STIRLING Councillors have clashed again over the issue of council funding, leading to the SNP group’s decision to requisition a full meeting of the governing body later this week.

The Nationalists have requisitioned the council meeting for Thursday 3 April at 6.30pm in order to “consider the Council’s position on its funding allocation” - a move branded “ridiculous” by their colleagues.

This meeting will be the latest instalment to a row that has raged on since it was claimed Council Leader Johanna Boyd had cost the council almost £2 million in funding after she voted to reject a needs-based funding allocation in favour of a flat allocation system back at September’s Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) Leaders’ group meeting.

Cllr Boyd has since called on Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney, to clarify why there was such a disparity in the provisional funding figures.

Portfolio Holder for Housing, Labour Councillor Violet Weir said: “It is ridiculous to have everyone traipse in to a full council meeting to discuss something which requires no decision and where everyone is in agreement. It is blatant politicking on the part of the SNP and they should be less reckless with the democratic process.” And the potential costs of the meeting has seen the SNP group come into further criticism for the requisition.

Convenor of the Finance Committee and Depute Council Leader, Conservative Councillor Neil Benny said: “A requisitioned Council meeting to discuss one item of business could cost up to £1,600 when you take account of member’s expenses, staff time and the cost of opening the chamber. In these times of cost reduction, I wish members of the SNP would keep this in mind before deciding to produce a lot of hot air over non-contentious issues.” THE SNP have slammed Cllr Boyd for her funding decision, with Group Leader Cllr Scott Farmer describing her attitude as “reprehensible.” Cllr Farmer said: “I regret that the SNP Group has had to call this meeting in order to address these issues, but the attitude of Councillor Boyd in resisting increased funding of £1.987 million – because population changes and levels of deprivation show we actually need it – is utterly reprehensible, and she seems hell bent on arguing that Stirling does not deserve this money rather than fighting our corner and securing the extra funding.” Cllr Farmer’s SNP colleague, Cllr Steven Paterson, branded the council leader a hypocrite after her decision to call on John Swinney for clarification.

Cllr Paterson said: “[Cllr Boyd] does not appear to understand how hypocritical she looks in trying to blame the Scottish Government for not giving Stirling Council enough funding whilst simultaneously defending her vote against an allocation formula that would deliver nearly £2 million in additional funding to Stirling.”