North Lanarkshire Council sets its budget

The special full council meeting was chaired by Provost Jean Jones who called for a minute’s silence in honour of all those who had died from coronavirus.

A freeze on council tax, supported by £4.6 million in Scottish Government funding, was agreed unanimously.

Following a debate the budget was passed at 36 votes to 30 with three abstentions.

Details from the budget include:

Christmas lights to be reinstated across North Lanarkshire, and previous reductions to the number of grit bins available to residents to be reversed.

An additional £3.95 million for adult social care;

An increase in clothing and footwear grants from £110 to £140 for eligible children.

An additional £500,000 for local development programme projects.

An extra £400,000 to enhance vocational education projects for young people.

£400,000 for the anti-social behaviour taskforce to ensure private homeowners are able to access the same support as council tenants.

An additional £300,000 for grants to owner-occupiers to ensure those in mixed tenure buildings can contribute to structural upgrades.

A range of environmental improvements were also announced including

£250,000 for upgrades to existing cemeteries, including improved paths.