Moray Council agree on budget, but pull some proposals from plans

Moray Council has set its budget for 2018-19 to secure more than £6.6 million of savings.

Proposals to cut spending on Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), and Social, Emotional and Behavioural Needs were withdrawn by the Administration Group in response to the public consultation. Home School Link Workers will remain, although three current vacancies within the service will not be filled in order to save £65,000.

Among the other decisions taken was the closure or Community Asset Transfer of town halls and community centres across Moray, a move to three-weekly collection of green bins, reduction of public toilet provision and a £1.2 million reduction in funding for Health & Social Care Moray.

For the financial year 2018-19, the roads maintenance budget will be reduced by £500,000, £30,000 funding for the Citizens Advice Bureau will be withdrawn and a management restructure will save £500,000.

Moray Council will also introduce ways to generate more income, including scrapping the 10% Council Tax discount for those with a second home in Moray, and levying charges for the collection of white goods for disposal. Council Tax will rise by 3% to raise an additional £1.2 million.

More than £4 million from Moray Council’s reserves will be used to balance the 2018-19 budget.

Council Leader, George Alexander, said for many years Moray Council has been asked to deliver services with ever-tightening finances and ever-increasing demand.

“No councillor wants to make reductions in services but we must balance the budget. I passionately believe that we are doing the best thing. We will do our utmost to make sure the effects of these cuts will be as low as possible"

“We have been listening to the public. Because we have been listening, we still provide services such as public toilets, school crossing patrollers and school librarians, none of which are statutory requirements.”

He said that with the real term reduction in spending forecast to continue for at least another three years, preparation is key.

“There are many exciting developments already under way in Moray and we must take full advantage of those and other opportunities as they develop. In order to do so, we must have a council which is financially sustainable and which delivers high quality services.”

Cllr Tim Eagle, leader of the Conservative group within Moray Council, said that openness and transparency had been at the heart of the public consultation and budget setting process, and that listening to the public had been pivotal in reversing the decision to cut CAHMS funding.

He said: “This is not a ‘slash-and-burn’ budget, this is a thought-out budget from an Administration Group which is optimistic about the future of Moray."

Cllr Tim Eagle seconded the proposed budget, which was carried by 13 votes to 11, with Cllr Wilson abstaining from the vote.