East Dunbartonshire Council has approved its Revenue and Capital budgets for this year (2025/2026) which will see the Council spend £379.127 million on delivering essential local services while also committing to significant investment across the area.
The Revenue Budget – which pays for the day-to-day running of the Council – is mainly funded by the Scottish Government with approximately 23% coming from Council Tax. Capital money can only be used on one-off long-term initiatives such as play parks and new buildings.
To ensure the Council has a balanced budget and that all the proposed investments are carried out whilst also bridging the budget gap of £23.946 million, a rise of 13% in Council Tax was agreed. This increase includes 2.75% for the unfunded element of Employers National Insurance and 2.1% for the delivery of a new Balmuildy Primary School.
Together the 2025/2026 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme will:
- Maintain key local services
- Invest in vital infrastructure including progressing designs for the construction of a new Westerton Primary School and the construction of a new Balmuildy Primary School
- Improvement works across the school estate, including at Bearsden and Milngavie primaries and feasibility studies at several other schools
- Invest £1 million pounds to refurbish sports pavilions at Merkland Recreation Centre, Thorn Park and Colquhoun Park
- Invest £1.16 million in upgrading sports pitches at Merkland Recreation Centre and Huntershill Community Sports Hub
- Invest £0.3m to complete a feasibility study for upgrading sports facilities at Oakburn Park, Milngavie
- Invest in revitalising Campsie Memorial Hall
- Invest in 15 new mechanical school crossing points and recruit a further 12 School Crossing Patrollers.
We continue to face increasing demand for our services while the cost of delivering these continues to escalate. Local Government is facing incredibly difficult financial pressures which makes setting a balanced budget extremely challenging.
With no respite from ever-rising construction costs, our asset development aspirations continue to be impacted.
“We have however managed to set and agree a budget that reduces our costs, increases our income and continues to deliver our essential services in the heart of our communities. We believe our agreed Revenue and Capital budgets provide the best possible approach to delivering our priorities, providing the best possible services to the people of East Dunbartonshire, and protecting our invaluable workforce.”
Further budget decisions to bridge the funding gap include a range of management and operational efficiencies which will save millions.
Councillor Low added, “The work undertaken by Council officers to deliver every possible cost reduction, right across the organisation, to reduce our revenue spend without impacting on service delivery is to be commended. The financial efficiencies to balance the 2025/26 budget contain a combination of measures including proposals and actions by the Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer across Council and HSCP services to deliver over £5.6 million in efficiencies.
“There was agreement across the Chamber that setting a balanced budget hasn’t been easy and that we will continue to make representation to Scottish and Westminster governments to seek additional funding to ensure that we can continue to deliver vital services for our communities.”
The Council Tax increase of 13% will see an annual Band D charge rise from £1,415 per year to £1,599 - an annual increase of £184. The increase includes 2.75% of the unfunded element of Employers National Insurance, and 2.1% the delivery of a new Balmuildy Primary School. The Council will also work in in partnership with the HSCP the managing of the impact of Employers National Insurance within private provision.
Almost 50% of the Council’s Revenue budget is spent on Education with almost 20% on Health and Social Care. The remaining ensures the delivery of operational services that includes waste, roads, flood prevention and open space maintenance.
