Council balances Budget with no enforced job losses and no service reductions

Date: 
Friday, 24 February, 2017


At its meeting last night (Thursday 23 February) the Council agreed a range of measures to deliver the required £11.3 million in savings for 2017/18 with a 3% increase in Council Tax and with no enforced job losses or service reductions.

Council Leader Rhondda Geekie explained, “We faced our largest ever funding gap of £11.3 million pounds for 2017/18 having already reduced the Council budget by £53 million over the past 10 years and by £32 million in this current five year Council term.

“We have continued to take a three-way approach to balancing the budget this year, through our capital investment programme, our Transformation programme to deliver service efficiencies and specific savings proposals to the revenue budget.  The effective use of our capital programme and capital funding, which enables us to deliver our new state of the art schools, our new Community Hubs and our town centre improvements also enables us to generate such substantial savings from our extremely challenged revenue budget.” 

A 3% increase will see the Council Tax on a Band D property in East Dunbartonshire increase from £1,141.85p to £1,176.11 – a rise of £34.26 per year. 

Councillor Geekie continued, “Whilst, Council Tax only accounts for just over 20% of our total Revenue budget, it is our largest source of income after our block grant from Government and a 3% increase will deliver additional income of almost £1.8 million pounds.  The 3% increase is not the only Council Tax rise – but it is the element that this Council can control.  The Scottish Government has introduced an increase in Council Tax on all Band E to H properties across Scotland in addition to any local increases we make.  Properties in Band E to H will therefore see significant increases to their Council Tax bills for the coming year, ranging from an additional £104 pounds for Band E to £513 for Band H as a result of the Scottish Government increase and before the Council agreed 3% rise is applied.”                                                                                                           

In addition to the rise in Council Tax, the savings target has been met through:

  • A revision of the Council contribution to the Health & Social Care Partnership following additional funding provision being made directly to the Partnership by Scottish Government
  • A review of Primary and Secondary schools management structures
  • An increased focus on digital solutions and the introduction of further online services 

Councillor Geekie was keen to clarify that the budget proposals were not only about savings.  She explained, “We have again ensured that our budget has prioritised services to the most vulnerable in our communities and this year’s budget includes mainstreaming our award-winning Positive Achievements team who support some of our most vulnerable youngsters, introducing Snack and Play schemes as a further support to families in our priority Place localities, and a review of our Additional Support Needs service, including provision in our capital budget for new facilities.  We have also incorporated proposed amendments that will see us introduce Breakfast Clubs and access to leisure facilities for children.”

Commitment to investing in early careers also continues as the Council’s Grad+ programme has been mainstreamed and a commitment to offering a further eight Modern Apprenticeships in 2017/18 agreed.  The budget also included settlement for the remaining Equal Pay claims currently out to offer through trades unions to all claimants.  The Council Leader confirmed that a number of compensation payments had already been paid.

Councillor Geekie concluded, “Delivering a balanced budget for 2017/18 has been the biggest challenge for this Council yet but we have delivered £11.3 million pounds in savings, without progressing any outsourcing proposals and with no enforced jobs losses.  Whilst a 3% rise increases the Council Tax bills to our residents, it also ensures that there are no service reductions in this area and in fact we are delivering additional services to the most vulnerable in our communities.”

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