Dick Walsh outlines challenges to 2010 budget allocation
published this on 6:47 am, Friday, 27th November, 2009Community News| Local Government | Comments (rss) | Respond | Ping |
Finance Secretary John Swinney has just announced the 2010 local government budget allocations and Argyll and Bute Council Leader, Councillor Dick Walsh, is fast off the blocks with a response.
‘We always knew that this was going to be an extremely challenging budget, and that has been confirmed by the figures released today.
‘The increase in Argyll and Bute’s allocation for 2010/11 amounts to some £6.3million. However, this needs to be looked at in the context of the significant budget pressures we face.
‘We estimate that our cost pressures for next year are in the region of £14-£16million. So in real terms, we’re going to have to find savings of up to £10million.
‘The figures released today are broadly in line with what we anticipated, and have been using during the service planning and budgeting process. Indeed, given the current financial climate, we are mindful that our settlement could have been worse than it is.
‘We will now continue with the very challenging task of scrutinising all areas of the Council’s expenditure to ensure we are as efficient as possible and that our budget is directed to our core priorities.
‘Identifying the required savings is obviously going to be difficult. However, we are confident that we will meet the challenges posed whilst continuing to work closely with our partners in delivering effective and efficient public services for the people of Argyll and Bute’.
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November 27th, 2009 at 11:49 am
While it is a very difficult time for all Councils, due to the £500 million in cuts from the Westminster Labour goverment, surly the Council keeps a reserve for such concontingencies has these. It was my belief that the A & B’s reserve was in the region of £50 – £80 million. Now I am happy to be corrected on that figure, but Dick Walsh should not be crying Wolf when front line services are being threaten with futher cuts, has they are year on year. If there is any possiblity that there are Council funds out there, hidden away i.e in long / short term savings accounts in the Banks, then they have to be utilized for the benefit of the public of Argyll and Bute. Once we have gotten throught these difficult times then they can be built back up.
November 27th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Spike
I am afraid Dick is absolutely spot on.
Whilst I agree with your comments about Westminsters £500m to suggest that the Council is sitting on £80million tucked away for a rainy day is absolute fantasy, I wish it were true. Its a matter of public record in the Audited accounts that the balance of the General fund sits at around £4million. The Council is obligated to maintain a contingency of 1.5% during the budget period to 2011-12 which basically amounts to £3.9million. The Council would be very imprudent to even consider dipping this.
I wish Spikes scenario were true.
November 27th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
why don’t argyll & bute councillors like ron simon give up their council pensions ?
councillors never used to get pensions from the taxpayer .
November 28th, 2009 at 9:35 am
I thank Cllr Simon for his reply and I stand corrected on the figure. I am surpise the amount is so small but no doubt the need to maintain a contingency fund is a legal requirement.
While the Cllr did answer the first part of the above I would be grateful if he could tell use just how much Council money, if any, is held in short / long term accounts in the Banks.