North Lanarkshire Council has reversed its decision to close 39 local facilities including swimming pools, community halls and libraries in an effort to plug a £64m budget shortfall over the next three years. The plan to shut down 12 Active NL leisure buildings, six libraries and its mobile library service, as well as 25 community facilities over a phased two-year period, would have saved the council £4.7m annually. The council is still in a difficult financial situation despite this U-turn.
According to the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, the previous decision was due to a lack of Scottish government funding. He also blamed the Scottish National Party (SNP). First Minister Humza Yousaf called the previous decision short-sighted and warned voters going to the polls in a Westminster by-election that they would be “watching closely”.
More than 21,000 North Lanarkshire residents signed numerous online petitions to challenge the closures, with a protest eventually planned. Council leader Jim Logue stated the local authority would protect these facilities for the remainder of the council term. However, he added that their financial situation was still far from satisfactory. Logue further noted that the SNP had a “total lack of support” for the proposal reversing the decision despite receiving £6m to support swimming pools from the UK government.
Green MSP Gillian Mackay welcomed the U-turn but said the cuts “should never have been sanctioned.” The Scottish government has emphasised that it is for councils to make decisions on the priorities for their areas and how facilities are used, adding that in spite of ongoing UK government austerity, North Lanarkshire Council would receive funding of £779.7 million this year
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More