SNP Government and councils in 'standoff' over teacher numbers as cuts loom

Massive cuts to teacher numbers are on the table over a standoff between councils and the SNP minority Government.

Town hall chiefs fear they will lose out on £145.5m of funding after they refused to sign statements promising to maintain teacher levels.

A council source said: “We are having to borrow money to pay some teachers.”

Ministers have in recent years provided funding so that local authorities can protect teacher numbers.

But £145.5m this year is conditional and the Government wants guarantees on it being spent in this area.

Councils believe sticking to a specific number ties their hands on a £3.5bn payroll bill when their finances are tight.

They believe singling out teacher numbers will force councils into deeper cuts on other services for young people, such as social work and.

Councils also believe the policy is a blunt tool in parts of Scotland where pupil rolls are falling.

The Record can Ministers gave councils a deadline of April 26 to agree on teacher numbers.

But town hall chiefs have snubbed the Government and demanded talks on the vexed subject.

It raises the prospect of some councils going their own way and cutting teacher posts.

Glasgow council, which is run by the SNP, is having to make £108m of savings from public services over the next three years

This could include axing 450 teacher roles over the same period.

Critics have slammed the plans as “unthinkable” and over 5,000 people have signed a petition demanding a U-turn.

Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy said: “This is the SNP government holding councils to ransom for the government’s inability to plan for teacher numbers or manage the budget.

“The fact that this money is being withheld while teachers in Scotland are losing their jobs and councils are struggling to balance their books is disgraceful.

“The Cabinet Secretary needs to end the standoff with our councils and get around the table with councils and trade unions to deliver for teachers and young people in Scotland.”

Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said: "The root of the problem is that councils don't have enough money to maintain all the services they would like and education is half of what they do.

"If one area avoids cuts, they will fall doubly hard in another and this situation will continue until the Scottish Government gets serious about funding local government."

A spokesperson for council umbrella group COSLA said: “COSLA has written to Ministers seeking further discussion on this.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to protecting teacher numbers, which is why we have provided local authorities with an additional £145.5m in this year’s budget for that purpose.

"This approach matches that taken in previous years and is also helping to protect record numbers of learning support assistants in Scotland’s schools, which we know is important given the increase in pupils with an identified additional support need in recent years.

“We want to ensure that councils can continue to benefit from this significant additional funding in order to protect teacher numbers and support our children’s education.”

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here