East Lothian Council Public Budget Consultation 2019-20

Overview

Transforming your Council

In recent years, East Lothian Council has sought to protect the vital public services which residents rely on. This has included action to help children achieve their potential, supporting older and vulnerable people, protecting the environment, investing in local facilities and working to build the East Lothian economy.

The Council has been on a prolonged journey of change and has reduced costs by more than £27 million over the last six years. However, like many other councils, we face significant reductions in government grant funding. The recent Financial Prospects report highlighted that  East Lothian Council may have to make savings of around £32 million over the next five years, over and above approved planned savings. This will mean that the Council is faced with some very tough choices and must consider how it can reduce costs, how it might increase income streams, do more with less, and in many areas, the way in which we currently deliver our local services will need to change.

What you need to know

• The estimated funding we expect to receive from the Scottish Government (71% of our total budget) and through Council Tax receipts and other income sources (24%) will not be enough to meet the increasing cost of services in the years ahead.
• This comes at a time of rising population growth and increased demand for services, particularly from younger and older people.
• Given the scale of the funding pressures, it is increasingly challenging to make the required level of savings without having an impact on local services and doing things differently.
• That is why council officers are working on budget savings options which would enable the council to balance its budget – as we are legally required to do. These proposals continue to be in development and no decisions can be formally taken until Elected Members meet to agree our 2019-20 budget in February 2019.

We want to hear your views

We want you to help us shape the local services which are important to you – while ensuring they can be delivered within the increasingly limited resources we have available to us.

Your views are really important to us, and it is important that every citizen across East Lothian has the right to get involved. We are looking for feedback on some of the budget proposals being considered, and also for your views on the level of Council Tax which in part helps fund local services.

You can share your views by completing our ONLINE SURVEY - before completing the survey please take the time to read the Budget Consultation Information Pack (under 'Related' below)

(You can also email comments to youpayhaveyoursay@eastlothian.gov.uk; or post them to East Lothian Council, John Muir House, Haddington, EH41 3HA)

A printed version of the budget consultation pack is available on request by emailing the above email address or phoning 01620 827270