Council seeks public views on budget challenges

Orkney Islands Council has today (20 December) launched its annual online survey seeking input from the community on where they want Council spending prioritised.
 
Like other local authorities across the country, the Council is facing unprecedented funding challenges due to increasing costs, a reduction in funding from central Government and increasing needs from our community who are becoming older and are facing financial challenges of their own.  
 
Over the next five years, the Council is expecting a £27.1 million funding gap meaning that some very difficult decisions will have to be made about what we can afford to do and how we do it.
 
The launch of the survey comes as the Council awaits news of its individial budget settlement - following yesterday's Scottish Government budget announcements at Holyrood.
 
The survey, which is designed to take no more than ten minutes to complete, asks people for their views on topics such as Council tax rates, annual charge increases, and how the Council should use its reserve funds.
 
It also seeks views on charging for community care alarms and day care, services which the Council does not currently charge for, but other local authorities in Scotland do.
 
Council Leader James Stockan said: "As a council we are committed to supporting local people and communities and ensuring that our resources are used as effectively as possible to deliver on our priorities
 
"However, we may no longer have the funding available to provide all the same services we have provided in previous years. We understand that this comes at a time when residents and businesses are also facing huge pressure from inflationary increases and high fuel costs.
 
"We recognise and value the important role that local people, our communities and partners have to play in shaping local services – and therefore we are seeking your views on where we should concentrate our resources. Your views are important and will help us to make our final decisions on how to balance our budget."

The survey will run until January 31 2024 and can be accessed here