Skip Navigation,Sitemap

Border Telegraph

Third council tax freeze announced in council budget

Published 1 Feb 2010 14:02 Mobiles Print Comments 0 Comments

Jump to first paragraph.

Share this Facebook Twitter Google Buzz Delicious DIGG Reddit Stumbleupon Email RSS

A THIRD consecutive freeze on Council Tax and significant investment in Social Work and Education are among the 2010-2011 budget proposals outlined by Scottish Borders Council's political Administration this week.

The proposals will go to Council for approval on Thursday, February 11. They also include continued investment in nursery and pre-school provision and an increase in foster care allowance rates - as well as continued investment in the school estate. The Council's budget will rise to almost £269 million.

Leader of the Council, David Parker, said: "Setting our budget is always a challenge - particularly so this year with difficult global economic circumstances and a package from the Scottish Government which was £4.3 million less than we had anticipated.

"However, I believe we have come up with solutions which put this Council on a sound financial footing and which preserve our frontline services.

"I am also extremely pleased to announce that, once again, we will not be using our Reserves to support this budget."

Depute Leader (Finance) Neil Calvert added: "The Council's on-going efficiency drive and service reviews have meant that we have been identifying savings on an on-going basis, which has left us in perhaps a healthier place budget-wise than many other local authorities this year - given the less-than-expected funding from the Government.

"I am pleased to see that, as well as identifying savings in this budget, we have continued to make significant investments in service improvement. I hope the people of the Borders will welcome these investments as good news for the region."

Depute Leader (HR) Alec Nicol said: "A lot of hard work has been put in from every Council department to find ways of running our services in a more efficient way - meaning we are using our budget in a way which will be of maximum benefit to local people.

"One of the main savings this year will be through the move to fortnightly general waste collections. This will have an important knock-on effect of reducing the Council's carbon footprint and driving up recycling rates and so avoiding environmental fines which could potentially cripple the Council.

"I am certain that our continued investment in frontline services will mean Borders residents will see the benefits."

Post a comment

Registered users log in here

If you are registered with us, you can login here. If you are not registered, do so now.
Once logged in you wont have to complete word verification each time you post.

Prefer not to register?

Usernames must be 4 - 20 characters. Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users can also take part in competitions and other features of the site.


Enter the text as shown.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Vote

Border Telegraph Poll

Do you prefer the new road layout in Galashiels to the old system?



Other Stories

» View more stories

Play everything from Car Games to Angry Birds at Free-Games.net
Advertise here for 20 pounds a week
alt : http://www.itsintheborders.co.uk/

Most Read

  1. Galashiels businesswoman owes £1800 in parking fines
  2. Selkirk winger to make Scotland debut against England
  3. No new schools planned in Galashiels for next 10 years
  4. Care home worker stole alcohol from residents
  5. Royal row rumbles on over future of health centre in Lauder
  6. Council worker banned from road following hit-and-run

» View More Stories

You may have missed

Hot Jobs

Your social, local Business Directory - It's in the Borders | It's in The Directory | Directory Network

Copyright ©2012 Forth Weekly Press, Channel Street Galashiels TD1 1BN • Tel: 01896 758395 • Fax: 01896 759395

FacebooK Twitter RSS Feeds