Council leader Gordan Low commented on the measures taken to balance the books for the coming financial year, against the backdrop of continuing financial challenges facing local government and the wider public sector across the UK.

He said: “There is no doubt that setting the council budget is an unenviable task with our funding position remaining phenomenally challenged. The role of our workforce has been central in terms of realising every possible saving and we continue to transform our services to ensure they are as efficient as possible. Fundamentally, we will do everything we can to protect the vital frontline services to our communities and to protect the jobs and the livelihoods of our workforce.

“With the ongoing challenging borrowing situation of high interest rates combined with exorbitant build costs, we’ve agreed to progress our current capital projects through the pre-construction phase which will allow officers to present more accurate projected build costs to Council for decision prior to entering into construction contracts.”

Projects progressing through the capital programme in the new financial year include:

• Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre – progressing to construction
• Replacement Lenzie Academy – progressing to statutory consultation
• New Hilton Recycling Centre – progressing with site plans
• Balmuildy Primary School – progressing through Planning and pre-construction
• Continuation of the Campsie Memorial Hall revitalisation project
• Bearsden PS and Milngavie PS progressing to Planning Board this Spring
• Bearsden Primary School – replacement roof and windows in advance of wider refurbishment.

In addition, new plans will now be developed for the replacement Westerton Primary School. Taking on board both feedback from the community through local engagement activity and a new opportunity to explore the purchase of additional adjacent land to the current primary school site, significantly improved plans for the original school site will now be progressed, which will be feasible with the additional space.

Councillor Low concluded: “There was agreement right across the council chamber that this is the most challenging budget we have had to set. The decisions we have taken have been difficult and it is clear that there will be further difficult decisions ahead.

“We have also agreed to continue to make representation to Scottish and Westminster governments to seek additional funding for local government for the vital services we deliver and ensure our ongoing sustainability.”