Scottish Borders Council has again developed a balanced revenue and capital budget proposal protecting frontline services including schools, teachers, care services and investment in roads across our wide rural area.
After a robust budget process, which included months of cross-party working and engagement with local communities both in person and online asking what they want from council services, Elected Members will consider the budget at Full Council today (Thursday 19 February).
The plan being presented against an increasing demand for services includes:
– Protecting social and care services and supporting our NHS colleagues, despite a £1.5m reduction in the funding provided as government grant to the Borders to support services for older people
– Investing £10 million on bus services to increase connectivity across the borders for local people
Continuing with an innovative capital programme of £424 million which has recently delivered two new secondary schools and a primary school – Peebles High and Galashiels Academy and Earlston Primary – with a new high school now under construction in Hawick.
– Continuing to work with the Community in Eyemouth as we explore options for replacement of the primary school
– Work to deliver care villages providing over £33 million to ensure developments progress at Tweedbank and Hawick
– Developing innovative solutions with partners to deliver an estimated 400 new homes at Tweedbank supporting local people while attracting more to live in the Scottish Borders
– Building new industrial units and more office space to encourage business to locate here and thrive
– Providing £12 million to ensure every Borders young person requiring specialist out-of-authority care can be supported, wherever possible within the Region
– Maintaining teacher numbers and no reductions to additional needs support in our schools.
– Investing in new services to support children, young people and adults with additional needs
– Building on inward investment and attracting exciting events to the Borders to boost our economy with a new £412,000 economic development fund to support and grow this success
– Spending £87 million on the upkeep of the 1,800 miles of roads across the Scottish Borders
– Providing funding for Live Borders as it works through its robust transformation to deliver leisure facilities fit for the 21st century
– Supporting our communities’ local festivals and community halls with funding of £165,000 per year
– Keeping Council Tax as low as possible at 8.5%
– Maximising Council tax from empty homes in a bid to bring properties back to life
– Phasing in additional Council Tax charges on second homes.
Around 80% of local authority funding comes from the Scottish Government and this year there has been a reduction in funding for care and support for older people. With Council tax making up only 20% of the council’s overall funding, the working group has had to carefully balance the growing need for services in communities whilst keeping Council Tax as low as possible.
Scottish Borders Council continues to have one of the lowest Council Tax Tax levels in mainland Scotland this year, currently the fifth cheapest. While the proposed budget does include an increase in Council Tax and reflects national policy changes on empty and second homes, the budget working group has kept rises as low as possible.
