Moray Conservatives have committed to strongly oppose plans that would see independent nurseries across the region receive no funding uplift for the year ahead.
Council officials have recommended councillors accept the plans which would see a zero per cent increase in the hourly rate that is paid directly to nurseries.
However, Moray Conservatives have confirmed they will instead work with the sector to give them an uplift they expected, planned for and deserve.
Moray Conservative Group leader Kathleen Robertson, who is also the chair of Moray’s Education committee, Councillor Bridget Mustard, the vice-chair of the education committee and Moray MP Douglas Ross are united in their opposition to the proposals.
All of them have met with local campaigners who are fighting against the plans, including members of the Fair Funding for Moray Children Action Group which has brought together 35 out of 37 local organisations working together to oppose the move.
The Moray Conservatives say the plan to not increase the hourly rate at all will be “absolutely devastating” for the nursery sector in Moray, given the current inflationary pressures and how nurseries are dealing with other rising costs.
They have added that it is young people and families who will pay the price for the “overwhelming failure” to give nurseries the resources they need in order to keep their businesses afloat.
All three representatives have made their feelings clear ahead of the meeting and have urged council officials to think again.
Moray Conservative Group Leader Kathleen Robertson said: “These proposals are totally unacceptable and deeply worrying for the future prospects of our nurseries across Moray.
“To recommend giving them a zero per cent increase in the current financial climate will have an absolutely devastating impact on their services.
“Ultimately it is our young people who will pay the price if the hourly rate paid to nurseries in effect suffers a huge real-terms cut for the next financial year.
“I have met with campaigners and share their strong opposition to the current proposals. Council officials must urgently rethink their recommendation for a zero per cent uplift and put our young people first. The Moray Conservative administration will not support these plans, instead our backing is with the local nurseries who deliver for our area.
Conservative Councillor Bridget Mustard, Vice-Chair of Education said: “I simply cannot stand idly by and accept these proposals being voted through.
“Our young people should always be a priority as councillors in Moray and the failure to agree any sort of increase for nurseries at a time when they are suffering with other rising costs is appalling.
“This is the last thing providers needed at a time when they are already extremely anxious. I will be standing up strongly for them when this proposal comes before Council and hope that other parties will support the administration by backing out local nurseries.”
Moray MP Douglas Ross added: “As someone with kids at an independent nursery provider in Moray myself, I am extremely concerned about what will happen to providers across the region, if these plans from officers are accepted.
“As the local MP, I have met with campaigners and fully share their concerns. Across the country, we have seen SNP ministers fail to engage with nursery providers and their decision to continually slash local authority budgets is coming home to roost.
“These concerns cannot be ignored by officials and local councillors. The very survival of nursery providers is on the line.
“Alongside my fellow Conservative representatives in Moray, I will continue to stand up for the interests of nursery providers and ensure that children continue to easily access nursery services in their local community.”