COUNCIL Tax across West Dunbartonshire will rise by almost five per cent in a bid to fund free school meals for every primary pupil.

The SNP’s “no cuts” budget for 2020/21 was presented at a full council meeting last week and will invest £950,000 in the programme which will be phased into schools over the next two years.

Political decisions and management adjustments to balance the £9.8million budget gap include a reduction in funding for local events, reduction in levels of street cleaning, and a drop in the number of council staffed school crossings.

Free school transport will only be provided to primary pupils who live more than two miles away and secondary school pupils who live more than three miles away.

Labour had proposed a 3 per cent increase in Council Tax for the coming financial year compared to the administration’s 4.84 per cent.

The agreed budget will, however, see £8m invested in road and pavement improvements, £1.85m to support residents into employment, and more than £250,000 set aside to fund additional learning assistants in schools.

SNP councillor Ian Dickson said: “The SNP’s budget balances the books for 2020/21 and delivers £1m in growth options.

“Last summer a budget priority session was carried out. The most valued service in the survey was primary and secondary education where a lot of people asked for extra investment.

“We are adding a further £250,000 to increase the number of learning assistants across our schools.

“We will continue to roll out the provision of early learning to 1,140 hours to give everyone growing up in West Dunbartonshire the best start possible and creating over 100 jobs within the council.”

Improving roads was also ranked very highly during the consultation with extreme weather damaging an entire surface.

More than £8m has been set aside to repair roads and infrastructure in housing estates.

Steps will be taken to ensure all the community centres remain open across West Dunbartonshire while the council aims to increase their usage.

Cllr Dickon added: “It will remain a priority to invest in the fabric of the building over the next year or two because these really are a “use it or lose it” service and they shouldn’t be lying empty.

“In this budget we are setting aside £144,000 to the Clydebank Independent Resource Centre to give them two full years of funding while they try and source independent funding streams as they have for many years now.

“The council’s budget will increase by almost £7m which is due in part to the council tax increase. We don’t make this increase lightly but it will allow us to deliver the growth that people are asking for like free school meals, additional learning assistance and supporting victims of abuse.

“I am asking for colleagues to work cross party to deliver a fairer future for West Dunbartonshire.”

While Labour agreed with some of the SNP budget, they did not support a council tax increase of that level.

They blamed the Scottish Government for not awarding local governments enough funding.

Councillor Martin Rooney said: “The only way this council’s financial situation will improve is through fair funding from the SNP government.

“We reject the savings options report and the management adjustments. We’ve not put the burden of austerity onto taxpayers and have kept the council tax at 3 per cent.

“We are now heading on a steady increase to council tax. There’s nothing wrong with that in principle but 3 per cent over ten years will see a 30 per cent increase in council tax from what it is now.

“We do have constituents who struggle to pay their bills. We should be mindful of that.

“We agree with a lot of the budget and the investment in our roads. We also agreed to support the Independent Resource Centre.

“The Labour group want to invest in our communities and public infrastructure. If you believe as we do these are the right priorities for West Dunbartonshire, then back the amendment.”

Eleven councillors voted through the SNP budget. Nine members agreed with Labour’s amendment.