FIFE COUNCIL’S co-leader has warned that they face a “very difficult” financial situation after last week’s Scottish Budget announcement.

Labour councillor David Ross said jobs and services would be affected and warned householders will face a hike in their council tax bill.

“Fife’s core revenue grant has been cut by 1.13 per cent (£7.285 million) and we estimate there is a cut of around £6m in our capital grant this year,” he said.

“Taking account of inflation, we are looking at a budget gap of £15.9m between our projected income and what it would cost to continue providing services at their present level.

“Raising council tax by the 4.84 per cent limit set by the Scottish Government would bring in around £7.9m.

"After other adjustments, this leaves us still looking for nearly £6m in cuts this year which will have an impact on jobs and services.”

Cllr Ross said they were also facing increasing levels of demand for critical services for the most vulnerable.

“Children and families services are significantly overspent this year (probably £4-6m by year end) and the Health and Social Care Partnership between the council and NHS Fife, providing vital care for the elderly, is still projected to overspend by £8-10m this year,” he added.

“We estimate that the £100m extra announced for social care – £45m of which is for existing commitments including the living wage – will only bring £3-4m to Fife.

“We’ve been forced to close libraries because of cuts in our grant from the Scottish Government.

"We’ve seen cuts in school budgets and in road repairs, cuts in environmental services and reductions in the opening hours of leisure centres.

"We are facing growing demands on social care that we’re struggling to meet.

“It’s time these funding cuts were not only stopped but reversed so we can start investing again in the essential local services that individuals and communities in Fife rely on.

“I am hoping that the opposition parties in Holyrood can make the government see sense and increase the allocation of funding to local government for these vital local services.”

Responding to Cllr Ross’ concerns, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Despite a real-terms reduction of £840m to Scotland’s discretionary resource budget allocation since 2010-11, we have ensured our partners in local government receive a fair funding settlement that supports vital public services.

“Local authorities will receive total funding from the Scottish Government of £11.3 billion in 2020-21.

“In 2020-21, Fife Council will receive £730m to fund local services.

"Taken together with the potential to increase council tax by three per cent in real terms, Fife Council will have an extra £42.8m to support vital day-to-day services in 2020-21 which equates to an additional 6.5 per cent on 2019-20.”