SBC agrees “Best Budget ever for the Borders”
Thursday, February 8 2007
• Highest ever spend at £225 million • Lowest Council Tax increase in SBC history • Highest ever investment in public facilities in Borders history
Scottish Borders Council today agreed its spending plans for 2007/08. This means that the Council will spend £224.6 million next year on essential services for the public and communities of the Scottish Borders. Over the next five years the Council will invest £107.3 million in essential Borders facilities and infrastructure.
Council Leader David Parker said: "This is quite simply the best budget ever in the history of Scottish Borders Council. It is our lowest council tax rise – even lower than inflation – and our highest spend which will see significant investment in all our frontline services with no cuts in services whatsoever. This budget allows us to modernise the way we do things while improving services across the board.
We set ourselves a number of priorities in bringing about this budget including: protecting core services; minimising the Council Tax increase; providing best value and value for money in all services; implementing a programme of Business Transformation and delivering all the actions identified in the Community Plan, the Corporate Plan, the Corporate Improvement and the Departmental Business Plans. Clearly, these aims have been achieved."
Effective and prudent budgeting means that this will be the best budget ever for the people and communities of the Borders. The Council agreed to a 1.9 percent increase in Council Tax – lower than the rate of inflation. This means that Band D Council Tax for 2007/8 will be £1084, an increase of just £20 a year. This is the lowest rise in Scottish Borders Council history. Councillor Parker expects the 1.9% rise to be lower than the average rise for Scotland and that it will keep Borders Council Tax level one of the lowest in mainland Scotland.
Great news for Borders residents includes: £3 million additional spending on roads for 2007/8 – the highest ever increase in funding for roads in the Borders; £1.75 million over the next five years to upgrade public conveniences; £1.5 million over three years to 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; over £100,000 to implement the Borders sports strategy including £50,000 to assist athletes, coaches and volunteers to prepare for the Olympic and Commonwealth Games in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in 2014; £628,000 additional funding to support adults with learning difficulties and £200,000 for homelessness initiatives.
Councillor Neil Calvert, Finance Spokesman, said: "This budget includes £2.2 million in efficiency savings across all departments – meaning that we will continue to deliver the same, high quality services but in a more effective and efficient way. Our investment in frontline services means local people will see a real difference, while still paying one of the lowest Council Tax rates in Scotland."
Notes for Editors:
The revenue budget totals £224.6 million – with £191.5 million coming from Scottish Executive Aggregate External Finance (AEF), up 5.3% on last year; Council Tax of £48.2 million, a £1.9 million contribution from reserves and additional funding from the sale of surplus assets.
Spending pressures have increased by £12.1 million, including: £3.8 million
for expected pay awards and increments; £3.4 million for new commitments identified in the Local Government Finance settlement; £2 million for inflation; £1.4 million for loan charges; £0.9 million for Police and Fire Requisitions and £0.7 million for pension contributions.
The Budget accounts for new commitments and service developments in all departments. These include:
£210,000 for new commitments in pre-school education; £150,000 for Additional Needs Transport; £58,000 for arts support for schools and young people and funding for additional teachers to reduce class sizes
- £100,000 for implementing the sports strategy, including funding to help athletes, coaches and volunteers prepare for the Olympic and Commonwealth Games and match-funding from the SRU to deliver the Borders-wide rugby development strategy
- £610,000 towards supporting the increased number of frail, elderly people in the Borders; £628,000 for supporting adults with learning difficulties and £200,000 to ensure ongoing support for the Homelessness Service
- £3 million additional funding for roads and £1.75 million on upgrading public conveniences over the next five years beginning with manned facilities in Eyemouth and Coldstream and the re-opening of facilities at the Greenyards in Melrose as well as five other facilities being upgraded across the area
- £150,000 to implement a litter strategy which will see improved litter picking and cleansing and increased dog fouling control
- £20,000 to ensure headstones are safe and an extension to the grass cutting period in cemeteries
- £18,000 additional monies to Citizens’ Advice Bureaux
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