Council tax to rise by three percent in West Dunbartonshire as budget approved

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Council tax will rise by three percent as the local authority approved a ‘no cuts’ budget for the fourth year in a row.Proposals to slash the £5million gap by axing lollipop patrollers, cutting back street cleaning and switching to three-weekly bin collections have all been rejected.West Dunbartonshire SNP councillors put forward proposals to close the gap, which include using over £1m of reserves and almost £2m of government Covid funding, which were agreed last week.

Councillors met to decide how funding should be spent for the next year, with the cost of living crisis dominating discussions.Following a vote, it was agreed to double the school clothing grant to £300 and create a £400,000 cashpot to support residents struggling with the cost of living.Extra support will also be provided for local foodbanks and an enhanced welfare and Working4U service.The budget also commits to a £1m investment in apprentices over the next four years, an additional £2m investment to improve roads and pavements in the area, funding for additional Christmas lights and the introduction of a pothole rapid repair service.In addition, £500,000 will be invested for flood prevention and another half a million will be used to enhance play areas.Announcing the spending plans, Councillor Ian Dickson said: “On behalf of West Dunbartonshire SNP I am over the moon to be able to put before this council, despite gargantuan pressures and additional costs, and for an extraordinary fourth year in a row, a no cuts budget.“What I am presenting today has no service cuts and requires no service cuts.“We have also protected funding of strategic partners such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Women’s Aid, have rejected potentially damaging cuts to services and