Falkirk Council gets 5.3% increase in revenue fundingFalkirk Council is to receive an extra 5.3% in Scottish Executive revenue funding next year. This is one of the biggest increases, which range from 3.6% to 5.5% and average 4.7%. “Falkirk Council is getting nearly £12m extra revenue funding, taking their total to £237.6m,” said Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie. ”This is a generous settlement for Falkirk, well ahead of inflation, which should safeguard services, and allow the council to extend provision, without big increases in council tax. “This is £4.3m up on previous announcements, thanks to a further £157m announced last week. There is also a further £61m being made available for capital expenditure, and other measures which bring the total announced to over £250m. “With this extra money next year, Aggregate External Finance funding will have increased by almost £3.2bn to £8.7bn – 58% - in the eight years since devolution. To this can be added nearly £1bn in specific revenue grants and £900m in other capital grants, making total local government funding £10.6bn in 2007-08.” The other measures include councils retaining the benefits from successive cuts in business rate poundage levels and the benefit they will receive from Executive funding of the new 'Firelink' and e-planning systems. Local authorities are also now taking advantage of the greater freedoms provided under the "Prudential regime" which Ministers introduced from April 1, 2004, to undertake further self-supported borrowing for capital expenditure, subject to affordability. The Executive agreed to look again at funding for councils for 2007-08 and in return, councils have given assurances to take action to increase council tax collection rates; continue to exert downward pressure on council tax levels; ensure effective asset management strategies are in place; increase the target level of their efficiency savings by at least £61 million; and work with the Executive to complete a study into the costs and identify best practice in delivering free personal care. For full details of the settlement, please visit the Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2006/12/13133331 |
|