Aberdeen City Council Budget: Council tax rises by 5%, funding to Big Noise Torry cut
Leaders on the administration admitted that they needed to take some "difficult decisions"
Last updated 1st Mar 2023
Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has set its “prudent” budget for the year ahead that was agreed amid ongoing financial pressures.
It includes a 5% hike in council tax, an increase of up to 20p for school meals and cutting funding for Big Noise Torry.
Councillors met at the city’s Town House today to approve its crucial budget for the year ahead.
The local authority revealed it had to raise more than £40 million to balance the books.
A day of "difficult decisions"
ACC co-leader Ian Yuill admitted that a number of tough call had to be made, with the administration not willing to borrow any money, something the Conservative group had proposed.
But is has meant that Big Noise Torry will no longer receive any council funding.
Nicola Killean, Chief Executive of the Sistema Scotland (that charity that run the programme) said she was "shocked" and "devastated" by the news.
Cllr Lee Fairfull, who represents Torry/Ferryhill, argued "we could not be reassured of Sistema’s vision for the people of Torry."
But Conservative leader, Cllr Ryan Houghton, slammed the partnership’s proposal and said they should be “ashamed” of the cuts.
He added that “gutting” SISTEMA and Big Noise Torry was something the party never considered.
Labour councillor Ross Grant said the increased school meal costs were “deplorable” and described the budget as “horrific”.
The cost of school meals will rise by 20p for secondary pupils and 15p for primary children.
Story of the day
Protesters had gathered outside the Town House before the meeting started to show their opposition to the proposed cuts.
Cllr Alex McLellan presented the partnership’s first budget, saying it was the collective SNP and Lib Dems’s “vision for Aberdeen”.
He said: “I think it’s fair to say that a number of factors have come together to create a perfect storm.
“The challenges that we have faced are certainly the most difficult I’ve ever seen and I understand it is perhaps the most challenging set of circumstances for decades.
“With the current cost-of-living crisis, the increased cost of energy, soaring inflation and continued economic challenges, we have had to work that bit harder to ensure every pound is being spent on behalf of our citizens and to their benefit.”
He noted that council officers had laid out a number of cost saving options intended to close the budget gap, but said a number of “challenging decisions” needed to be made.
He added: “Our priority is the needs of the people of Aberdeen.”
Highlights of the budget
The partnership proposed to spend more than £200 million on Aberdeen’s school estate over the next five years.
This includes progressing plans for a new £91.5 million secondary school at Hazlehead/Countesswells to an outline business case stage.
£27.5 million will be set aside for a new primary school in the Bucksburn/Newhills area as well as Grandhome.
And a further £4 million will be spent on modernising the city’s Victorian school buildings to improve their energy standards.
They also plan to spend £17.2 million improving digital infrastructure in schools across Aberdeen, offering children a “21st Century learning environment”.
Progressing the city centre masterplan
While the council’s bid for Levelling Up funding 2 was unsuccessful, councillors reaffirmed their commitment to progress the beach and city centre masterplan.
They intend to set aside £100,000 over the next three years to support the regeneration of Union Street.
There will be a freeze on the current garden waste fee but the partnership said it would work to abolish it in the future.
Investment of £2 million will also be spent to grow the city’s electric vehicle charging network.
Local groups benefit from Common Good Fund
Funding will be given to Aberdeen Street Pastors, Tillydrone Community Trust, Fittie Community Development Trust, Bridge of Don Skatepark, Aberdeen Mela – One World Day, Bridge of Don and District Men’s Shed, and Cove Woodland Trust through the Common Good Fund.
Meanwhile, just under £1.3 million will be spent on maintaining parks across the city while £711,000 will be awarded to Aberdeen Performing Arts.
£30,000 has also been allocated for celebrations to mark the Gothenburg Greats receiving the Freedom of Aberdeen and King Charles’s coronation later this year.
The SNP agreed not to cut teacher numbers or reduce cleaning standards in schools and said they would retain the Music Service.
They also pledged to maintain its £1.6 million support to the Fairer Aberdeen Fund and revealed they have set aside £500,000 to replenish foodbanks across the city.
And £117 million will be given to the integrated joint board to provide for adult social care.
The partnership also revealed it would not cut funding to tourism agency VisitAberdeenshire.
The budget was passed by 24 votes to 12.