Budget Engagement for 2024/25

We asked

Following the budget survey last year, we published information about the costs of delivering council services and some of the areas we might need to look at for savings. During this second stage of engagement, we asked how the changes we are considering might affect communities across Aberdeenshire. An article on a particular theme was published each week in the Press and Journal, and readers were asked for their feedback. A link to the newspaper article was also promoted using social media and Engage Aberdeenshire to reach a wider audience.

You said

There was a total of 273 responses. The comments received were wide ranging, however; the majority of responses were regarding schools and education. Participants could choose to respond about more than one topic and could respond about ‘all areas’ if they wished to express an opinion about the budget in general. As a result, the percentage of responses about each topic was as follows:

• 60% included schools and education
• 26% included roads, landscaping, and winter operations
• 19% included all areas
• 16% included leisure services
• 5% included housing

Some common themes included comments about the closure of small schools, additional pupil support, out of school care, winter and road maintenance and the use of leisure facilities.

We will

All of the feedback has been provided to the leader of the council and elected members who chair policy committees, and will be considered when the budget is set on 22 February 2024.

Update - the full budget papers from the meeting on 22 February can be found here: Agenda for Aberdeenshire Council on Thursday, 22nd February, 2024, 10.15 am - Aberdeenshire Council (moderngov.co.uk)