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| Council tax bills in seven areas to increase by at least 5% | Council tax bills in seven areas to increase by at least 5% |
| (2 days later) | |
| A protest of voluntary groups took place outside Aberdeen Town House where councillors were considering £43m of savings | A protest of voluntary groups took place outside Aberdeen Town House where councillors were considering £43m of savings |
| Eight more of Scotland's 32 councils have made their final budget decisions for the year ahead. | Eight more of Scotland's 32 councils have made their final budget decisions for the year ahead. |
| Aberdeen, Moray, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire confirmed a council tax increase of 5% to address rising cost pressures. | Aberdeen, Moray, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire confirmed a council tax increase of 5% to address rising cost pressures. |
| In East Renfrewshire it will rise by 6% and in Falkirk by 7%, as the local authority needs to save £63m over the next four years. | In East Renfrewshire it will rise by 6% and in Falkirk by 7%, as the local authority needs to save £63m over the next four years. |
| Meanwhile, Perth and Kinross Council agreed a 3.9% increase. | Meanwhile, Perth and Kinross Council agreed a 3.9% increase. |
| Cuts to local services and increases in council tax are likely as authorities grapple with major funding gaps. | Cuts to local services and increases in council tax are likely as authorities grapple with major funding gaps. |
| A council tax rise of 10% had been recommended in Aberdeen, after the same percentage rise was approved in Orkney. | A council tax rise of 10% had been recommended in Aberdeen, after the same percentage rise was approved in Orkney. |
| On Tuesday councillors in Dumfries and Galloway raised council tax by 6%; in East Lothian it will increase by 7%. | On Tuesday councillors in Dumfries and Galloway raised council tax by 6%; in East Lothian it will increase by 7%. |
| Individual local authorities across Scotland have shortfalls ranging from around £7m to £120m, according to research published by the BBC earlier this month. | Individual local authorities across Scotland have shortfalls ranging from around £7m to £120m, according to research published by the BBC earlier this month. |
| Extra £100m for councils as tax-raising plans approved | Extra £100m for councils as tax-raising plans approved |
| Tricky decisions as Scotland's councils face budget shortfalls | Tricky decisions as Scotland's councils face budget shortfalls |
| Council tax only generates about 13% of local government funding, with most of their cash coming from the Scottish government. | Council tax only generates about 13% of local government funding, with most of their cash coming from the Scottish government. |
| Councils have faced a long term squeeze on their finances and argue that they are underfunded. | Councils have faced a long term squeeze on their finances and argue that they are underfunded. |
| Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced an extra £100m for councils last week, which he said equated to a 3% real-terms increase. | Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced an extra £100m for councils last week, which he said equated to a 3% real-terms increase. |
| There will be a Scottish government-led debate at Holyrood on Wednesday focusing on the issue of local government finance. | There will be a Scottish government-led debate at Holyrood on Wednesday focusing on the issue of local government finance. |
| What decisions are councils facing? | What decisions are councils facing? |
| Aberdeen City Council has revealed it needs to make savings of £46.6m to balance its books. | Aberdeen City Council has revealed it needs to make savings of £46.6m to balance its books. |
| The list of savings options includes plans to cut £160,000 of funding to VisitAberdeenshire. | The list of savings options includes plans to cut £160,000 of funding to VisitAberdeenshire. |
| The tourism agency is funded by the city and Aberdeenshire councils, along with economic development partnership Opportunity North East. | The tourism agency is funded by the city and Aberdeenshire councils, along with economic development partnership Opportunity North East. |
| In East Renfrewshire, there is already a £40 charge, on top of council tax, for households that want garden waste removed. This will go up to £50. | In East Renfrewshire, there is already a £40 charge, on top of council tax, for households that want garden waste removed. This will go up to £50. |
| East Renfrewshire Council is considering increasing the charge for picking up garden waste | East Renfrewshire Council is considering increasing the charge for picking up garden waste |
| The council has decided to sell its distinctive civic number plate HS 0 to the highest bidder, with experts estimating it could be worth £150,000-£250,000. | The council has decided to sell its distinctive civic number plate HS 0 to the highest bidder, with experts estimating it could be worth £150,000-£250,000. |
| Teacher and school support staff numbers have been protected though there will be a reduction in school janitorial and cleaning services. | Teacher and school support staff numbers have been protected though there will be a reduction in school janitorial and cleaning services. |
| Council bosses in Falkirk are set to use cash for paying off privately built secondary school debt to free up £15m to help deal with a £60m budget shortfall. | Council bosses in Falkirk are set to use cash for paying off privately built secondary school debt to free up £15m to help deal with a £60m budget shortfall. |
| The "technical" change in how the council pays for the construction of the high schools will allow it to set its budget without drastically slashing services. | The "technical" change in how the council pays for the construction of the high schools will allow it to set its budget without drastically slashing services. |
