Elected members at a recent Cabinet meeting welcomed the positive financial update, which shows the financial gap for the Council’s revenue budget reducing from £2.920m to £1.811m as at the end of September. The Health and Social Care Partnership also saw a reduction from £3.192m to £2.587m for Council services.
This improvement is attributed to significant work undertaken in recent months to address continuing financial pressures while maintaining approved service levels. Members were assured that the Council’s financial resilience remains in a healthy and affordable position.
“"Last year we faced some considerable financial pressures which left the Council in a difficult position financially as we sought to address the continuing pressures within Health and Social Care. However, I am pleased to learn that the new financial governance arrangements and enhanced scrutiny and challenge on services expenditure is now starting to make a difference."
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, welcomed the update, stating: “At this half-way point in the financial year, this is encouraging, but we cannot become complacent. Some services still face significant pressures and we know that further work will be required as we start to set the foundations for the next Council budget.”
