More than £20 million will be invested in Clackmannanshire’s council housing during the coming financial year including buying houses on the open market to help cut housing waiting lists.
The housing capital programme was agreed at yesterday’s special meeting of the council as was a rent rise increase of 4.2% for 2014-15.
The capital investment in the year ahead includes an allowance of £2.45m for new build council houses to support the Government’s affordable housing supply programme. This includes the developmentof houses on the site of the former Fairfield School in Sauchie, the completion of the development at Hallpark, Sauchie, and purchasing properties from the open market.
At the meeting councillors agreed a number of long-term financial planning actions which will help the council to bridge the funding gap over the next four years.
The council’s revenue budget of £115.384m for the year ahead was agreed, while the 2014-15 budget also included savings of £4.312m.
Council tax is to be frozen for the seventh year, maintaining bills at 2007-08 levels.
Council leader Gary Womersley said: “We are delivering a wide-range of initiatives which I believe will make a difference to the people of Clackmannanshire.
“The theme of this budget is financial stability and sustainability, while preserving performance levels and continuing to achieve the best possible outcomes for the people of Clackmannanshire.
“This budget does include significant savings and, in light of the challenging financial context within which the council now operates, we have made major efforts to improve our approach to budget consultation.”
Growth items announced at the budget meeting included a continuation of the £10,000 annual financial support to back local foodbanks for a second year, the establishment of an £800,000 tenant and community improvement fund over the next four years and financial support of £75,000 to Ochil Leisure Enterprise, accompanied by a service level agreement, to assist with the running of Alva Pool until March 2016.
Mr Womersley also announced an allocation of £5,000 will be set aside to go towards the potential establishment of new holiday lunch clubs for children who are entitled to free school meals.
“The scale of the challenge facing the council remains clear, especially given the level of savings already made in previous years,” he said.
“That’s why I’m pleased that we are now able to establish a longer term outlook, which will assist in bridging the anticipated gap of £25m to 2018. This has been a challenging process and we have had to make difficult decisions.
“Some of the decisions we have made today will change the way that services are delivered. We have focused on agreed priorities and planned for future increasing demand for our services, while trying to preserve performance levels and minimise the impact on local residents as much as possible.”
It was acknowledged employment costs will need to be reduced in future to allow the council to function within its funding allocations in the future.
Mr Womersley was keen to acknowledge the role both staff and unions played in helping ensure there were no compulsory redundancies as part of the budget.
More than £14m will also be invested in Clackmannanshire’s schools, public buildings and roads in 2014-15.