During September West Dunbartonshire Council will be holding a series of budget consultation events. The budget Forum Meetings will take place as follows: Monday 13th September – Burgh Hall Dumbarton 7pm – 9pm; Tuesday 14th September – Alexandria Community Centre 7pm – 9 pm; and Wednesday 15th September – Clydebank Town Hall 7pm – 9pm.  The Council has already held roadshows for Council staff during August explaining the financial challenges and to seek ideas and suggestions on how to tackle the defecit. As a result of work by Council officers the deficit has already been reduced from an estimated £40m over the next three years to around £30m which works out at roughly £10m per year for the next three years. Commenting on the consultations Labour Group Leader Councillor Martin Rooney said: ‘Given the scale of the budget gap over the next three years it is right that we ensure that all our staff fully understand the scale of the challenges we face. I have been told by the Chief Executive that the staff consultations have been a great success and it is right that we begin the process of public engagement with the citizens of West Dunbartonshire.’ The aim of the public consultations is to raise awareness of the budget gap and its implications, and to seek ideas and suggestions from residents that could help to reduce duplication and costs. Councillor Rooney added: ‘Labour Councillors were always mindfull of the looming budget defecit. Thats why David McBride’s budget proposals put the long term interests of the people of West Dunbartonshire first and set aside £3,770,260 of reserves to help us prepare for these financial challenges that we now face. Had the Labour budget been successful then we would have had £4m to help to plug the 2011/12 budget gap.’ In 2011/12 West Dunbartonshire Council must make budget savings of £10m and this will be followed by further savings of £10m in 2012/13 and £10m in 2013/14. Labour Councillors continue to put the interests of the people of West Dunbartonshire Council first and at the Council meeting on Wednesday 25^th August, Labour Group Leader Councillor Martin Rooney questioned the Chief Executive and Executive Directors on the 2009/10 Draft Annual Accounts to identify areas which could help to reduce the budget defecit. Through his questioning Councillor Rooney was able to identify £4m which could be available to help to bridge the 2011 budget gap. A copy of Councillor Rooney’s questions and the responses are detailed below:

 Draft Annual Accounts Questions

 Q1. On Page 260 the funding gap shown is £42m as at 31^st March 2010; and the financial statement also points out that we have a General Reserve of £3.375m. I understand that assumptions are always changing and that next year we are now looking at a £10m gap rather than a £13m gap. Is this correct? Response from Joyce White: The budget gap over the three year period is between £30m and £35m. The revised gap for 2011/12 is now £10m.

Q2. Page 296 – the Fairer Scotland Fund had £6.058 million allocated last year covering a 14 month period. However it is currently running an underspend of more than £1m this year which suggests that we will have a surplus of over £1m by the time of the next budget. In addition there would be scope to reduce the Fairer Scotland Fund budget without any impact on services which could release a further £1m for the 2011/12 budget. Therefore the total contribution to the 2011/12 budget gap would be £2m.  Has this £2m been factored in to next years budget? Response from David McMillan: The £2m you have identified have not been included in budget calculations but it is a good idea. The decision would be a matter for elected members.

Q3. Page 275 – The Housing Property Maintenance surplus in 2009/10 was £1.427m. Based on current projections this trading fund is likely to generate a surplus of £1.5m next year. Has this £1.5m been factored in to next years budget?  Response from Elaine Melrose: The Trading Fund is on target to make a similar surplus next year.  

Q4. Page 275 – Shows that in 2009/10 the Grounds Maintenance /Street Cleaning Trading Fund returned a surplus of £766,000. Based on current projections how much surplus can we expect this year? Response From Elaine Melrose: This Trading Fund is expected to make a surplus of around £600,000.

Q.5 Page 294 – The Non Domestic Rate Arrears – bad debt provision was £2.742m last year. I understand that some councils sell their Non Domestic Rate debt to private companies. Would it be worthwhile the council looking into this option and bringing a report to the Corporate & efficient Governance Committee for consideration? What are the prospects of recovering some of this debt? Response from Joyce White: A report outlining the implications could be presented to committee.