Draft Budget Talks

Opposition parties are digesting Fife Council's draft budget.

The Labour led administration says £77 million worth of savings must be made by 2018, but admits jobs could go and frontline services will suffer.

The SNP says the draft budget understates the implications of some proposed cuts and claims it's 'incomplete and grossly misleading'

Councillor Tim Brett, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Fife, broadly supports the plan:

Councillors estimate £30 - £40 million could have been generated if the council tax had risen with inflation since 2008.

Councillor Dave Dempsey is leader of the Conservatives in Fife.

He doesn't believe the continuation of the council tax is necessarily a bad thing:

The council is asking Fifers for their views on the budget proposals before the final decision on next year’s budget is taken in February. Details of the proposals are available online www.fifedirect.org.uk/budget and an online consultation will be online next week.

Council Leader David Ross said: 

"We want people to become involved and give us their views and suggestions on these proposals. The draft budget will be online from next week and a programme of local meetings and events will be taking place up to the end of the year to engage in discussion on them.

"We are inviting all the political groupings represented on the council, local organisations, businesses, communities and individuals to talk to us about our proposals so that we can make a well informed decision when we finally set the budget next February."

The Council's Chief Executive Steve Grimmond said:

"It's good management practice to make sure we are working as efficiently as we can. We will continue to scrutinise how we do things to make sure we are providing best value for Fifers. I look forward to informed debate around the proposals that have been put forward by the Administration."