Budget gap proposals put to public
Clackmannanshire Council is asking residents for their views on proposals to tackle the authority’s budget shortfall.
The council estimates it will have a deficit of about £19 million over the next three years and £7 million in the next financial year, starting April 1, 2020.
To help close the spending gap for 2020-21, council officials are proposing a four per cent increase in council tax and two per cent rise in charges for leisure facilities and services provided by licensing, trading standards, waste management and environmental health teams.
Views are also being sought on a possible 1.5 per cent increase in rents for Clacks council tenants.
Officials say this is below the September rate of inflation of 1.7 per cent and would amount to an increase of £1.21 per week over 48 weeks.
And charges for the collection of garden waste from domestic properties is also under consideration. A spokesperson for the authority said a ‘transformational programme’ was being put in place to ensure the council meets its legal requirement to set a balanced budget.
The programme is aimed at putting the authority on a stable financial footing but officials warn that to achieve that outcome there will have to be changes to improve customer access and reduce costs.
Residents have until January 24 to have their say on the proposals by completing short surveys on the council website.
People unable to go online can make their views known by going along to council offices and accessing the survey there.
An ‘engagement process’ on management efficiencies and policy decisions to help close the budget gap is also underway with those impacted.
The results of the engagement will be put forward to councillors before they make the final decisions at a budget meeting early this year.
Councillor Ellen Forson, leader of the SNP minority administration, said: “I would encourage residents to fill in the online survey so that this can be shared with councillors before a budget is agreed.
“Your views are a very important part of the decision-making process.” Clacks Council is due to meet in February to set its 2020-21 budget.
Meanwhile, the council was meeting yesterday (Thursday) to consider a proposal for the introduction of charges for the collection of garden waste from 22,000 domestic properties.
If the scheme is approved, householders will have to pay an annual £36 a bin for kerbside garden waste collection once every three weeks from March to November.
Officials believe that with a take-up of the service between 30 per cent and 50 per cent, the annual charge will yield a ‘cost benefit’ of between £135,000 and £290,000. Those who do not sign up to the scheme will be encouraged to dispose of their garden waste free at Forthbank Household Waste Recycling Centre.
• Stirling Council’s costcutting and revenue-raising options are still not known.
As we reported in the Observer of December 11, 2019, proposals aimed at balancing Stirling Council’s finances for 2020-21 might not be revealed until just before they are decided in February. That’s according to Tories who called for cost-cutting options to be publicised before January 10.
However, council leader Scott Farmer said the Scottish Government, which allocates grants to local government, couldn’t produce a budget because the Westminster Government had not yet publish one due to the General Election.
He said the administration was working hard to deliver and protect public services.