Speaking during today’s East Lothian Council Budget debate, Cllr Michael Veitch (Conservative Group leader and Depute Council leader) said:
"As is well understood both within and outside this chamber, the financial backdrop against which this Administration has had to develop its budget remains extremely challenging. This has necessitated some tough choices in an effort to balance the books. We owe it to the people of East Lothian to ensure, above all else, that the Council lives within its means, and that the services we provide are built on firm and secure finances. They would also want us to ensure that every penny we take from them, either directly via council tax revenues, or indirectly via Government grant, is spent wisely. We are therefore obliged to maximise efficiencies and eliminate waste. To paraphrase my former colleague the late David McLetchie MSP:
‘If it isn’t necessary to spend, it is necessary not to spend.’
"As important as efficiencies are, we are none the less responsible for the administration of £200 million of tax-payer’s money, and the people of East Lothian will be rightly concerned that this considerable sum is invested in line with their priorities. I would therefore welcome the following budget lines, many of which reflect manifesto commitments:
- The £50,000 investment in support for social enterprise and business start ups.
- Ongoing capital funding of up to £300,000 a year for parking improvements. We have recently developed a new car park in Dunbar in an effort to ease the parking problems at the railway station, and I hope we can use this money to help develop other similar schemes going forward.
- High level capital expenditure on the roads network, totalling well over £21 million between 2013 and 2017.
- A substantial increase in the budget line for day centres, recognising the important work they do.
- A £50,000 fund for our village halls.
- A £98,000 investment in our vital supported bus services thereby addressing an over-spend in this area and placing these hugely valued services on a secure footing.
- And, crucially, for the first time, a financial commitment in East Lothian Council’s budget to provide towards the cost of a station at East Linton. Our bid to the Scottish Government’s station investment fund, in partnership with SEStran and Scottish Borders Council, will of course not be restricted to the figure in three year capital plan before us today, however it is a clear statement of intent that East Lothian Council is absolutely committed to doing what we can to take this project forward."