The Labour opposition on West Dunbartonshire Council proposed on Thursday an alternative budget based around four key-pledges underpinned with four principles; those being: 

∎ Labour will always get the basics right.  With a £2,000,000 investment into road infrastructure; in contrast to the SNP’s token gesture of £300k;

∎ Labour will always realise that Education is the key route out of poverty.  With an additional £120,000 investment each year into the Council’s Raise Attainment strategy; as opposed to the SNP’s one-off investment of £80k;

∎ Labour will always see Employment and Job as their number one priority.  By creating 1,000 new jobs locally with £2,500,000 investment into a Job Creation Fund; double the number of jobs the SNP aim for. And finally, Labour;

∎ Labour understand that sometimes it’s the little things that make the difference.  That’s why the Labour budget sought to create a ‘Regeneration Fund’ which would see traffic calming areas introduced in traffic hotspots across Dumbarton and the Vale; new changing facilities in Dumbarton Common, and Levengrove Park upgraded.

 Although Labour won the arguments on the day, their budget was voted down by the SNP Administration. Labour Finance Spokesperson, Cllr Patrick McGlinchey said: “It was the U.S Senator for Delaware who famously said in a budget debate: “Don’t tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.”  Over five long years the SNP budgets have shows us their values, or lack thereof, with cuts, closures and charges.  This week the shadow Labour budget shows you our value: Job Creation, Education, Road repairs and Community Investment.   Budget Day is a day where we collectively look to the future, and that is exactly what the labour budget was; a budget not just for the here-and-now, but a budget for the future.”  Commenting further, Cllr Patrick McGlinchey said: “Recent statistics from the ‘End Child Poverty’ campaign have highlighted the high level of child poverty in our local area with more than 1 child in 5 living below the poverty line.  The Labour budget would have made inroads into this challenge with a properly funded strategy to raise attainment in our schools; because we believe strongly that Education is the key route out of poverty.” “Furthermore, the Labour budget would have seen a £2-Million investment to upgrade and improve roads across the authority, because we know that residents can no longer tolerate the backlog of potholes and weather worn-damage left untouched by this administration over five long years.” Although the Labour budget was not passed, Councillor McGlinchey is adamant that this is not the end of the matter.  With the Local Government elections only months away, Councillor McGlinchey says that: “Job creation, Education, Road repairs, and Community Investment will be the backbone of or local manifesto.  These are the issues we will fight the election on.” 

A copy of the budget proposals is reproduced below: