Dismay as Aberdeenshire Funding is Cut Again

Shortly before Christmas, the Council was advised that the grant figure announced at the beginning of December for 2011/12 was wrong. Instead of the £426.988 million originally stated, the Council would in fact get £426.477 million - £511,000 less.

Commenting, Cllr Martin Ford said:

"This is very unwelcome news and further worsens Aberdeenshire Council's funding position relative to other councils.

"Councils were supposedly given their final grant figures earlier in December and some councils will already have taken decisions based on these. For Aberdeenshire, the new figure means additional cuts will be required to balance the budget for 2011/12 when this is set on 10 February.

"The Scottish Government is not treating councils fairly.

"Aberdeenshire Council has been left with no option but to accept the Scottish Government's terms and make cuts accordingly.The Council's Lib Dem/Conservative administration now needs to work with opposition councillors to minimise the impact on public services. There is, however, nothing the Council can do about the massive reduction in its funding."