Glasgow Business . 11 www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com American invite for Scottish


startup that supports people diagnosed with dementia p13


Unprotected services face further cuts


Local government budgets will get even tighter and the Scottish Government should prepare for further cuts of up to £1.6 billion by 2020-21, according to a major publication released in Glasgow. Fraser of Allander Institute


warns of possible real-term cuts of up to 6 per cent – or around £1.6 billion – to the Scottish Government’s resource budget. Given the government’s


major commitments in areas such as health and childcare, other ‘unprotected’ public services will have to take up the slack. These unprotected budgets could face an average cut of up to 17 per cent over the next four years. Local Government grant could be cut by around £1 billion by 2020-21. This annual report, written


by the Fraser of Allander Institute, sets out a range of scenarios for Scotland’s budget over the next four years, and the options available to the Scottish Finance Secretary. Even before the uncertainty


caused by Brexit, the Scottish Government’s budget was forecast to fall by just over 3 per cent in real terms by 2020-21 as result of the UK Government’s ongoing fiscal consolidation. But the report warns that under a worst case scenario for the block grant and revenues from Scotland’s new tax powers, the Scottish Government may have to prepare for cuts of up to 6 per cent – or up to £1.6 billion – over the course of the parliamentary term. Even under more optimistic


scenarios, the Scottish budget is still projected to fall in real terms over the course of the parliament. And with Scottish Government plans in place to deliver major policy priorities, the Fraser of Allander report warns that difficult choices for unprotected budgets – including the grant to local authorities – will be required.


Marketing collaboration


The great city swap G


laswegians are preparing to give a warm and friendly West of Scotland welcome to


visitors from Auld Reekie. Glasgow City Marketing Bureau


and Marketing Edinburgh are collaborating with ScotRail to market the cities by asking folks from the capital to try out Glasgow – and vice versa. Nesta Gilliland, Head of


Marketing and Sales at ScotRail, said: “Glasgow and Edinburgh both have great shopping, incredible culture, lively nightlife and family days out. However, 90 per cent of those we spoke with agreed that both cities are different in their own distinctive ways. Tat means those who live in either place are in an enviable position. When they travel by train, in less than an hour they can easily be in the other city soaking up amazing experiences.’’ Tis has sparked the Great City


Swap campaign. “We want people to travel from


east to west, and vice-versa, with ScotRail. It’s not that the cities don’t like each other – they do – it’s just that they need to take the time to get to know each other again. Trough train travel, we’ll show how easy and enjoyable it can be to discover the real Edinburgh and Glasgow.” Te Great City Swap campaign


has been devised by ScotRail following research into the relationship between the cities. Although 90 per cent of those questioned agreed that the 50-minute rail journey time made the idea of day-tripping atractive, there was a significant drop in the number of people who followed through and travelled for leisure. A lack of local knowledge of the other city was cited as making people less


likely to visit, while more than 60 per cent of people questioned said they would appreciate more advertising and awareness of reasons to travel. ScotRail took to the streets to


speak to residents of each city, gather their insider tips and create Te Great City Swap – a campaign set to deliver reasons to visit through bespoke itineraries and bucket lists. ScotRail is urging locals to keep submiting their favourite


haunts at greatcityswap.co.uk Frank McAveety, Leader of


Glasgow City Council and Chairman of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “Our two great cities share so many common bonds, with outstanding sights and atractions on offer. We know that People Make Glasgow, and I would urge everyone, not least our neighbours in Edinburgh, to come and experience our welcome and hospitality.’’


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