Council Targets Green COVID Recovery in Budget

Published: 11 March 2021

Glasgow has agreed a budget that targets poverty reduction and a green, community-focused recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillors, meeting virtually, this afternoon passed a joint SNP / Green package that will freeze Council Tax bills in the next financial year and protects education and social care budgets.

Today's budget included resources to establish an improvement fund for local parks and green spaces, along with an expanded team of neighbourhood co-ordinators to tackle issues at a community level.

It creates a £2m recovery fund to support financial inclusion, access to healthy food and respond to the emerging needs of Glasgow's communities as the city begins its recovery from the Covid-19 emergency.

Members also agreed capital investment in repairs; back courts and lanes; outdoor play for children, and £1 million of work at Whitehill pool.

The pool is one of more than 90 Glasgow Life venues being readied to reopen after lockdown, thanks to a £100 million income guarantee backed by the council.

City Treasurer Cllr Ricky Bell said: "These are extraordinary circumstances - and it will take our city some time to properly recover from the social and economic trauma of the pandemic.

"That is why it is important that our budget decisions, in this year of all years, provide the targeted support that our communities and the most vulnerable people in them need.

"As Glasgow prepares to host the world at COP26, our budget also recognises that covid recovery and addressing the climate emergency are inseparable.

"These aren't distant, intangible targets. They are about building better lives in healthier neighbourhoods; addressing challenges around the cost of living, and creating new opportunities for education and employment."

Cllr Martha Wardrop said: "Against the backdrop of the covid-19 pandemic, we've worked together to produce budget plans that tackle poverty, safeguard the long-term future of cultural and community assets, respond to desire to improve recycling, and ensure a Green recovery.

"Committing more than £2 million to a range of anti-poverty measures will be vital to help support Glaswegians in the year ahead, and the long-term funding guarantee for libraries and community venues will also be welcomed by communities across the city."

"This budget supports a green recovery, by investing in parks and nature, outdoor play, improving recycling, back courts and lanes, and in 30 permanent car-free primary schools.

"It will also ensure a local legacy from the city hosting the COP26 climate conference with a dedicated community climate action fund and stepping up ambition for achieving net zero emissions. I'm pleased that by working constructively we've been able to respond to our citizens' most pressing needs."

Measures approved in the budget also include action on empty homes and greater neighbourhood involvement in designing waste services.

A range of financial inclusion projects will also be initiated or expanded - including support in schools; for single-parent families and additional resources for the Lord Provost's Funeral Fund, which helps low income families with bereavement costs.

NOTES

Council Tax is frozen at 20/21 levels for next year. However, water and sewerage charges - which are not set by councils - will increase.

Full details of the budget are available here

A recording of the meeting will be available later, here.