South Lanarkshire’s Labour-Lib Dem Administration have today performed a partial U-turn on a previous decision to drastically increase the cost of hiring sports facilities by up to 114%. The Council voted in February to remove concessionary rates for under-5s, over-60s, and under-16s group sports.
The SNP called a special meeting of the Council, held last week, to completely reverse this decision but the Administration were joined by the Conservatives in voting to not even allow a discussion on the matter. The Council’s Executive scrambled to pre-empt the SNP motion and push the decision back by a week following pressure from junior sports clubs.
The Administration instead presented a half measure response where the under-5s and over-60s cuts would still be imposed in full but the increased charges on junior clubs would be phased in over 21 months – although the motion claimed this was over three years.
The motion would see the costs rise by almost 80% in 10 months’ time, and 114% a year later. The SNP Group once again called for the cuts to be completely scrapped.
The Council voted 35 to 27 in favour of the phased implementation, with the SNP and Green groups voting against. As per South Lanarkshire Council’s Standing Orders, this decision cannot be challenged for another 6 months.
SNP Group Leader John Ross said
“With the support of clubs and people that have contacted us, we have explored every avenue under Council rules to reverse this decision and to make sure the Labour Group knew exactly what the consequences were of voting for this once again. Be in no doubt this decision is political, the Administration sets its own priorities, and junior and senior sports are clearly not on their list.”
Cllr Cal Johnston-Dempsey 