Council tax is poised to rise by 9.85% for Aberdeen residents as budget papers reveal a string of changes almost certain to be set in stone.
The crunch summit on Wednesday will decide the council’s spending plan for 2025/26.
But in a break from tradition, the ruling group has revealed its plans the day before – essentially providing a set of spoilers on what is set to be voted through.
This lengthy dossier details how the SNP-Lib Dem administration plan to fill an £18 million black hole with a host of cost increases and service cuts.
Parking charges are poised to surge by 5%, along with a reduction in free parking hours across the city.
Also on the chopping block are the opening hours to the Tolbooth Museum and Provost Skene’s House – despite recent costly renovations.
The council’s finance chief Alex McLellan said that his plan to hike council tax by nearly 10% actually “protects the most vulnerable” in Aberdeen by averting cuts elsewhere.
The cash-boosting changes will be debated at tomorrow’s meeting – although it’s already something of a foregone conclusion.
The SNP and Lib Dems’ plan outlined below is highly likely to shape Aberdeen’s spending programme for the 12 months ahead…
Aberdeen council tax rise biggest for Scottish cities in budget
The stand-out charge from the ruling group’s plans is the proposed 9.85% council tax rise – giving the local authority an extra £13m in the next year.
This will see those with the most valuable properties coughing up over £4,000 per year. And even those in the lowest band will end up shelling out more than £1,000.
Officers had previously suggested a figure of 11%, which they said was needed to combat inflation and National Insurance contribution increases.
If voted through tomorrow, it will be the largest of any major city in Scotland, with Glasgow and Edinburgh increasing their rates by 7.5% and 8%.
Neighbouring Aberdeenshire Council put their charge up by 10% last week, citing an ageing population in the north-east.
This steep increase in council tax for Aberdeen is expected to mean there will be less extreme cuts to services.
How could parking fees change in Aberdeen budget?
Finance bosses are aiming to boost their coffers through an increase to parking charges.
Across the city, costs are expected to rise by 5% for both on-street and off-street parking.
Along with this, the council will look to squeeze as much as they can from this revenue stream, with free parking on Sundays axed.
The parking increases would generate a total of £249,000.
Residents who have to pay for permits to park outside their home will also face a 5% increase, in a change tipped to bring in £207,000 extra in 2025/26.
But there could be relief for Garthdee residents locked in parking wrangle
Despite this, local authority bosses will stump up £84,000 over three years to solve a Robert Gordon University parking row which has rumbled on for a year.
Garthdee Residents can breathe a sigh of relief – with their parking permits being covered by the council until at least 2028.
Cash-strapped RGU had sparked fury by pulling out of the decades-long deal with residents, as a crisis of its own leaves more than 130 jobs at risk at the institution.
Locals had feared this would lead to an influx of students parking wherever they liked in the suburb.
Speaking to the P&J in the Town House less than 24 hours before the meeting, the SNP group’s finance convener Alex McLellan said the council was stepping in to spare residents the “burden”.
He said: “The council is in a challenging financial environment, similar to RGU.
“I think this is about recognising that the people in that area haven’t been paying the charges before, and we’re tapering it off by splitting costs with RGU for the next two years…
“I think it’s about recognising that – and not burdening people with what would be quite a substantial additional cost pressure to their household bills.”
What do you think of the council tax rise and parking charges? Let us know in our comments section below
What are the plans for the Beach Ballroom?
One of the most shocking cuts proposed by officers concerned the future of the iconic Beach Ballroom.
Finance gurus asked councillors to consider offloading it – or closing it for an indefinite period of time – to save cash.
But the administration’s budget seems to be holding off on ditching the venue, for the time being at least.
The ruling group has set aside £200,000 to find a way to make sure the historic hall can be profitable.
Mr McLellan explained: “We want to find out what level of investment is needed to get the Beach Ballroom making money, and make sure it remains wind and water tight.
“We want it to attract more weddings and conferences, and make sure the Beach Ballroom washes its own face financially.
“At the moment, it’s in our ownership, and we want to explore how it can bring in additional revenue.
“We need to look at whether that’s with us or a third party running it, but it’s a key part of our beach masterplan.”
What’s happening with the Berryden Corridor plan?
The Berryden Corridor roadworks scheme had been decades in the making when it was shelved by the ruling group in last year’s budget talks.
This bottleneck-busting project had been dreamed up to expand the road from Skene Square to the Kittybrewster/St Machar roundabout and huge sums had already been spent on it.
Waylaying any work in 2024/25 saved the council £720,000 – but was met with some opposition.
Tory Emma Farquhar argued the the route was becoming busier as people avoided traffic measures in the city centre.
But it is poised to be brought back to life in this year’s budget…
Congestion clearing plan to be given the green light
Council bosses have set aside a staggering £54 million over the next five years to get the roadworks under way.
Mr McLellan told The Press and Journal that the final designs for the project should be completed by the end of the year.
The finance chief said: “All parties have agreed to it. It would take three or four years, so it could be finished by late 2029 or maybe 20230.
“It’s a strategic part of our city’s infrastructure and links in with the recent improvements to South College Street.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum to these big-spending projects, scores of cuts will be pushed through.
How else might residents be hit in Aberdeen budget?
There are a range of reductions proposed as the local authority battles to balance the books.
The council is poised to increase costs for bereavement services to claw back £100,000, with a separate £25,000 increase listed for burial costs and another £25,000 to be gained in increasing cremation fees.
Axing spend on photographers to take school pictures will save £100,000, with images to instead be taken by in-house staff.
Meanwhile, residents are being warned of “reduced service standards” and a “redesign” of the council’s grass cutting efforts in a bid to save £50,000.
This will coincide with reductions in street-cleaning and grounds maintenance as “modern technologies” are used instead.
Cleaning at “non-school” council buildings will be slashed to recoup £150,000.
And a “review” of school transport could save £100,000.
Could Aberdeen’s parks be turned into money-spinners?
Some of the city’s beauty spots are to be “further commercialised” under the ruling group’s proposals.
This could mean entrance fees are imposed at the Winter Gardens in Duthie Park.
Meanwhile, greenspaces like Hazlehead, Seaton Park and Union Terrace Gardens will be eyed up for their potential to generate income.
The council will look to promote them for events like “weddings, parties and corporate days”.
How could hours change at Aberdeen museums?
The recently refurbished Provost Skene’s House is also in the council’s crosshairs.
The administration is proposing to cut the opening hours of the museum, leaving it open for just five days a week.
This comes six years after a pricey facelift costing £3.8 million.
The same changes are expected to be voted through at Tolbooth Museum.
Council looking to cash in on museum weddings
Despite the slashing of hours at the venues, it could turn out to be a lucrative money making scheme for the local authority…
Mr McLellan detailed how reducing the hours could open the door to moneymaking events taking place at the buildings.
He told us: “It’s about making sure that they’re open at the hours people want to see them.
“But also this will allow us to generate as much commercial revenue as we can when they’re not open.
“Currently we can’t charge people to access them. However, if they are closed, we can have private functions, corporate events, weddings, and impose charges.
“It’s about making the best use of those venues.”
The full spending plan is on the council’s website.
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