News
Council sets Budget to meet 2011-12 financial challenges E
ast Dunbartonshire Council agreed the final savings of just over £1.5 million required to deliver a balanced budget for 2011/12 last month. This followed agreement across all political groups in December at a special budget meeting which identified £6.3m savings by consensus. East Dunbartonshire Council was allocated grant funding for 2011/12 of £183.3 million with ring-fenced funding of £6.7 million giving a total of £190m. The Council agreed to freezing Council Tax for a further year and to the other commitments set out by the Scottish Government to ensure the full allocation was received. Council Tax income for 2011/12 is calculated at £52.4m increasing the total available funding to £242.4m. Following the meeting Council Leader Rhondda Geekie said, “When we anticipated last summer that we faced savings requirements of £10m a year for each of the next three years – a total of £30m– we undertook a comprehensive consultation to give stakeholders and residents the opportunity to tell us what they thought our priorities should be and where they thought savings could be made.
"Our budget decisions, both in December when we reached consensus and now in determining the final savings required, were informed by the findings of that consultation feedback which identified that the most vulnerable in our communities as our priority."
The Council’s budget includes provision for the following: Additional revenue budget for roads; Retention of the current level of gritting routes and additional grit bins; Further plans to move halls to community management models rather than close them; Assistance and support for Third Sector strategic partners. Key areas where savings have been made include: Reducing the number of commissioned places in Early Years partnership centers and using full capacity in Council provision; Strategic review of Homecare and Sheltered Housing Provision; Changing the formula for Support for Learning Assistants in schools.
Councillor Geekie continued, “I have continually stressed that I did not come into local government to administer cuts and reduce services, but we have to face up to the financial challenges in front of us and I believe we have done that through the budget the Council has agreed. “I believe that the final savings we have now agreed will enable us to deliver the best possible services to the residents of East Dunbartonshire. “In all our budget decisions we have listened to our consultation feedback, prioritised the most vulnerable in our communities and our education service and we have agreed to continually review and effectively manage our assets.” Although local government only has settlement details for one year (2011/12) the Council’s budget also recognises the anticipated further savings of up to £10m a year for the next two years which may be required. The 2011/12 budget therefore also identifies areas to be taken forward to take account of future circumstances and savings requirements. The Council Tax freeze means that every household’s annual Council Tax charge will remain unchanged for the next year.
Rage over Potholes Two months after the big freeze, there is still no sign of extra money from the Scottish government to help Councils sort out the potholes on local roads. Milngavie MSP Des McNulty has raised the issue of potholes with local council chiefs and Ministers at Holyrood following a report that £2bn is needed to bring roads across Scotland up to standard. Des says, “Audit Scotland's report made shocking reading, especially for residents of East Dunbartonshire which has the fifth worst roads in Scotland. “We should not be at the bottom of the league in road maintenance. We have been denied money year after year by people in Edinburgh whose priorities lie elsewhere. They are spending money on new museums in Dundee, Harbours in Arbroath and
4 MARCH
Councillor Geekie
putting wind turbines in some of the most beautiful woodland in Scotland but they won’t spend money on tar and gravel to help the hardpressed residents of East Dunbartonshire. He continues, “Wherever you look in Bearsden and Milngavie, there are huge holes in the roads and pavements. I’ve lost count of the numbers of people who have damaged the suspension on their cars or narrowly avoided collisions because they have been avoiding the ruts in the road. Surely to goodness streets like Hawthorne Avenue in Mosshead or Dryburgh Road in Castlehill, which Des NcNulty desperately need resurfacing, should be repaired. And after two months, the holes on the busiest roads are still there – its time to get this sorted.”
People urged to contact Home Heat Local MP Jo Swinson has urged people to contact the Home Heat Helpline for free help and advice with their energy bills. Since opening 5 years ago, the scheme has provided advice to help 190,000 people access free energy efficiency measures such as loft insulation and cavity walls, which has been found to help save the typical household around £250 in heating costs. But despite 7,000 households in East Dunbartonshire being eligible, many have missed out. Says Jo Swinson, “Thousands of people in East Dunbartonshire are missing out on free help which could reduce their energy bills. Many elderly and vulnerable people have struggled to keep warm during this bitterly cold winter, so it is vital that local residents take advantage of all the assistance that is available. "The Home Heat Helpline can provide help and advice on how to keep your bills as low as possible - call for free on 0800 336699."