"Council services support all our lives every day in different ways. Everything we do matters and makes a contribution to life in 撸sir视频 and Bute, which is what makes setting the council鈥檚 budget so challenging.鈥
Councillor Jim Lynch, Leader of 撸sir视频 and Bute Council set out the challenge as the council prepares to set its budget next week:
"We face a budget gap of nearly 拢11 million in 2025/26. This is estimated to increase to nearly 拢57 million over the next four years. That鈥檚 a staggering amount. Especially as the council鈥檚 already delivered tens of millions of pounds of savings in recent years. How can we keep services that people need and want going? How can we deliver most benefit from the budget the council has? Those will be key points for consideration when we set the budget next week.鈥
The Council meets on Thursday 27 February to set the budget.
Councillor Ross Moreland, Policy Lead for Financial 撸sir视频 said:
"The Council works hard to attract millions of pounds from government and other national funding streams to make possible things that the council budget alone could not deliver. Decisions made today highlight that, with funding agreed to support various projects across 撸sir视频 and Bute. This kind of additional income however comes with criteria for what it鈥檚 used for and doesn't unfortunately reduce the budget gap for day-to-day services, like running schools, collecting bins or funding social care.鈥
At yesterday鈥檚 meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee, councillors agreed project funding from various sources including the UK Prosperity Fund, Crown Estates and Community Regeneration Partnership Funding.