Question reference: S6W-26201
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 15 March 2024
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Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the discretionary funding that it reportedly promised to Aberdeenshire Council on the eve of the local authority's budget setting, which is reported to be in the vicinity of £3 million, will be delivered, and whether it will confirm the exact amount that the local authority will receive.
Answer
The Deputy First Minister has confirmed in a letter on 6 March to COSLA that £62.7 million of additional funding will be provided in 2024-25 and local authorities will have full autonomy to allocate the funding based on local needs and priorities. While all new funding has to be discussed and agreed through the formal financial governance process including the Settlement and Distribution Group (SDG) and COSLA Leaders, Aberdeenshire Council's provisional share of the additional £62.7 million is estimated to be around £2.9 million.
In addition, Aberdeenshire Council will receive around £8 million following the Council’s decision to freeze Council Tax and all Councils will receive their fair share of the currently undistributed sum of £201.1 million following agreement with COSLA.