Jobs and frontline services in Perth and Kinross have been protected despite the council setting a savings target of £23 million over the next three years.
The budget also makes provision for an extra £270,000 which will allow for up to two garden and food waste bins to be collected from every household.
Through a combination of Scottish Government and council funding, an extra £1.157m will be spent on road repairs and a further £270,000 will be dedicated to economic development initiatives.
Depute leader of the administration George Hayton added, “We are planning for the future by putting money into key services which we know will lead to future savings.”
However, Alexander Stewart, leader of the Conservative group, poured scorn on the budget.
He said, “Yet again this SNP-led administration give with one hand and take away with the other and I am deeply disappointed that they choose to be selective with their priorities which are politically motivated rather than community focused and investing in the future of our citizens.
“The Scottish media labelled the finance minister’s budget as the ‘Great Swinney Swindle’ and I have to say that this is complemented perfectly by the ‘Massive Miller Manipulation’ of Perth and Kinross Council’s budget.
“The SNP-led administration has manipulated this budget to meet their own political agenda and ensure that they pay lip service to their junior partners, the Liberal Democrats. The current administration have cut the number of classroom assistants, cut support for parent councils, cut language support in our schools and cut education training.
“They have cut transport provision for those with learning disabilities. They have introduced charges for older people’s day care and introduced charges for occupational therapy equipment and cut the budget for the delayed discharges from hospital.
“They have cut play area provision, cut bereavement services, cut bus shelter facilities and cut ground maintenance. All of these will have a massive impact on residents of Perth and Kinross.”
The Conservative budget, which was only for one year and aimed to reinstate various cuts and included £100,000 of support for Pitlochry Festival Theatre, was defeated by 23 votes to 10.
The administration budget was then carried after Labour group leader Archie MacLellan said they would support it.
This followed a statement from Mr Miller in which he said they would look at items from Labour’s budget amounting to £714,000 of spending-namely welfare rights, disability athletics, community allotments and the corporate maintenance spending.
While having to endorse difficult decisions, a majority of councillors agreed the SNP-Lib Dem administration budget on Thursday, with some added concessions to the Labour group’s proposals.
Some of the most controversial proposed savings reductions in budgets for winter maintenance, public toilets, community transport and school crossing patrols and the axeing of school breakfast clubs and free fruit for P1s and 2s were rejected by all as a step too far.
Savings have been made through a series of efficiency measures, voluntary severance for 74 staff and not filling 232 vacant posts. Cuts have also been made to support for parent councils, grounds maintenance and tourism support, while more money will be saved through the closure of some kids clubs, a reduction of street cleaning and reducing opening hours of libraries and museums and community campus access.
Council leader Ian Miller said the dramatic reduction in public spending had forced the council into a position where “difficult decisions have to be made but it could have been much worse.”
Mr Miller said, “I am proud of what this council has been able to achieve in the face of unprecedented financial challenges. We are protecting crucial services and have also been able to invest additional funding where it is most needed.
“At the same time we have set a budget today that will ensure we achieve our significant savings target. We have done this through sound financial management, forward planning and policy-led budgeting.
“This budget supports the young and the old, the local economy, our environment, and our most vulnerable residents. We have also taken account of what residents have told us matters to them.
“It has been extremely hard work, for elected members and council officers, to reach this stage, and considerable challenges still lie ahead in the years to come.”
The council agreed a freeze on council tax for 2011-12 and approved a three-year budget which invests additional funding of almost £2m in key services while also meeting its savings target. Under the budget the Band D council tax level will remain at £1158 for the fifth year running.
The additional funding includes an extra £281,000 in telecare services aimed at helping elderly people live more independently in their own homes and commits £25,000 per year to support Women’s Aid and £25,000 of funding for the Women’s Rape and Sexual Advice Centre.
An additional £260,000 will help more children get a good start in life by delivering more early-intervention nurture groups.
Continued…