Fife Council budgets: 5% Council Tax rise on cards as party’s unveil priorities
Fife Council will set its budget next week, and a 5% Council Tax rise is on the cards.
The minority Labour administration, the opposition SNP, and the Lib Dems have all settled on that figure in their proposals which will be debated at Fife House on Thursday, (February 26).
But how the funds are carved up is likely to spark debate with each of the parties outlining its key priorities.
The budget comes as the local authority operates in what Eileen Rowand, executive director, finance and corporate services, described as “a climate of financial uncertainty” with unknown impacts.
“It is clear that the financial impacts of expenditure increasing at a faster rate than funding could continue for some time to come,” she said. “The council has been able to balance its budget in recent years despite challenging settlements and the future financial sustainability of the council is of significant concern given the potential risk to core funding and the overall financial outlook.”
> Labour’s proposals
Councillor David Ross, leader of the administration, warned there was a £3.6million budget gap - and the only way to avoid cuts to essential services was to increase Council Tax.
And that gap is predicted to soar to £8.450m for 2027/28 and up to £35.097m in 2028/29.
A 5% rise would see Band D properties charged at £1,573.70 - but households would also face an 8.67% increase in water and sewage charges from Scottish Water, which the local authority has no control over.
The administration also wants to invest an extra £10.968m in Fife Health & Social Care Partnership, and increase education’s budget with a further £0.5million for additional Pupil Support Assistants and Additional Needs staff, £0.250m in the school library service and £0.200m in school swimming . It also pledged to support investment of a further £0.275m in education with details to come in the Conservative group’s amendment.
There is also more cash for environmental measures, with an additional £0.150m for climate adaptation measures and £0.230m for flood measurement and warning equipment.
It also wants to support the successful mental health response car project in Levenmouth by rolling it out across Fife with an investment of up to £0.200m.
Labour also proposes an extra £3.5million for Fife’s roads network, while Kirkcaldy is to get an extra £1million to support projects that fall outwith the scope of the UK Government’s £20million Growth Mission Fund. An extra £0.2million is earmarked to enhance Lochore Meadows including a shower block for visitors and participants in outdoor activities.
Labour also specifically rejected a number of proposals from officers. These included extra car parking charges, bringing back charges for bulky uplifts, and reducing school crossing patrols.
> SNP’s proposals
The SNP opposition group unveiled its “practical budget” which it said offered affordability and fairness for residents, protection of essential services, and targeted investment in communities. It backed a 5% Council Tax rise and investment to the health care partnership - an additional £5.5m to ensure it can meet its budget requirement.
The SNP also proposed an additional £16.4 m of targeted capital investment to improve local infrastructure and ensure towns “remain resilient and fit for the future.”
In education, it wants an extra £1.5m to support the growing pressures facing schools, particularly in meeting the needs of pupils with Additional Support Needs (ASN).
It also outlined an extra £1m for anti-poverty programmes to plug a one-off shortfall and protect essential local support families rely on, and £700,000 to be split across the region’s seven area committees,
The SNP said it would provide £0.400m of additional support for key arms-length and partner organisations, including Fife Coast & Countryside Trust, Fife Cultural Trust, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, and Fife Golf Trust.
It wants to invest an extra £0.470m in communities to strengthen local provision and support the places people rely on every day, and £0.122m to stop planned increased charges for community alarms and Meals on Wheels.
“These services are a lifeline for many older and vulnerable residents, helping people live independently and safely in their own homes. Freezing these planned increases protects residents from additional financial pressure during the cost-of-living crisis and ensures continued access to essential care and support,” the party said.
There was also £0.110m to pilot a dedicated Young Carers Lead in every secondary school across Fife, and £7.5m for the region’s roads, as well as £6.3 million for flood prevention works in high-risk locations, including areas such as Freuchie Mill, Rosyth and Benarty, and £0.5million on supporting efforts to tackle coastal defences in priority areas.
The SNP amendment rejected proposals such as cuts to school transport; new parking charges in Dunfermline and St Andrews; charging for garden-waste collection; reducing school-crossing patrols; and the partial or full closure of several Fife Council corporate offices.
“We do not believe these measures would add value or deliver appropriate benefits for Fife’s residents, and many would create unacceptable knock-on costs for workers and families,” its paper said.
> Lib Dems’ proposals
The Lib Dems backed the tax rise and extra funding for health and social care services which it said were “facing unprecedented challenges.”
It wants an extra £2.666m on a recurring basis with a one-off investment of £2.834m which will be held subject to funding agreement with NHS Fife. This provides a total of £5.5m additional funding. The Lib Dems also outlined extra cash or schools to support these young carers, and an additional £0.250m to recruit and retain PSAs .
The party also committed £1.3m to ensure that the Freuchie Mill Flooding Scheme goes ahead.
“This area faces critical flooding issues and it is essential we take steps to move ahead with this project,” it said
Its paper also outlined £7.8million for transportation projects., and an additional £700,000 to be divided equally between area committees, and £0.100m to support a project led by Fife Voluntary Action to tackle digital exclusion.
> Others
The Conservatives are seeking a commitment to invest in Burntisland Burgh Chambers in a bid to bring the historic landmark into greater use. Reform have submitted no proposals, but will respond to the key plans during the debate.