Opposition groups put forward their Perth and Kinross Council budget proposals

Feb 12 2010 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

AFTER lengthy debate in the council chambers yesterday, the administration’s budget proposals were approved.

But before the decision both the Conservative and Labour groups on the council put forward their own budget proposals, both recognising the extreme financial pressures and uncertain times which all local authorities have faced.

They also recognised the need to freeze council tax for 2010/11, thus avoiding a penalty imposed on the local authority from central government, if it had chosen to put less in reserves for future years.

Proposing the Conservative group’s budget amendment, its leader Councillor Alexander Stewart stressed they had consistently argued for the continued support of services provided to the most vulnerable residents in the area.

They chose to protect services for the young, the old and the vulnerable as well as introducing a raft of new proposals which they believe would have a real effect on the residents throughout Perth and Kinross.

Cllr Stewart said: “This year the budget process is set against a backdrop that has been described by commentators as the most uncertain time in local government finances for decades. Our challenge then is to continue to deliver quality services and to improve those that matter most and do so in a way that is affordable.”

He called for the council’s chief executive and her senior staff to “use this coming year to undertake a careful and exacting review of the council workforce and alternative ways of delivering essential services.”

He added: “Our budget amendment is reasonable and responsible and includes ploughing back over £1.3 million to safeguard and secure services as well as supporting the education provision for all of our young people.

“We have also chosen to support vulnerable adults and their families and have not increased charges on community alarms.

“We have a raft of new measures in supporting the business community across Perth and Kinross as well as proposals for winter maintenance and road maintenance and sports, leisure and arts facilities.”

Budget proposals by the council administration which the Conservatives opposed included: increase in charges for community alarms; the withdrawal of £126,000 support from Can-Able project for people with learning disabilities (the administration’s budget provides funding to Can-able of £70,000); closure of the Birch Avenue facility; and scrap the proposed 10 per cent increase in car parking charges.

THE Labour group’s budget proposals mirrored the administration’s decision to set aside some £7million of additional resources “to protect services in future years”, introduce breakfast clubs for areas in greatest need and keep unchanged the council tax for 2010/2011.

Labour leader Archie MacLellan, who presented his group’s budget amendment, re-stated the opposition to increase community alarm charges, and also called for £60,000 to be spent on extra accommodation at Muirton’s George Duncan Athletics Track to make it more attractive for national events and to encourage those young local athletes who are capable of achieving Commonwealth Games selection in 2014.

“The proposals were aimed at protecting local services, improving the environment to make the area even more attractive to tourists, making responsible and sustainable provisions for the future and maintaining healthy outdoor activities for people of all ages,” Cllr MacLellan said.