Agenda item

Under the terms of Standing Order 26 Council agrees to revisit - as part of the Opposition Budget motion - its decision at the meeting of 30th January 2020 in respect of agenda Item 12 (CCTV Provision in the Scottish Borders).

This Motion is seconded by Councillor Robson and signed by Councillors A. Anderson, H. Anderson, J. Brown, K. Chapman, K. Drum, H. Laing, C. Ramage and E. Thornton-Nicol

The Opposition Parties on Scottish Borders Council – the Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrat Party recommend that Council

(i)      approves the Opposition Parties’ alternative 5 year revenue plan 2020/21 – 2025/26  and alternative 10 year capital investment plan 2020/21- 2030/31 set out in documents 9(b) and 9(c); and in doing so,

(ii)      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 the Table 1 below;

Table 1.

(iii)     notes the following principals and proposals:

1.         The Opposition Parties have prepared an alternative 5 year revenue plan of £1.51bn for the Scottish Borders and a 10 year capital plan of £464m;

·                This budget builds on opportunities and improves the lives of Borderers whatever their age by Investing in our Future. It focuses on delivering quality services, opportunities for all in a thriving economy, empowering communities and enabling people to live independently and achieve their goals.

·                This budget rebuilds educational capacity, protects teacher ratios, library services, school mental health services and frontline Council services; whilst also recognising that we must modernise service delivery and make efficiencies.

·                The Opposition budget specifically proposes :-

Ø   £24.7m investment over ten years into new or refurbished Primary schools

Ø   To expand the program of High School provision through renewing or replacing secondary schools in Galashiels, Peebles and Hawick by 2027 at a cost of £128.2m

Ø   £18.5 investment in two new nursing homes

Ø   Investing a further £5.9m capital and £4.5m revenue in 2020/21 into Early Learning & Childcare

Ø   To continue investment to a total of £55.2m in flood studies and Flood & Coastal protection over the capital period

Ø   To reinstate Librarians in all High Schools

Ø   To commit funding for a Climate Change Champion and to invest revenue in environmental and bio-diversity projects

Ø   To revisit the Council decision of January this year and renew public sector CCTV in priority towns

2.            The Opposition Parties propose to finance the associated Revenue and Capital costs through rescheduling Community Fund investment, though discontinuing the second Council-funded CAT team when its contract comes up for renewal and through changes to the Council Tax across all Bands.

(iv)    agrees that Scottish Borders Council mainstreams funding – initially £1m - from September 2020 into Borders Decides.  This will devolve decisions about road maintenance, traffic management and the environment to local level.  Prioritisation of spend will be decided by the community through participative budgeting, and based on officer recommendations.

With reference to paragraph 9 of the Minute of 30 January 2020, and in terms of Standing Order 26, Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor Robson, moved the motion as detailed on the agenda in the following terms:-

“Under the terms of Standing Order 26 Council agrees to revisit - as part of the Opposition Budget motion - its decision at the meeting of 30th January 2020 in respect of agenda Item 12 (CCTV Provision in the Scottish Borders).

This Motion is seconded by Councillor Robson and signed by Councillors A. Anderson, H. Anderson, J. Brown, K. Chapman, K. Drum, H. Laing, C. Ramage and E. Thornton-Nicol.

The Opposition Parties on Scottish Borders Council – the Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democratic Party recommend that Council:

(i)      approves the Opposition Parties’ alternative 5 year revenue plan 2020/21 - 2025/26 and alternative 10 year capital investment plan 2020/21 – 2030/31 set out in documents 9(b) and 9(c) on the agenda; and in doing so

(ii)      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 the Table 1 below:

          Table 1

(iii)     notes the following principles and proposals:

1.  The Opposition Parties have prepared an alternative 5 year revenue plan of £1.51bn for the Scottish Borders and a 10 year capital plan of £464m;

·      This budget builds on opportunities and improves the lives of Borderers whatever their age by Investing in our Future. It focuses on delivering quality services, opportunities for all in a thriving economy, empowering communities and enabling people to live independently and achieve their goals.

·      This budget rebuilds educational capacity, protects teacher ratios, library services, school mental health services and frontline Council services; whilst also recognising that we must modernise service delivery and make efficiencies.

·       The Opposition budget specifically proposes :-

Ø£24.7m investment over ten years into new or refurbished Primary schools

ØTo expand the program of High School provision through renewing or replacing secondary schools in Galashiels, Peebles and Hawick by 2027 at a cost of £128.2m

Ø£18.5 investment in two new nursing homes

ØInvesting a further £5.9m capital and £4.5m revenue in 2020/21 into Early Learning & Childcare

ØTo continue investment to a total of £55.2m in flood studies and Flood & Coastal protection over the capital period

ØTo reinstate Librarians in all High Schools

ØTo commit funding for a Climate Change Champion and to invest revenue in environmental and bio-diversity projects

ØTo revisit the Council decision of January this year and renew public sector CCTV in priority towns

2.    The Opposition Parties propose to finance the associated Revenue and Capital costs through rescheduling Community Fund investment, through discontinuing the second Council-funded CAT team when its contract comes up for renewal and through changes to the Council Tax across all Bands.

(iv)    agrees that Scottish Borders Council mainstreams funding – initially £1m - from September 2020 into Borders Decides.  This will devolve decisions about road maintenance, traffic management and the environment to local level.  Prioritisation of spend will be decided by the community through participative budgeting, and based on officer recommendations.