Aberdeenshire Council set its budget for 2016/17 today. I voted against the SNP/Labour cuts of £28m. The Liberal Democrat/Conservative/independent alliance proposed a different budget which would also save £28m, but we were outvoted by 34 to 28. We had for example wanted to put more funding towards child and adolescent mental health services, but instead there will be a cut of £200,000.
Whatever decisions were to be taken would cause difficulties and challenges. Making such a cut is not easy.
The savings had to be found because of a 1.45% cut in funding from the Scottish Government. And we cannot put up council tax, because if we did so the government would impose further cuts of £15.7m.
However, the council still has substantial resources. The total funding of local services in the region is almost £700 million, incorporating £533 million in revenue spending, £100 million in capital spending, and £60 million for housing (the housing revenue account).
The savings package includes increased charges for some services, more efficient ways of delivering services, management and administrative reviews, shared services, better procurement, investment in technology and the rationalisation and disposal of council buildings.
The budget sets aside £5 million for regeneration, £4 million for affordable housing, £2 million on renewable energy, £5 million for the City Region Deal and £1 million for capital projects.
Councillors agreed unanimously to increase council house rents by 3.75% per year over the next three years. This takes the average rent to £68.19 a week, up by £2.46. The extra income will fund the building of 53 council houses, in addition to 250 already planned. There are 10,000 or so people on the housing waiting list.