Budget Statement to Policy & Resources Committee

Here is the statement that I made to today's special Policy & Resources Committee when successfully moving the Administration's budget proposals:

"The proposals in front of you of course build on the provisional budget that we set in February 2009, when we agreed the Council’s first two-year budget.

I am delighted to be able to announce this investment programme that will strengthen key services and directly benefit communities across Inverclyde.

Despite the major financial challenges that face the Council we have put together a package of proposals that build on the significant funding we have already allocated through our Financial Strategy to facilitate regeneration (£24m for Riverside Inverclyde over ten years), renew the entire Schools Estate (£250m through to 2023), and deliver new and refurbished leisure facilities (£22m through to 2014).

The programme contains a number of new proposals including:

An extra £800,000 spread over the next four years to increase provision of aids and adaptations, to support the elderly and vulnerable and enabling people to stay in their own homes in their local community. The total budget for 2010/11 will now be £950,000 - £460,000 more than the budget of £490,000 originally approved for 2009/10.

£225,000 to provide five additional Primary 1 to 3 teachers in primary schools that serve the most deprived communities, to increase the standard clothing grant and expand the successful breakfast clubs initiative to ensure that an increasing number of children get a better start in life.

£105,000 to improve access to leisure facilities and community facilities for young people and uniformed organisations, promoting and supporting the valuable role played by community and voluntary groups in Inverclyde.

£350,000 to significantly improve play area provision across Inverclyde, investing in new and replacing damaged equipment and ensuring that there is a minimum standard across the area – this funding is in addition to the £250,000 allocated as part of the 2009/2010 Budget.

An initial allocation of £500,000 to pump prime projects that will help address some of the flooding problems that have affected the area recently, informed by a detailed multi agency action plan that will be produced later this year. I am hopeful that we can secure match funding from the Scottish Government to augment this allocation.

Significant one-off investment (£400,000) to repair damage caused to roads and footpaths by the recent severe weather conditions – this is in addition to the extra £200,000 already allocated from the 2009/2010 Budget agreed by Policy & Resources Committee on 2 February 2010.

£750,000 to establish a Challenge Fund that will enable local communities that have already secured funding for community facilities from other sources to seek additional support from the Council.

Increase annual funding for Riverside Inverclyde by £487,000 to £2.1m in 2010/11 to strengthen the ability of the area to respond to the challenges of the Economic Downturn.

The decision to set a detailed two year budget in February 2009 has enabled us to avoid some of the challenging issues facing other Councils – it has meant that through effective financial management, and a focus on identifying efficiencies, we have been able to maintain investment in key services.

Our priority in this Budget has been to sustain the positive programme of change which is transforming Inverclyde and ensure that the Council and the communities of Inverclyde can continue to move forward with confidence.

As we all know however, we will face extremely challenging decisions over the next few years as we seek to deliver £28m in savings. That is why it was essential that in addition to investing in key services we also approve a range of activity by officers over the next year to identify savings opportunities that will help the Council make real progress towards delivering this target.

I have to say that I am a bit disappointed – although not surprised – by the decision of the two main opposition groups to decline my offer of discussions on the budget to see if we could find common ground.

I really don’t think you had anything to lose by meeting with me.

It is a pity that the opposition parties within this Council were not prepared to show the same courtesy to the Administration as the opposition parties within the Scottish Parliament showed to the minority SNP Government.

That’s politics however and even without your input I am still confident that we have developed a package of proposals that will be welcomed by the people of Inverclyde."