Council groups urged to step up to the mark
Written by author on January 21, 2015
The Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council Ronnie Nicholson is urging all groups on the council to “step up to the mark” and take part in discussions to finalise the Council’s budget ahead of budget setting day on 5 February.
This week will see the completion of the public consultation over the draft budget proposals. The final public meeting on the budget takes place tonight (21 January 2015) in Annan Town Hall at 6.30 pm and local people have until 5 pm on Thursday (22 January 2015) to complete the Council’s online survey at www.dumgal.gov.uk.
So far nearly 800 people have taken part in the consultation process and Councillors will consider the outcomes before agreeing the final budget on 5 February. Council Leader Ronnie Nicholson has written to all Group Leaders on the council urging them to take part in talks to agree a final budget.
Councillor Ronnie Nicholson said, “I’m delighted that so far almost 800 people have taken part in the budget consultation process either through the Council’s online budget surveys or by attending one of our public meetings. The response to the draft budget has been positive. In particular there has been huge support for our plans to guarantee all young people a job, place in education or training within four months of them leaving school or becoming unemployed. Understandably however there have also been concerns over the fact that Government cuts mean we need to make savings of £32 m over the next three years.”
“Councillors will now need to carefully consider the feedback from the public consultation between now and setting the budget in February. Prior to publication of the draft budget I invited all Groups to sit down with me and discuss the budget and I have now written to all Leaders to make a similar offer. No single group or individual Councillor has a monopoly on good ideas. Since becoming Leader I have made clear that I’m committed to leading an inclusive Council in which all Councillors are invited to bring their proposals to the table.”
“We have radically changed the way the council sets it budget. In the past, the budget was kept secret until the final day and then we had the undignified scene of a five or six hour meeting when compromises were cobbled together in a rush during recesses in the meeting. That’s no way for a council to carry out business and make important budget decisions. Now we publish a draft budget months in advance and Groups will have to outline their final proposals that before full council on 5 February. As we move towards agreeing that meeting, I hope that all groups will step up to the mark and sit down with the Administration to discuss the final budget plans and a joint budget. The public quite rightly expect all Councillors to work together in the best interests of the local area”.
