Eddie McAvoy

for the elderly, with improvements in our social work care homes included in the £251m three-year capital investment programme agreed last year.

With 500 new council houses planned, we are also helping people get a foot on the housing ladder.

Investments like these must continue if we are to keep South Lanarkshire as a great place to live and work.

But I don’t need to remind readers that the economic situation remains difficult. Even a welcome drop in the price of petrol recently doesn’t change the fact that your household budgets are still under pressure.

The same is true of the council’s budget.

With the council tax frozen for the eighth year and our grant from government facing a cut, even while demands for services are rising, we are facing another round of efficiency savings.

Approximately £20m will have to be found next year and at least £23m the year after.

The council has carried out several rounds of efficiencies already. Indeed, if you go to our website ( www. southlanarkshire. gov. uk) you will find details of how we have found 25 ways to save £72m in recent years.

But every year it gets harder to do this while protecting frontline services.

A package of savings proposals for 2015/16 is being considered by elected members and we will have to agree a balanced budget early in the new year. Some services will undoubtedly be affected, but I would like to reassure you all that we will do everything we can to limit that impact.

I’d be glad to hear your suggestions and these can be sent to savings@ southlanarkshire.gov.uk.