Draft Council Budget Published

Fife Council is facing its 'greatest financial challenge' since it was established, that's the warning from Leader David Ross.

£77 million worth of savings must be made by 2018. Councillors say their work is being hampered due to the continuing council tax freeze and a sharp rise in demand for services, particularly health and social care.

According to the draft budget, if council tax had risen in line with inflation since 2008, the budget gap in Fife would have been around £30-40 million, rather than £77 million. 

Councillors have ruled out proposing to raise the council tax due to the financial penalty it would face from the Scottish Government which would equate to the equivalent of 50p per week for every household in the region.

Councillor Ross estimates 2, 000 jobs could also be shed over the next three years:

Seven primary schools are on course to close in Fife as part of budget savings. Councillors are also considering plans to reduce the school week to 4.5 days; however a committment has been made not to close any further schools:

Key priority areas:

• Tackling poverty and inequality
• Improving the quality of life in local communities and for individuals
• Building a strong local economy
• Building a sustainable society
• Transforming local services to work more efficiently

Investment proposals:

• Allocating an extra £2 million to older people's care and £4 million to Children's Services in 2015-16.
• Education and Children's Services could increase in cash terms over the next three years and it will make up the same or a greater proportion of the Council's overall spend than it does now. 51% of the budget is currently allocated to education.
• Health and social care services for adults and older people provided by the Council and by NHS Fife are being integrated under a new partnership arrangement from next year. Councillors say additional investment is needed from the Scottish Government and the NHS.

Temporary investment:

Making savings in a planned way over the next three years frees up just over £4 million for one-off investment in 2015-16. Proposed areas for investment:

• Further investment in employability initiatives, investing in jobs and training to get people into work.
• Investing in economic development to ensure that the jobs needed in Fife are available.
• Investment in Leven Town Centre. Leven has developed a plan to improve and renew its town centre to enhance the local economy.
• Investment in a closed loop cycle circuit close to Lochore Meadows.
• Preventative spend to support pilot approaches to: develop befriending initiatives, support looked after children and care leavers and supporting voluntary carers and young carers.
• Continuing support for the 'Quid a Kid' and free summer swim programmes.
• Continuing investment in anti-poverty work through schools.