Angus Council has stepped back from the financial abyss, according to the authority’s finance figurehead.
After two years of belt-tightening to tackle a budget gap of more than £33 million and despite facing the challenge of finding further savings of £25m in the next 24 months, depute council leader Angus Macmillan Douglas said he believes the council is “no longer looking over a cliff”.
The Kirriemuir and Dean Conservative made the assertion at the latest full meeting of the council during consideration of draft accounts which saw him hail departments across the authority for hitting targets since the current coalition administration took power in 2017.
“The actual outturn is a positive balance of £10.8m, but we must be careful to analyse this apparently improved position.”
Net savings of almost £7m included some £5m earmarked for debt repayment or “people costs”, he stressed.
“This leaves £1.9m genuinely available for other purposes across the council. Add to this a VAT repayment of £3.4m and increased council tax collections of £0.6m and we come to genuine savings of £5.9m.
“This is, of course, one-off money which can only be used once.
“Reserves have risen by £5.4m, although most of this is delayed spending rather than something we can use for other purposes, and the 2018/19 capital programme has been carried out with less borrowing, or no borrowing at all on our housing capital programme.”
Mr Macmillan Douglas highlighted £7.4m spent on roads within a £17.6m infrastructure investment and said capital receipts from areas including the sale of council property had risen and stood at £1m for the year.
Mr Macmillan Douglas added: “Two years ago, when this administration was elected, we were told that funding cuts were such that we faced crisis.
“We set as our first priority improving the efficiency of Angus Council.
“With great help from many officers and from the public we have achieved much of that – by having clear objectives and following them.
“The challenge is certainly not over and we must not let up.
“But we are no longer looking over a cliff and are in a greatly improved position over what we found two years ago.”
Council chief executive Margo Williamson said: “I wish to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all our staff in helping us to reach this position.
“We are now exceeding performance in a number of areas whilst at the same time having less money and staff to do this. I know this is not easy and I thank them for their determination to live our vision: supporting Angus to be a great place to live, work and visit.
“I have every confidence that we will continue to deliver high quality services with and for the people and communities of Angus while ensuring that we get best value for money.”
