Scottish Liberal Democrats to vote on government support with concrete costs

At the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference in Edinburgh this weekend, party members will vote on calls for the SNP/Green Government to help cash-strapped local authorities and health boards with the costs of removing RAAC from their buildings and to compensate those that have already begun works to deal with the dangerous building material.  

In August, it was revealed that West Lothian Council and East Lothian Council had indicated to the Scottish Government that addressing issues arising from the use of RAAC could cost more than £80m.   

Scottish Liberal Democrats will set out proposals for the government to:    

• Provide sufficient funding to enable public sector remedial works to be carried out by local authorities and health boards.    
• Allow local authorities and health boards which have already self-funded remedial works to apply for financial compensation in retrospect.      

Councillor Sally Pattle, who will propose the motion, said:  

“Councils and health boards are grappling with the presence of potentially dangerous concrete across scores of public buildings.  

“Some councils, like West Lothian, have already begun works for tackling RAAC, but so far that has all been self-funded.  

“The bill for just a handful of projects is already eye-watering.  

“To ensure both public confidence and community safety, it’s time for the Scottish Government to do the right thing and provide financial support without delay.”  

Party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP added:  

“Although this issue first came to light in 2018, the SNP government have dragged their heels, failing to use that time to rigorously assess the scale of the problem and get repairs underway.      

“It’s entirely unsustainable for cash-strapped local authorities, health boards and more to bear the costs of these works alone.    

“That’s why I believe the Scottish Government must step up and provide meaningful financial assistance with those repairs. That means setting up a national fund for works going forward and compensating authorities who have already had to pay out.”