Calls to protect music lessons and introduce free Saturday parking were rejected by councillors as they thrashed out a financial package for the coming year.
Perth and Kinross Council chiefs adopted their annual budget following exhaustive, protracted and often heated negotiations.
The SNP administration’s plan, which pledged a £10 million investment to safeguard frontline services, triumphed following a 22-12 vote.
Although the main body of the package was broadly welcomed, the SNP group came under fire for proposals to cut spending on public transport, as well as its review of music lessons and other cultural services.
Eventually, council leader Ian Miller agreed not to cut the public transport budget, and retain local services, after pressure from Labour members.
But he stressed that a consultation on proposals to allow trusts to operate cultural services was not a cut, but “a review of efficiency”.
The Conservatives’ bid to introduce free off-street parking on Saturdays in Perth and Kinross was defeated.
Members had also urged council leaders not to invest £500,000 into the long-awaited A9/A85 roadwork and Perth Theatre projects, but instead ask for a contribution from the Scottish Government.
Tory group leader Mac Roberts said the parking move would “help boost the economy of our city and town centres”, while the £500,000 saved by the council could be spent on other developments and projects.
But SNP member John Kellas, enterprise and infrastructure convener, said the free parking spaces would be used by traders and that rejecting money set aside for the A9/A85 scheme could cause major delays.
Labour successfully argued against a 6% public transport cutback, claiming it could have an impact on elderly and vulnerable residents.
They also managed to persuade the SNP to adopt a £220,000 plan for extra flood defences in North Muirton.
Mr Miller said: “This budget builds on our success in protecting services over the last few years.
“It also continues our desire to prepare the council and our communities for the future.
“Our budget reaffirms the commitments we have already made, and most importantly delivered on, in the next few years.”
He added: “At this juncture, there is no certainty regarding future funding.
“However, the stark reality is that we face a further period of austerity and tough decisions will be required by the chamber.
“The role of the council will be tested in the next few years in how we manage this challenging period.
“However, the starting point is this council has an excellent story to tell its citizens.”BUILDING BRIDGESThe budget was all about building bridges for people living in some of the most deprived areas and helping them achieve a brighter future.
But it was also about building actual bridges or at least restoring them.
Councillors agreed to spend £1 million on the first stage of a new study of the region’s ageing bridge network.
Council leader Ian Miller said the seven-figure sum would just be enough to get the ball rolling.
It is estimated that to bring all crossings up to standard will cost some £13 million.
Elsewhere, there was a £150,000 investment to support school pupils who need extra support while a further £35,000 will be put into Woodlea Cottage, a residential support service.
The main pay-outs agreed included £100,000 for the Citizens Advice Bureau, just over £1 million for Evidence 2 Success, a scheme to give children a better start in life, and £439,000 for a new employment programme for graduates and apprentices.
An extra £1 million will be ploughed into road repairs and £200,000 is to be spent on improving broadband in rural areas.NO NEED FOR A ‘BUN FIGHT’Perth and Kinross Council leader Ian Miller says he’s not one to blow his own trumpet but even he might grudgingly accept that, compared to most, his council’s economy is in remarkably rude health.
Not many council bosses this week will be in a position to begin their budget speeches with the words: “It gives me great pleasure”
The local authority has successfully avoided the service cuts and job losses being proposed by other councils.
In fact, it has gone one better and revealed substantial inward investment.
Mr Miller says this has been achieved by a great deal of forward management, with much of this year’s budget actually being put in place last February.
His party came up with a solid proposal for this year’s budget, although its plan for a 6% cut to the public transport budget was perhaps understandably attacked by other parties and eventually dropped.
Thursday’s discussions at Dewar’s Sports Centre became heated as different parties clashed over the finer details.
It wasn’t the “bun fight” one councillor had promised, but at the same time, council rivals weren’t going to let the SNP plan through without first putting up a battle.
However it was clear everyone was reading from the same hymn sheet, with a genuine interest in the future of the region.