The consultation is open until Sunday 22 November 2026 and aims to ensure that budget proposals address the issues most important to the community. The survey can be completed online via the Council's website or by requesting paper copies from Customer Services. It is expected to take around 10 minutes to complete.
Council Leader Gordan Low encouraged participation, stating, “We know there is a lot of concern about public services and national discussions about public service reform, however, we must legally set a balanced budget in March. This year, we will spend just over £379 million to deliver essential local services whilst also investing across the area. The responses from the consultation will help to inform proposals and decisions, and so I encourage as many people as possible to take part.”
Councils in Scotland are legally required to set a balanced budget, a task made increasingly challenging by rising costs for energy, fuel, and materials, increased National Insurance contributions, and a real-term decrease in funding. The current budget gap for East Dunbartonshire for 2027/2028 stands at £7 million, a figure expected to remain significant despite potential changes in the final budget settlement in December.
In the 2026/2027 financial year, 23% of the Council's funding for services is derived from Council Tax, with the remainder coming from Government grants, service charges, non-domestic rates, and the use of limited Council reserves. Of every pound spent from the revenue budget, 47p is allocated to Education and 22p to Health and Social Care.
Following the closure of the consultation, the results will be analysed and presented to Elected Members during the December Council meeting. Residents can contact Customer Services by calling 0300 123 4510 or emailing customerservices@eastdunbarton.gov.uk.
