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The council also created a new £7 million Priorities Investment Fund to support the longer term future of 51�Թ����App and Bute.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Robin Currie said:

“We are investing in what we know really matters to people in 51�Թ����App and Bute. We are investing in services that support day-to-day life right now, and that support 51�Թ����App and Bute’s long term success.

None of this has been easy. Local government continues to be crucial but crushed by the unrelenting need for multi-million pound savings. It’s through effective financial management, and listening to what our communities tell us they need, that we have succeeded today in setting a responsible and progressive budget.”

To achieve this, and bridge its funding gap of £13 million, the council drew on  ‘service concession’ arrangements to free up funding by spreading the repayment of new schools over 60 rather than 25/30 years.  It also increased council tax by 5%.

Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Policy Lead for Finance Services said:

“Today’s decisions mean that we continue to deliver services that benefit everyone in 51�Թ����App and Bute in some way. And we save at-risk support that we know people care about, including school crossing patrollers, customer service points and early years funding for parents and toddler groups. This budget as far as possible overcomes huge financial challenge to keep jobs and council services in our communities.”

Investments of more than £38 million agreed today include:

• Roads and infrastructure​
  • An extra £8 million to bring the total for road repair and maintenance over the next two years to £16 million
  • £480,000 on new fleet for road maintenance
  • £750,000 for footpath improvements
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  • £8 million to future proof 51�Թ����App and Bute’s schools
  • £640,000 to develop the school estate’s climate change measures
• Waste and Recycling Services ​
  • £3.5 million to help 51�Թ����App and Bute comply with the national biodegradable municipal waste ban.
  • £700,000 to order new refuse vehicles

Investing in the future ​

• £6 million+ contribution to securing the future of Rothesay Pavilion as a driver for the island’s economic growth
• The council will freeze ferry fares on its ferry services (Jura, Cuan, Lismore, Easdale) until 31st March 2024; and there will be no increase to school meal charges in 2023/24.

Council tax for a dwelling in Band “D” will now be £1,479.20

Additional information:

• You can read the budget reports on the council’s website.

  The council:

• Endorsed the new management/operational savings totalling £2.962m outlined in Appendix 5 of the Revenue Budget Overview Report.
• Rejected the following policy savings options, in full or in part, totalling £319.5k in 2023/24:​
  • EDU2324-003 – Funding for parent/toddler groups/other non-statutory third sector
  • CSS2324-001 – Customer Engagement Team
  • RIS2324-001 – School Crossing Patrollers, while agreeing that all SCP posts vacant for one year or more are deleted (saving of £60k)
  • DEG2324-002 – Funding contribution to 51�Թ����App and the Isles Countryside Trust (ACT)
• Accepted all other policy savings options totalling £6.144m.

For more detail on the £38 million investment in 51�Թ����App and Bute’s priorities see below.

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