Despite a challenging financial situation, councillors were able to agree a balanced budget for each of the next three years which protected vital services and identified opportunities for investing in the future growth of the area.

The agreed revenue budget includes a Council Tax freeze for 2024/25 and keeps the increases for 2025/26 and 2026/27 below 5% a year.

Councillor Grant Laing, Leader of Perth and Kinross Council, said: “Today hasn’t been easy. We’ve had to accept cuts in places that we would have preferred not to. To increase charges that we would have preferred to remain the same. But, we have also been able to reject cuts of almost £4 million to minimise the impact on the most vulnerable people in our communities, so that we can keep providing support to help people maintain their tenancies, keep primary school swimming lessons, and minimise school meal increases.

“The Council Tax freeze is good news for residents at a financially difficult time. However, to help support the delivery of our balanced and prudent budget we’ve also challenged council staff to increase our already high Council Tax collection rate. I would urge anyone who has fallen behind on Council Tax payments to use this freeze in rates to make repayments on that debt. Our local taxes team are always happy to discuss manageable payment options to make this easier.”

The budget decisions included formally re-designating a reserved area of funding which was formerly used for pandemic recovery activity, which will now be dedicated to anti-poverty measures. An initial £600,000 was allocated from this money during today’s meeting to support households facing financial insecurity, and to support initiatives like The Big Hoose project and Buttons and Bows which give families in poverty free access to essential household goods.

The final agreed budget fully rejects proposed cuts to the public transport budget to support subsidised services and includes £450,000 of additional funding to make bus services free for all passengers on the first Saturday of every month and to undertake work to develop options for new models of public transport locally.

Councillor Laing said: “Well-used public transport can make a big difference in lots of different ways. Helping people to get to work, reducing single car journeys and thereby lowering our carbon footprint, bringing down travel costs, and encouraging people to explore our city and towns. That’s why we’re committing to do more to support and grow use of public transport, not just allow commercial operators to reduce the options available to our communities.”

Councillors have also agreed an updated capital budget to support the maintenance and upgrading of Perth and Kinross assets, including the development of flood schemes for Dunkeld and Buckie Braes, and funding to support groups looking to take over public buildings.

The successful ‘adapt your property’ initiative to adapt and convert underused and vacant commercial buildings has also been extended. Last year this helped bring over 1,000 square metres of commercial space back into use, created nine new residential units, and supported around 65 new jobs. With another £300,000 allocated for the year ahead there are more opportunities to transform our city and town centre spaces.

Councillor Laing explained: “One of the challenges we face as a council is that there are very few commercial premises that we have direct control over. The ‘adapt your property’ scheme is one way we can help influence the future of vacant properties.

“But, we’re also expanding what we can offer with funding to develop new commercial units which we can manage and offer to directly provide opportunities for new and growing businesses. This will give us a much more active role in supporting businesses to develop in Perth and Kinross, the most significant investment in economic growth in the area since 2016. We’re also growing our capacity to proactively seek out and apply for external funding opportunities, so that we’re bringing more money into the area to grow our economy and achieve our local ambitions.”