data.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Food takeaways have formed an almighty alliance to ensure no child needs to go hungry while schools are closed after further Covid-19 restrictions were put in place.Among the North Lanarkshire businesses forming the Takeaway Alliance is a recently opened cafe in Wishaw.That Place in Caledonian Road, owned by Coltness couple Owen and Arlene McGhee, is offering kids meals free-of-charge to hungry children who

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.The extent of the mental health toll on school staff in North Lanarkshire has been revealed.Startling new figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, show that from April 2017 up until the start of 2021, an incredible 35,608 school staff days have been lost in North Lanarkshire for mental health reasons.The figures include 21,557 lost days for teachers, 2153 for head and deputy heads and

Halfway Community Council were furious at the proposal to close Halfway library.