At its meeting on Thursday 14 December, an update to East Dunbartonshire Council highlighted the challenging budget position it faces in 2024/25 – like other local authorities across Scotland and the wider UK.
In preparation for the Budget setting meeting scheduled for Thursday 22 February, to set the budget for 2024/25, some early decisions were taken.
Council Leader Gordan Low explained, “The ongoing financial crisis, in tandem with ever increasing costs for service delivery and increasing service demand, continues to particularly hit local government.
“The decisions taken by Council acknowledge the Scottish Government LEIP funding that will assist us to deliver a new Lenzie Academy and we have identified the Whitegates Playing Fields site for this new build school.
“Design, development and consent work will continue for other live projects, but given the ongoing financial challenges, no contractual obligations will be committed to until the affordability is considered as part of the wider financial sustainability of the capital and revenue budgets to be agreed in February 2024.”
Business cases were also agreed for a number of projects to address the anticipated funding gap for next year, including a decision to bring in a charge for garden waste collections.
Council Leader Gordan Low continued, “The nature of our anticipated budget gap is such that we need to identify every possible source of additional income. The majority of councils that offer a garden waste service in Scotland currently charge and we propose to keep the charge affordable and in line with the range seen across Scotland. It will generate up to £1 million in full year income once implemented and it is a proposal that was widely referenced in our budget consultation responses.”
Further information on the garden waste charges will be provided before the scheme is launched.
The Budget update report also included a positive Best Value thematic work report, acknowledging the good work taking place in the Council in relation to leadership and local strategic priorities.
Updates were also heard on the successful implementation of the Council’s cost-of-living support programmes – a Council priority to address the financial hardship being experiences locally.
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