16 November 2010
Evidence on Scottish Budget submitted to Local Government and Communities Committee
Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland said:
"All of the recent discussion about the Scottish Budget has suggested, right or wrong, that the public sector is the area planned for cuts.
"It is imperative that Scottish local authorities continue to deliver against climate change and public health objectives – and it is imperative that the Scottish Government holds to account those who do not. Our evidence paper sets out the benefits of continued investment in measures that will cut greenhouse gases and increase levels of active travel use.
"We also point out, as already flagged up by the Independent Budget Review report, that road user charging should be being considered. Road pricing is a measure available to local authorities which, as well as being a powerful instrument in its own right, is also one that could raise significant amounts of revenue to plug holes in local authority budgets."