Tough financial challenges will not stop £1 million being invested in reducing flood risks in a Perthshire town, according to council leader Ian Miller.
He was speaking in advance of the last Perth and Kinross Council strategic policy and resources committee on Wednesday before the budget setting meeting the following day.
The committee will be told there is a projected underspend on the 2012/13 general management budget of £5.6m. He promised cash to help stop floods in Comrie, which was hit twice last year.
“Perth and Kinross Council, like all public sector organisations, faces extremely difficult financial challenges in the years ahead,” Mr Miller warned.
“Our population is increasing. Our resources are decreasing. Council services play a vital role in the lives of our communities.
“To ensure that we can do this into the future, we must continue to make considerable savings and find ways of changing how we deliver crucial services.
“I am proud that Perth and Kinross Council has a strong track record in sound financial management and hard working employees. This puts our council in a strong position to meet the challenges of the extremely difficult financial climate in which we are all working.
“Services are achieving efficiencies ahead of schedule and, therefore, underspends in budgets.
“We are making savings in our procurement programme by working with Angus and Dundee Councils and we are in a position to invest over £1m to support the people of Comrie in reducing flood risk.
“The decisions we will have to make when we set our budgets will not be easy.
“However, the people of Perth and Kinross can be confident that they will be based on our commitment to make the best use of public resources and deliver vital services that work for the people who need them.”
In November, the Scottish Government announced its provisional settlement for local government.
For Perth and Kinross Council this was an increase in funding of £2.899m (1.2%) for 2013/14 and £1.064m (0.5%) for 2014/15.
However, given inflation and the increase in running costs, this represents a reduction of approximately 1.3% in 2013/14 and 2% in 2014/15.
rburdge@thecourier.co.uk