In a new short film, Council Leader Joe Fagan explains why the council is facing a budget shortfall of more than £70 million over the next two financial years.

Councillor Fagan says: “A big part of this is the cost-of-living crisis. The same cost-of-living crisis that is hitting household budgets.

“The cost of everything we do has rocketed due to rampant inflation. And while our costs have been rocketing, I am afraid to say the money we have available to provide services has been going in the opposite direction.

“When you remove ringfenced money, local government revenue funding has actually fallen by 9.6% in real terms in the last decade. That has inevitable consequences, for the council and for our residents.”

Councillor Fagan will outline those consequences in a second short film.

You can take part in the consultation online, by emailing the team, or posting responses to Budget Consultation, Floor 4, South Lanarkshire Council, Almada Street, Hamilton ML3 0AA.