The best Budget ever for the Scottish Borders.

Monday, January 29 2007

At a media briefing this morning (Monday 29 January), Councillors outlined their plans for what they believe to be the best budget ever in the history of the Council. Councillor David Parker, Leader of the Council, and Finance Spokesman, Councillor Neil Calvert, explained the proposals which will see the lowest ever increase in Council Tax and the highest ever spend on services.

The Council’s budget will rise to £224.6 million. This is made up from Scottish Executive Aggregate External Finance (AEF) of £173.7 million; Council Tax of £48.2 million, a £1.9 million contribution from reserves and additional funding from the sale of surplus assets.

Although it was predicted last year that the settlement figure from central government would be tight, the sum received at £191.5 million was better than anticipated. The Council Tax will rise by 1.9%. This is a £20 yearly increase at Band D from £1064 to £1084. Around two thirds of Council Tax payers in the Borders are in Bands A, B, and C so will pay proportionally less than the Band D increase of £20.

Councillor Parker says, “We are delighted to introduce the lowest Council Tax increase in the history of Scottish Borders Council. The rise is below the rate of inflation and is expected to be lower than the average rise for Scotland. The Council Tax level will remain one of the lowest in mainland Scotland. It was a priority of the Independent/Conservative administration to protect core services while delivering the lowest Council Tax increase ever. This below inflation increase in Council Tax does not mean that services will suffer. In fact, this year sees the highest level of spend ever at almost £225 million with increased investment in every front line department, bringing direct benefits to every person in the Scottish Borders.”

In Technical Services, this includes £3 million additional spending on roads, £1.7 million over the next five years to upgrade public conveniences and £1.5 million to improve and upgrade street lighting. Education & Lifelong Learning sees over £100,000 to implement the Borders Sports Strategy, as well as funding for additional teachers to reduce class sizes and to employ more nursery nurses. In Social Work Services £628,000 additional funding will be spent on supporting adults with learning difficulties and £200,000 has been allocated for homelessness initiatives.

Councillor Calvert says, “We have set a budget which allows us to maintain and modernise services and ensure best value and value for money for the people of the Scottish Borders. £2.2 million in efficiency savings have been identified across all Departments. There will be no change to these services, instead they will be provided in a more effective and efficient way, helping to cut down on costs and modernise Council services. The budget delivers the actions in the Community Plan, Corporate Plan and the Departmental Business Plans and addresses the issues which really matter to the people of the Scottish Borders.”

The Independent/Conservative Administration’s draft budget will be placed before Council for approval on Thursday 8 February. The meeting takes place at 10am in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells.

1. In setting the budget, the Administration followed a number of priorities to:

Protect core services
Deliver the lowest Council Tax increase
Provide best value and value for money in all of our services
Modernise service through a programme of Business Transformation
Deliver the actions identified in the Community Plan, Corporate Plan, Corporate Improvement Plan and the Departmental Business Plans

2. Highlights of the budget include:

£3 million additional spending on roads.
£1.75 million over the next five years to upgrade public conveniences. This begins in 2007/08 with manned facilities being introduced in Eyemouth and Coldstream, the re-opening of the facilities at the Greenyards in Melrose, as well as five other facilities being upgraded across the area.
£1.5 million to improve and upgrade street lighting
£160,000 to continue to provide SBLocal, the Council’s fast response repair service
£150,000 to implement a litter strategy which will see improved litter collections in all areas.
Extending the grass cutting period in cemeteries and £20,000 to ensure that headstones are safe.
The introduction of two new CCTV systems in Eyemouth and Peebles.
Over £100,000 to implement the Borders sports strategy. This includes £50,000 to assist athletes, coaches and volunteers prepare for the London Olympic Games in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in 2014; £19,000 to support talented young athletes in schools; £15,000 to match funding for the SRU to deliver the Borders wide rugby development strategy and £16,000 to continue funding the joint Coaching Network Development post with Sportscotland.
Funding for additional teachers to reduce class sizes and to employ more nursery nurses
£628,000 additional funding to support adults with learning difficulties.
£200,000 for homelessness initiatives.

Reference: News-18744, Contact the Author