Orkney Islands Council Launches Budget Survey

Orkney Islands Council is again seeking public views as it moves towards setting its budget in March next year.

A budget survey – available at www.orkney.gov.uk/budgetsurvey – has been launched and includes questions on Council tax levels and increasing or introducing certain charges.  

The findings from the survey will be fed back to elected members early next year and will be integral to the budget setting process.

Last year's budget setting survey attracted over 1000 responses with the feedback received playing a key role in the decisions made in the Council chamber, including the removal of some of the proposals that had proved most unpopular with the public.

The Council will meet in March next year to set its budget after the Scottish Government publishes their budget in January – a month later than in previous years.

Oliver Reid is Chief Executive of Orkney Islands Council: “We are facing increasing demand for our services - particularly those that meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents. This is not a challenge that is unique to Orkney - it is being felt across the public sector in Scotland and the UK. 

“The leadership team at the Council has been working hard to support the budget setting process throughout the year – with each service being asked to make the changes required to meet these pressures while minimising any increase in budgets. Year on year this becomes more of a challenge. 

“This initial survey will give us an indication of the principles and preferences the public would like to be taken account of as the Council makes its final budget decisions.  There will be subsequent communications that are more tailored to obtain feedback on the detail of specific proposals, and this will include staff consultation where relevant.”

Council Leader Heather Woodbridge said: “As a Council we are committed to the overall protection of our essential services, to ensure that they are still available to you, your loved ones and some of the most vulnerable folk in our community in the years to come.

“As these are our community’s services it’s important that our community have their say in decisions that affect them. We are therefore gathering local views on our proposals as we begin to plan for our budget setting process early next year

“Please take some time to look at the survey - your views are important.”

The survey closes at midnight on Sunday 11 January.