FIFE senior councillors have spoken of the “transformational” budget that will be presented this week to the full council.

Fife Council will increase its spending on local services and provide hundreds of new jobs, co-leader David Ross and education and children's service convener Councillor Fay Sinclair have insisted.

Council co-leader Cllr David Alexander, said: “The budget that will be presented on Thursday will be one of the most transformational in recent years. Fife Council will be spending millions more in 20/21 than in 19/20 and will see an increase in the workforce within Education and Children’s Services of over 350 full time equivalent staff.

“This huge increase in resources is due to the funding of increased free child care which almost doubles from 600 hours to 1,140 hours".

He added, however: “Fife Council will still require to make savings unless a deal is done in Holyrood. Our core grant has been reduced by 1.1% which is the equivalent of £7 million.

“However, ring-fenced funding, this year is over £47 million, which cannot be ignored. £32 million of this will become core funding for Fife Council in future years and will finance the 350 extra staff who will take forward the Scottish Government’s free childcare policy.”

All three and four year-olds and eligible two year olds will have access to 1,140 hours of free early learning and childcare from August this year.

Education convener, Cllr Fay Sinclair, said: “This year’s budget will provide children in Fife with more of the high-quality early learning that can make a significant contribution to their development, and represents a huge increase in funding for education.

“While the education directorate can’t be immune to the difficult decisions we need to make to balance the books, I’m really proud that this year we are delivering record investment in education and providing new jobs in every area of Fife.

“Evidence shows investment in early years plays a very important part in closing the attainment gap and by offering a variety of different hours and settings, as well as working with partner providers such as nurseries, playgroups and childminders, parents will have increased flexibility and access to high-quality care for their children.”