NO - not the mythical 2006/07 one (the last Budget-year we were in charge) which was a whopping £5.7million overspent (check the year-end figure on page 4 here if you don't believe me) ... I know, I know, that's a truly horrendous less-than, three-quarters, of one per cent of the overall £800million revenue budget.NO - not the equally mythical 2007/08 budget, whose year-end figures aren't yet available and which has been under the control of the new regime.
BUT - the 2008/09 budget which was set just last Thursday. Transpires that the Lib-Dem/SNP three-year budget they set last week does balance in that first year - 2008/09.
It doesn't in 2009/10 or 2010/11 - well, technically they have balanced it ... but here's how:
- 2009/10 - Children and Families Department - remaining savings target still to be identified = £5,421,000
- 2009/10 - Health and Social Care Department - remaining savings target still to be identified = £3,170,000
- 2010/11 - Children and Families Department - remaining savings target still to be identified = £11,052,000
- 2010/11 - Health and Social Care Department - remaining savings target still to be identified = £5,081,000
That's just short of £25MILLION worth of savings (yet to be identified) to make the books balance in years 2 and 3 of this budget. Now THAT is what I call a real BLACK HOLE.
I think this type of stunt is sometimes called creative accountancy.
... and before you ask, we presented a balanced budget for a full three-years last Thursday with all savings identified.
In the new spirit of openness and transparency that pervades Edinburgh politics, I think we should be told just what services are to be cut to make the books balance in years 2 and 3?
It's all budgeted for after all - just not identified??
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