Council budget agreed

The council is dealing with multiple spending pressures at a time of unprecedented population growth, new policy obligations, inflationary costs and increased demand for services.

While East Lothian is one of Scotland’s fastest growing areas, the council spends much more on providing local services than it receives in council tax, which provides around a quarter of the money required. For example, the council currently spends around £4,300 for every child in primary education and around £6,200 for every child in secondary education. The council spends £133 per household a year on waste and disposal services. In 2019/20, a Band D household will pay £1,242.48p in council tax – an increase of just over £1 per week.

The majority of the council’s budget comprises funding from central government. While the council has been given a one-year settlement by the Scottish Government, the council sets multi-year budgets to maintain strong financial planning.

A paper presented to Elected Members at today’s council meeting noted that, following the Scottish Government budget process, the expected revenue support grant for the council in 2019/20 would now be £169.087m, which equates to a reduction of £0.198m. When adjusted to reflect funding for new policy obligations on the council - including investment in the expansion of childcare, health and social care integration, implementation of the Barclay Review and Carers Act – this equates to an effective reduction in core revenue funding of just under £2.5 million (1.5%).

Key points agreed in this year’s budget include:

• Investment in new, improved or expanded local schools and infrastructure, with a near £300 million programme of capital investment over five years. This investment is funded by a combination of government grants, capital receipts, developer contributions and borrowing that must be paid for/serviced through the revenue account. There will be a £37.5 million investment over five years in the county’s roads.
• A £170 million investment over five years in council housing, including significant expenditure on new homes and the modernisation or extension of others.
• Council tax will increase by 4.79% in 2019/20, with indicative council tax increases of 3% in 2020/21 and 2021/22.
• Rent for tenants living in council properties will increase by 5%. Rents in East Lothian will remain among the lowest in Scotland and support investment in new council housing as described above.
• The council will draw on £3 million of its reserves to help set a balanced budget in 2019/20.
• The council will continue to develop its transformational change programme, introducing further innovation, new ways of working and helping to reduce expenditure and/or increase income. Some service reviews will take place to support new and efficient ways of working and look at options for service re-design, helping to reduce costs.

Take a look at the  Council Tax & Spending leaflet which is produced annually and provides information about Council Tax and Business Rates charges for the forthcoming financial year.

Council Leader Willie Innes said:

“While this has been another very challenging budget process, East Lothian Council continues to focus on the importance of delivering our priorities – including investment in new and improved council housing, schools, local facilities and local infrastructure. Our spending plans are geared towards enhancing communities, helping children achieve their potential and supporting vulnerable people.

“Despite an adjustment to next year’s funding package for councils - as a result of the Scottish Government’s approved budget - the reality is that we are experiencing another real terms fall in the overall amount of funding available to us.

“With rising costs and additional national policy obligations, we face an increasingly challenging financial climate in Scotland’s fastest growing council area.

“We have decided to increase council tax by 4.79% - the maximum allowed – in 2019/20, and with indicative 3% increases in subsequent years. This means that, between 2008/09 (when a council tax freeze was introduced) and 2021/22, there will have been an average annual council tax increase in East Lothian of 1.2%. Council tax provides less than a quarter of the money we need to run local services and so such increases only help us to bridge the funding gap.

“This means we do need to reduce costs, continue to be innovative and develop our approach to transformation – such as increased digitisation of services, helping us to be more efficient and improve the experience of services for local residents.

“As evidenced by last year’s Best Value Report from the Accounts Commission, East Lothian Council has a strong track record of building on improvements to services while challenging ourselves to be increasingly efficient and innovative. Our valued staff in communities across East Lothian continue to have a key role to play in delivering high-quality local services, as we ensure our structures and working practices are as efficient and effective as possible. 

“And we will continue to work with communities to ensure local people are empowered and enabled in helping to play their part in realising our vision for East Lothian – for example giving communities the opportunity to run some local community buildings.

“In doing so, and in the face of these significant financial pressures, the council can maintain its focus on continuous improvement, provide the highest possible standard of service to local communities and deliver on our priorities - helping to build the more prosperous, safe and sustainable East Lothian we all want to see.”