Published on:
21
December 2012
Clackmannanshire Council is facing some extremely difficult and "challenging" decisions in the lead up to setting the 2013/14 budget.
In the latest settlement round, when compared with other Scottish councils, Clackmannanshire has fared relatively well.
This however, still results a significant real terms reduction in funding over the period and the need to find £7.086 million of savings for 2013/14 to allow the Council to set a balanced budget.
Council Leader, Councillor Gary Womersley said: "This position presents an unprecedented level of challenge when considered alongside the £9.3 million of budget savings already made by the Council in the last two years alone.
"It is imperative that the Council focuses its attention on setting a balanced budget for 2013/14."
"There is no doubt that the budget setting process for 2013/14 will be extremely challenging. The Council is facing some extremely difficult decisions.
"In the run up to setting the budget, this Administration remains committed to its principles of transparency and openness."
Council was updated on Thursday on the progress with the preparation of the budget, the full range of officer options under discussion with a paper tabled to let all stakeholders see the sort of tough choices the Council will need to make. when it meets to set its budget early next year.
The same paper set out the arrangements for an open online consultation via ClacksWeb on the broad range of options submitted by officers. The consultation will run from 20th December to 18th January 2013. The Council is keen to hear your views so that as far as possible, in such difficult circumstances, it is able to take your views into account.
Anyone who would prefer a paper copy can call the Contact Centre on 450000 and one will be posted out. We are also happy to receive written representations.
No decisions will be taken by the Council until it sets its budget at the formal Special Meeting of the Council in 2013.
Whichever options are taken forward in the budget setting process, the Council remains committed to working with those affected by the changes to find the most effective and equitable way of implementing the changes.
Overall the UK Budget, and consequently the Scottish Budget, is set to project a real terms reduction for eight consecutive years from its peak in 2009/10 through to 2017/18.
The ongoing reduction in the level of resource available to the public sector comes at the same time as a range of new responsibilities are being passed to local government to administer, most notably the range of proposed welfare reforms.
Councillor Womersley added: "The funding for the cost of implementing these new reforms, including new computer systems, is not clear in some cases, and in other cases falls substantially short of the actual costs of implementing the changes.
"For this reason, it is clear that the Council needs to make a change in its approach for future years if it is going to establish a sustainable cost base. This paper by officers has given us a wife range of options to consider."
Recent reports to Council by the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Nikki Bridle, have outlined plans to develop a more sustainable programme of corporate transformation which is closely aligned with the recommendations of the Christie Commission report, the new Community Planning arrangements and refresh of the Single Outcome Agreement.
Councillor Womersley went on: "These developments will be critical in allowing the Council to develop its budget proposals for future years."
The UK Chancellor's Autumn Statement confirms that further real terms cuts will take place in the UK Budget up to 2017/18. This is an extension of a further year to bring the UK fiscal deficit back into balance