Aberdeen City Council’s Labour-led administration is poised to pass a budget with no new cuts to services for the third year running.
The latest figures are outlined in two reports to be considered at a meeting on Thursday to agree spending plans for 2015/16.
Last night, finance convener Willie Young hailed the “prudent” fiscal management of the Labour-Independent-Conservative coalition.
However, he acknowledged that tough decisions lie ahead, with a projected deficit of more than £50million over the next five years.
The main opposition SNP group claimed that the books would not be balanced at all were it not for an 85% funding floor introduced by Finance Secretary John Swinney – which was designed by the Scottish Government to ensure that every council receives a fairer settlement.
Cash will be set aside in the council’s capital plan for 2015/16 to go towards major infrastructure projects including a third Don crossing (£9.5million), a new school for children with special needs (£2.6million), a new academy for Cove (£6.4million) and a controversial refurbishment of Aberdeen Art Gallery (£15million).
A £20million pledge towards city centre regeneration will be put on hold pending the completion of the authority’s “masterplan” process, while the Berryden Corridor road improvements will also be put off for future years.
Council tax rates will continue to be frozen as per a national agreement with the SNP government, while local authority staff will be granted a 1% pay rise.
A sum of £5.45million will be kept in the council’s “risk fund”, while a further £11.3million will be held in general fund reserves.
Provision has also been made for 25 new primary school teachers amid an ongoing recruitment problems.
Councillors have also been asked to approve a sum of £2.93million that was unspent last year for a “service redesign” programme in children’s services.
There will also be a significant investment in the council’s recycling strategy to divert waste from landfill, with new facilities planned for sites at Altens and East Tullos.