South Ayrshire residents asked to have their say on council budget cuts
The authority needs to make £20million in savings over the next two years
South Ayrshire residents now have the chance to have their say on the Council’s budget saving proposals for 2018-2020.
The local authority has to make an estimated £20 million worth of cuts for 2018-2020 and is looking for feedback on a number of savings which could help tackle the shortfall.
The funding gap has grown because the amount of money the Scottish Government receives from UK Government has reduced year-on-year and, subsequently, the money the Council gets from the Scottish Government has gone down too. Meanwhile the costs to deliver services have increased and the demand for many services has gone up, which also costs more money
Around 75% of South Ayrshire Council’s money comes from Government grants and non-domestic rates.
Since 2010, the Council has saved around £53 million, but this latest funding gap is the biggest yet. This means more savings need to be made and it looks like the funding crisis is set to continue over the next few years.
The result is that the public are being asked for their opinion on savings proposals which include new ways of working, increasing or introducing charges for some services, staffing restructures and service closures/reductions.
Councillor Douglas Campbell, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, said: “To help bridge this significant gap and balance the books, the Council’s Management Team has come up with a number of possible savings.
“I’m sure when the public see the proposals they will realise just how serious the situation has become. We need to focus on the services that make the biggest difference in our communities and we will no longer be able to do all the things people have taken for granted over the years.
“No decisions have been made and not all of these proposals will be taken forward. At the same time, we’re working hardtop find other ways to help balance the budget such as using reserves and looking at our debt charges, which could mean extending the time taken to pay back loans; therefore reducing our outgoings.
“That said, there will still be a significant impact and we need to know what the public feel about these proposals. For example, are people willing to pay a bit more for some services to protect others?
“I would encourage as many people as possible to have their say so that Councillors can make informed decisions when the budget is set on Thursday 1 March 2018.”
To find out more about the specific savings proposals and have your say, go to www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/balancing-the-budget.
Budget drop-in sessions are also taking place where people can ask questions and highlight the services most important to them. You can find out more details on the drop-in sessions on the Council website, at customer service centres or phone the Council on 0300 123 0900.
The closing date for the Balancing the Budget consultation is Sunday 11 February 2018.