Council sets £135 million budget
David Moroney • Published 9 Feb 2012 18:40
3 Comments
COUNCILLORS have a agreed a £135 million budget for the next two years aimed at social and economic regeneration.
Inverclyde Council yesterday rubber-stamped the spending plans and also warned that further savings will have to be made in years to come.
More cash will be allocated to repairing Inverclyde's damaged roads, with an extra £3.6 million pledged, while eight primary schools will benefit from £2.6 million for refurbishment work and an extra £1 million will go towards flood prevention measures.
The budget also earmarked £600,000 to tackle youth unemployment and £600,000 to support local businesses, including streetscape and shopfront improvements at the West Station in Greenock and Dubbs Road in Port Glasgow, start up grants for new businesses and marketing support.
Yesterday's budget includes a number of 'one-off' projects, including £250,000 to refurbish Port Glasgow Town Hall, £300,000 for the Greenock parking strategy, a £200,000 environmental improvement fund, £200,000 for council-owned bowling clubs and £200,000 for Whinhill Golf Course.
Council Leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: "This administration has a proven track record of making significant investment to improve the quality of life of our communities and this year's budget reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting social and economic regeneration. Despite the pressure on budgets across the public sector we are in the enviable position of being able to invest above and beyond our £120 million capital programme."
He said the plan supports 'social and economic regeneration' despite the pressure on budgets across the public sector.
Councillor McCabe said: "I hope that there will be a particular welcome for our proposals on youth employment and business support. Given the current challenging economic climate we face, the administration believes that we need to go the extra mile to help our young people into jobs and to assist our small business sector."
Councillor McCabe said that the £120 million investment in capital projects would improve infrastructure.
He added: "It will generate significant opportunities for jobs and training at a time that they are badly needed."
Elected members have been told that if the council achieves 'workstream savings' of £4.2 million over the next two financial years, a funding gap of £11.4 million will have to be addressed as part of the financial plans for the next two years.
Councillor McCabe said: "The 2015/17 budget gap is likely to be even greater with savings of £20 million required over that period.
"In short this could mean council budgets reduced by £36 million over the period 2013/17 - effectively a 17 per cent cut."
He added that 'prudent financial management and efficiencies' put the council in a relatively strong position.
It was agreed to keep the council tax freeze in place, in line with Scottish Government policy.
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askelvis
456 posts
Feb 10, 13:26
Report commentWhat's that coming over the hill is it an election is it an election
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Dancer
12 posts
Feb 10, 19:38
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alex2123
187 posts
Feb 11, 03:02
Report comment'rubber-stamped'? oh, it must be serious lol
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