| The change, approved this year by the Scottish government, effectively means that local authorities can now spread the cost of payments for any public-private finance projects over the length of the building's expected life, rather than the length of any contract. | The change, approved this year by the Scottish government, effectively means that local authorities can now spread the cost of payments for any public-private finance projects over the length of the building's expected life, rather than the length of any contract. |
| Falkirk Council has agreed in principle to offload up to 133 ageing properties, a list that includes Polmonthill ski centre and Bo'ness recreation centre, while the future of Grangemouth stadium is also uncertain. | Falkirk Council has agreed in principle to offload up to 133 ageing properties, a list that includes Polmonthill ski centre and Bo'ness recreation centre, while the future of Grangemouth stadium is also uncertain. |
| Scottish athlete Eilish McColgan has backed calls for Grangemouth Stadium to be saved | Scottish athlete Eilish McColgan has backed calls for Grangemouth Stadium to be saved |
| Council tax in Moray will go up by 5% from April, meaning a band D bill will rise by just over £68 a year to £1,430. | Council tax in Moray will go up by 5% from April, meaning a band D bill will rise by just over £68 a year to £1,430. |
| The council said £49.6m is expected to be brought in from council tax in the coming year. | The council said £49.6m is expected to be brought in from council tax in the coming year. |
| Around £28m needs to be found over the next two financial years. Plans include using just under £14.77m in Covid reserves to balance the books. | Around £28m needs to be found over the next two financial years. Plans include using just under £14.77m in Covid reserves to balance the books. |
| There is also a proposal to increase temporary accommodation charges by 27%. Another proposal would see a 10% rise in the cost of burying the dead, with charges for the interment of local adults set to rise from £949 to £1,044. | There is also a proposal to increase temporary accommodation charges by 27%. Another proposal would see a 10% rise in the cost of burying the dead, with charges for the interment of local adults set to rise from £949 to £1,044. |
| In North Ayrshire, the Arran outdoor education centre could be closed to save cash. | In North Ayrshire, the Arran outdoor education centre could be closed to save cash. |
| Around 200 full-time equivalent jobs could go at Perth and Kinross Council over the next three years. | Around 200 full-time equivalent jobs could go at Perth and Kinross Council over the next three years. |
| However the council said a "small reduction" in staff numbers was likely to be achieved through managing existing vacancies and staff turnover. | However the council said a "small reduction" in staff numbers was likely to be achieved through managing existing vacancies and staff turnover. |
| A raft of cuts were proposed as council bosses attempt to fill a £31m funding shortfall. | A raft of cuts were proposed as council bosses attempt to fill a £31m funding shortfall. |
| While teachers themselves have been protected from cuts by the Scottish government, schools could still be among the worst hit. | While teachers themselves have been protected from cuts by the Scottish government, schools could still be among the worst hit. |
| Recommended savings including removing all school crossing patrollers, stopping primary swimming lessons, closing breakfast clubs and raising the price of school meals were rejected by councillors. | Recommended savings including removing all school crossing patrollers, stopping primary swimming lessons, closing breakfast clubs and raising the price of school meals were rejected by councillors. |
| School swimming lessons are under threat in Perth and Kinross | School swimming lessons are under threat in Perth and Kinross |
| South Ayrshire Council has to find £37.8m in savings over the next three years. | South Ayrshire Council has to find £37.8m in savings over the next three years. |
| The council has has kept its cards close to its chest but warned of difficult choices, given it has already spent around £7.5m more than it budgeted for last March. | The council has has kept its cards close to its chest but warned of difficult choices, given it has already spent around £7.5m more than it budgeted for last March. |
| This is largely ascribed to spiralling inflation and a 50% increase in energy prices as well as higher than expected staff pay settlements. | This is largely ascribed to spiralling inflation and a 50% increase in energy prices as well as higher than expected staff pay settlements. |
| In West Dunbartonshire, Dalmuir Library will be moved to Dalmuir community centre under proposals to plug the council's £21.6m budget gap. | In West Dunbartonshire, Dalmuir Library will be moved to Dalmuir community centre under proposals to plug the council's £21.6m budget gap. |
| The local authority also confirmed its school clothing grant will revert to £150 per child each year, after it was increased using one-off Covid funding last year. | The local authority also confirmed its school clothing grant will revert to £150 per child each year, after it was increased using one-off Covid funding last year. |
| Further savings will be made from a review of senior early learning and childcare officers and cuts to the budget for grounds maintenance in educational premises. | Further savings will be made from a review of senior early learning and childcare officers and cuts to the budget for grounds maintenance in educational premises. |
| It also unveiled a new £1m support package to help those struggling financially in the community through measures such as monthly subsidies to food banks. | It also unveiled a new £1m support package to help those struggling financially in the community through measures such as monthly subsidies to food banks. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| North Ayrshire Council | North Ayrshire Council |
| East Renfrewshire Council | East Renfrewshire Council |
| Aberdeen City Council | Aberdeen City Council |
| Perth and Kinross Council | Perth and Kinross Council |
| Moray Council | Moray Council |
| West Dunbartonshire Council | West Dunbartonshire Council |
| Falkirk Council | Falkirk Council |
| Local government | Local government |
| South Ayrshire Council | South Ayrshire Council |
| Aberdeen | Aberdeen |