Fife Council budget passed amid warning that services are ‘creaking at the seams’

The leader of Fife Council has warned of tough times ahead as the region’s budget was passed amidst heated exchanges on Thursday.

David Ross, the leader of the region’s Labour administration, admitted that the local authority was already “creaking at the seams” but warned that cuts would have to be made to balance the books.

As many as 2,000 jobs will be axed over the next three years as Fife Council attempts to plug a £92 million hole in its finances.

With just under £39 million of this is required to be made next year alone, Mr Ross launched a scathing attack on the Scottish Government and its finance secretary John Swinney, who he blamed personally for the council’s inability to raise the rate of council tax.

“These cuts will not be painless,” he said.“We are creaking at the seams.

“Services have been cut, cut and cut again.”

Following a vote, Labour’s budget was ultimately passed with 36 votes, with an SNP amendment receiving 24 votes, and Liberal Democrat and Conservative amendments receiving just five and two votes respectively.

See below for updates from the debate as it happened, with full coverage and reaction in Friday’s Fife editio of The Courier.