Dumfries and Galloway councillor warns budget pressures could impact most vulnerable people

Lochar Councillor Linda Dorward has described the budget situation as an “emergency”

Budgetary pressures being felt by Dumfries and Galloway Council could impact the most vulnerable people in the community, a councillor warned this week.

Financial forecasts are not looking good after a budget update report for the first quarter of the 2024/25 year showed significant overspends and suggestions of dipping into cash reserves.

At Tuesday’s first-ever enabling and customer services committee, Lochar Councillor Linda Dorward described the budget situation as an “emergency”.

Her Labour group challenged the committee members and council leader to request more money from the Scottish Government for the most vulnerable citizens in Dumfries and Galloway.

Councillor Dorward said: “We’re approaching winter and we’ve got a lot of vulnerable citizens who, according to this report, are going to be less well off shall we say with the budget cuts.

“This is actually an emergency and I think that should be the thrust of the communication.”

A motion calling for more Holyrood cash was put forward by Annandale North Labour Councillor Carolyne Wilson, which was seconded by Councillor Dorward.

North West Dumfries Councillor Andy Ferguson suggested amending the motion to include the UK Government in the proposed missive.

His SNP colleague, Mid Galloway and Wigtown West Councillor Katie Hagmann, who chaired the meeting, said: “Clearly I’m hearing that the committee is wanting a letter to be written acknowledging the comments about inclusively and the two governments.

“I would just point out that the report we’re looking at is actually for the period ending June 30.

“We’ve actually got a new government in Westminster since this report.

“I would be content to write to both governments.

“I’m also content that we include the (council) leader in that letter, I’m also happy to put my name to that if the committee is happy to take that forward.

“I think it is important that we take on the inclusive nature of this, and we actually capture the whole committee as well.”

Councillors agreed that the letter should be sent to both governments expressing the desperate need for additional cash to avoid drastic cuts over the next year.

The budgetary report tabled at the meeting identified cash shortages due to financial strains such as staff pay awards, non-inflationary cost increases, and social work services.

The Labour group argued that this meant “real terms funding cuts from the Scottish Government”.

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