Glasgow increases social services spending despite `raw deal` from executive

February 1, 2002 in Adults, Children

Glasgow council is to spend £36 million more on social work
and education in 2002–03 in response to an increased level of
poverty in the city, Craig Robertson, the authority’s
treasurer, has announced.

The combined increase in social work and education spending
amounts to 13 per cent compared to the council’s total
government grant increase of 7 per cent.

The average increase of government grant to Scottish councils in
the coming year is 8.7 per cent. Glasgow’s allocation is
described by council leader, Charles Gordon, as a “raw deal” to the
authority having responsibility for half the country’s
deprived communities.

The council is demanding that the Scottish executive
restructures the allocation of grant support to give greater weight
to social and economic factors. To meet the shortfall and defend
services, Glasgow has announced a range of measures including
increases in council tax and parking fines.