Helensburgh Advertiser | News | Council tax is frozen as the belt tightens

Friday, 25th July, 2008

Published: Thursday, 21st February, 2008 09:30

Council tax is frozen as the belt tightens

By Tracy-Ann Carmichael

Print Article

Council taxpayers in Helensburgh and Lomond will not face an increase in the levy this year.

Members of the Argyll and Bute authority have sanctioned a freeze on council tax for the 2008/09 financial year.

Councillors met last Thursday (February 14) at the Lochgilphead HQ for crunch budget talks.

Although the cash-strapped authority faces tough challenges to meet budgets, resulting in tightening of the belt across all departments, the SNP and Independent-led coalition administration managed to steer clear of any controversial cuts. Coalition and opposition members also took the unusual step of joining forces to unanimously freeze council tax at the current Band D grade of £1,178.

This year’s budget showdown is the first since the authority became an Independent/SNP coalition last May.

Members allocated a £26m sum to remedy Argyll and Bute’s ailing roads network, £17m to the schools estate, £1m for elderly care and £1m for street lighting. But the cost of meeting the equal pay claim has put a squeeze on some budgets. Costs will mainly be met through measures including staff savings and energy and water efficiency.

Budgets will be tightened in all sectors, including operational services, where bosses aim to reduce the number of depots by 20 per cent by 2010, earmarked to produce an estimated £123,000 saving.

They also aim to reduce maintenance costs for the vehicle fleet by five per cent, estimated to save £110,000 at the end of a similar three year period. Officials claim the installation of satellite tracking devices in vehicles, which they hope will help improve the mix, size and deployment of vehicles, as well as reducing fleet maintenance costs.

Other savings will be achieved through “streamlining bureaucracy”, as part of plans for more efficient government, say the authority and “rationalisation” of office accommodation.

Council Leader Dick Walsh said: “Our budget continues the investment in the people of Argyll and Bute, for the young — in terms of education, for the elderly and disadvantaged — in terms of services such as social work, for providing a range of leisure and recreational activitiues and for providing appropriate infrastructure and support to enable our economy to grow.”

The budget also won the backing of Councillor Ellen Morton, leader of the Argyll and Bute Liberal Democrat Group, who commented: “I was delighted to be able to influence the budget process as we work towards this concise budget and I welcome the focus on core services like care of the elderly, roads and street lighting.

“There will be some difficult decisions to take in the next few years but I think this is a good start today.”

Councillor Gary Mulvaney, leader of the Argyll and Bute Conservatives, added: “I welcome the opportunity for the Conservatives to be involved and I feel that working together has given the people of Argyll and Bute a much better outcome.

“This budget has a real focus on service delivery and on the bread and butter issues that matter to people. The additional monies into care of the elderly, roads and transportation and school estates, will help to deliver better service for the people of Argyll and Bute.”

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