Dumfries and Galloway Council had a meeting on 7 February 2013 to determine the Council's budget and council tax level for the upcoming financial year for 2013/14.

At the meeting, Council Leader, Ivor Hyslop said "In the next financial year our Council must make savings of £7.2 million, having already made reductions of £29.3 million over the previous three years. To continue delivering balanced budgets we must save nearly as much again - £27 million over the coming three years.

Our budget avoids compulsory redundancies, supports small businesses through a package of targeted measures and expands our graduate employment and apprenticeship schemes.

We are continuing to support civic pride initiatives and this year make specific provision, in the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, to recognise and support sporting excellence. We are also introducing Community Commissioning Pilots and support for burial grounds maintenance.

We also recognise the importance of reducing our Council's physical office estate and carbon emissions."

Key decisions made at the meeting were:

• Council tax rates will be frozen in Dumfries and Galloway. Council tax rates have not risen since 2007. Our Council continues to have the lowest council tax rate in mainland Scotland - approximately £100 under the Scottish average.
• The Council agreed to invest £2.5 Million in key priority areas. This budget will be used in key activities where we can develop our Council's policies to deliver for the people in our region.
• Dumfries and Galloway Council needs to save £27 Million over the next three years. This equates to £7.2 Million for 2013/14. Councillors agreed the savings proposals that will achieve this target. Details of these savings can be found in the templates below:

Savings Proposals

Listed below are the different templates outlining the savings proposals. 

Education

•  Secondary Efficiency Savings [280kb]
•  Cross Sectoral – Family Learning/Home School Link [234kb]
•  Primary Removal of Staff Allowances [245kb]
•  Joint Delivery of Services [247kb]
•  Teacher Refresh – Tranche 2 & Teachers ERVS [239kb]
•  ICT – Infrastructure and Investment & Cross Sectoral Training [244kb]
•  Primary Management Days [234kb]
•  Education Central Support Staff [234kb]
•  Removal of Cluster Funding [234kb]

Planning & Environment

•  Reduction in Payments to Other Bodies [244kb]
•  Management/Staffing Reductions (and associated savings) through review of service activities [232kb]
•  Energy Efficiency Measures [234kb]
•  Reduction In Street Cleansing inputs [237kb]
•  Parks and Garden Disposal Costs [230kb]
•  Road Structural Maintenance [233kb]

Community & Customer Services

•  Integration of Libraries, Customer Service Centres & Registration [262kb]
•  Third Sector Grants [231kb]
•  Community Facilities Review [237kb]
•  Libraries Materials Fund [236kb]
•  Management Savings and Operational Efficiencies [238kb]
•  Adult Learning services [241kb]

Chief Executive Service/Corporate

•  VOIP Telephony Project [239kb]
•  Efficiency Programmes, Procurement, Review of Supplies & Services Costs [236kb]
•  Management/Staffing Reductions (and associated savings) through Review of Service Activities [236kb]
•  Corporate Control of Staff Costs/Single Status Phase 2 [234kb]
•  Non-Schools Property Rationalisation [229kb]
•  Corporate Transport [242kb]

Policy Development Funding

•  Civic Pride [53kb]
•  Crichton Business Plan Support [48kb]
•  GIRFEC – Integrated working [43kb]
•  GIRFEC Early Intervention [45kb]
•  Graduate Experience Employment Programme and Undergraduate Placements [55kb]
•  Music Instruction [40kb]
•  Senior Mixed Doubles World Curling Championships [50kb]
•  Support for Local Businesses [52kb]
•  Talented Athlete Development Programme [48kb]
•  Welfare Reform – Enhanced Advisory Services & Other Impact Alleviation Measures [49kb]

Equality Impact Assessment Summary Sheets

•  Budget Equality Impact Assessments 2013/14 [17kb]

Updated 7 February 2013