Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

Motion by Councillor Haslam

The Conservative/Independent Alliance Administration recommend that Scottish Borders Council

 

(i)      approves a council tax increase of 4.84% for financial year 2020/21 commencing 1 April 2020, with a band D equivalent of £1,253.91 as set out in table 1 below;

Table 1.

Council Tax band

Proportion of Band D Council Tax

Annual charge applicable from 1st April 2020

 

 

 

A

6/9

£835.94

B

7/9

£975.26

C

8/9

£1,114.59

D

9/9

£1,253.91

E

12/9

£1,647.50

F

15/9

£2,037.60

G

18/9

£2,455.57

H

22/9

£3,072.08

 

(ii)      approves the Administration’s 5 year revenue plan 2020/21 – 2025/26  and 10 year capital investment plan 2020/21- 2030/31 set out in documents 9(a) and 9(c); and in doing so,

 

(iii)     notes the following:

The publication of the Local Government Settlement on the 6th February 2020 confirmed a reduction in the core revenue support grant from central Government to Scottish Borders Council of £1.8m (0.9%) and a reduction in Capital Grant of £4.2m (25.5%)   in 2020/21, compared to the 2019/20 Settlement issued by Scottish Government in December 2018.

These reductions have been compounded by lack of clarity with regard to the new funding model for School replacement which has changed significantly from the previous model on which we based our plans a year ago.  These issues have left the Council Administration with no credible alternative other than to increase the Council Tax by 4.84%, as allowed by the Local Government Settlement, in 2020/21.  This increase replaces resources lost through Scottish Government cuts elsewhere in the Settlement.  The council tax increase will provide the ability to invest in new schools and care facilities that are desperately needed in our communities at a time when capital grant from the Scottish Government has been cut. 

The income raised by the Council tax increase will provide up-front capital finance to transform Peebles High School, and deliver Community Campuses to replace Galashiels Academy and Hawick High School much earlier than would otherwise have been possible and in line with previously agreed timescales.

The income raised will also help the Council to invest in 2 new 60 bed Care Homes in Hawick and the Central Borders to better meet the needs of a growing elderly population in the Borders. 

While these facilities are in the planning and development phase, the increased Council Tax will fund investment in improving the condition of the road network with a further £2.2m invested on top of the additional £2.3m announced in last year’s budget.  This funding is to fund extra road resurfacing and pothole repairs in our communities in response to the priority feedback provided by 953 responses to the consultation on the 2020/21 budget.  

Taken together the increases in the Council Tax approved by this Administration will deliver £4.3m of extra investment in improving the condition of the road network.  With this additional resource, the total investment in the road network proposed by this budget will total £40.4m in revenue the next five years and £84.6m in capital over the next ten years.

In addition, we will transform 3 of our High Schools and provide 120 new care beds for our most vulnerable elderly population.  These developments will occur in Hawick and the Central Borders.

A particular welcome feature of this year’s budget process has been the significant increase in the level of engagement of Borders citizens.  We have listened to the 953 responses from our public budget consultation.  The priority of our residents was very clearly roads, protecting our winter services, reducing fly tipping and dog fouling.  This budget reflects those priorities and continues our ambitious programme of investment in outdoor community spaces.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Haslam, seconded by Councillor Aitchison, moved the Motion as detailed on the agenda, thus:

 

“The Conservative/Independent Alliance Administration recommend that Scottish Borders Council:

 

(i)      approves a council tax increase of 4.84% for financial year 2020/21 commencing 1 April 2020, with a band D equivalent of £1,253.91, as set out in table 1 below: 

 

          Table 1

Council Tax band

Proportion of Band D Council Tax

Annual charge applicable from 1st April 2020

 

 

 

A

6/9

£835.94

B

7/9

£975.26

C

8/9

£1,114.59

D

9/9

£1,253.91

E

12/9

£1,647.50

F

15/9

£2,037.60

G

18/9

£2,455.57

H

22/9

£3,072.08

 

(ii)      approves the Administration’s 5 year revenue plan 2020/21 – 2025/26 and 10 year capital investment plan 2020/21 – 2030/31 set out in documents 9(a) and 9(b) on the agenda; and in doing so,

 

(iii)     notes the following: 

         

          The publication of the Local Government Settlement on the 6th February 2020 confirmed a reduction in the core revenue support grant from central Government to Scottish Borders Council of £1.8m (0.9%) and a reduction in Capital Grant of £4.2m (25.5%) in 2020/21, compared to the 2019/20 Settlement issued by Scottish Government in December 2018. 

 

          These reductions have been compounded by lack of clarity with regard to the new funding model for School replacement which has changed significantly from the previous model on which we based our plans a year ago.  These issues have left the Council Administration with no credible alternative other than to increase the Council Tax by 4.84%, as allowed by the Local Government Settlement, in 2020/21.  This increase replaces resources lost through Scottish Government cuts elsewhere in the Settlement.  The council tax increase will provide the ability to invest in new schools and care facilities that are desperately needed in our communities at a time when capital grant from the Scottish Government has been cut. 

 

          The income raised by the Council tax increase will provide up-front capital finance to transform Peebles High School, and deliver Community Campuses to replace Galashiels Academy and Hawick High School much earlier than would otherwise have been possible and in line with previously agreed timescales.

 

The income raised will also help the Council to invest in 2 new 60 bed Care Homes in Hawick and the Central Borders to better meet the needs of a growing elderly population in the Borders. 

 

While these facilities are in the planning and development phase, the increased Council Tax will fund investment in improving the condition of the road network with a further £2.2m invested on top of the additional £2.3m announced in last year’s budget.  This funding is to fund extra road resurfacing and pothole repairs in our communities in response to the priority feedback provided by 953 responses to the consultation on the 2020/21 budget.  

 

Taken together the increases in the Council Tax approved by this Administration will deliver £4.3m of extra investment in improving the condition of the road network.  With this additional resource, the total investment in the road network proposed by this budget will total £40.4m in revenue the next five years and £84.6m in capital over the next ten years.

 

In addition, we will transform 3 of our High Schools and provide 120 new care beds for our most vulnerable elderly population.  These developments will occur in Hawick and the Central Borders.

 

A particular welcome feature of this year’s budget process has been the significant increase in the level of engagement of Borders citizens.  We have listened to the 953 responses from our public budget consultation.  The priority of our residents was very clearly roads, protecting our winter services, reducing fly tipping and dog fouling.  This budget reflects those priorities and continues our ambitious programme of investment in outdoor community spaces.”

 

Supporting documents:

 

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