Published on:
25
June 2010
Clackmannanshire Council has ended the financial year 2009-10 with a £2.2 million surplus, following planned efficiencies and a successful effort by all staff to save funds wherever possible. This brings the Council's un-earmarked reserves to £2.77 million - exceeding the minimum recommended sum.
This places the Council in a position of greater strength as it faces the challenges of public sector reductions in spending in the coming years.
Council Leader Janet Cadenhead said: "The Council has a balanced budget for the current financial year and it is pleasing that we have managed to add to our reserves with a surplus from 2009-10. It is reassuring that we now have more money in reserve and I must thank staff for their hard work in bringing this about. There has been a great effort by everyone to bring the budget in with a bit of a surplus which can be put into the balances.
"This is not a one-off. There is a culture of best value across all services and officers will be making sure that every pound is a prisoner.
"These reserves will serve us well. The surplus puts us in a strong position to face the challenges that we know are in the pipeline. Members will be given a presentation on the likely financial scenario facing the Council for the years 2011-14 by officers during July. Scottish councils are expecting a 12% budget cut over three years. In Clackmannanshire's case, this means we need to make at least £13 million of savings. As we have seen in other local authorities we know that there will be difficult times ahead.
"We will be engaging with our customers as we set out the priorities for the funding available and the areas where savings could be made. The relatively strong budget position set out at our Special Council meeting on 23rd June will help Clackmannanshire on the long road ahead. These accounts demonstrate that we are already taking early action in anticipation of the grant reduction."