Spring 2015
Issue 21 Spring 2015
How To STAY Cool Tips on exam studies
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SCHool INveSTmeNT Programme continues
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www.inverclyde.gov.uk The Council newspaper for all Inverclyde residents
budGeT uPdATe Focus on savings and investment
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Two year budget agreed
The budget for 2015/16 was set and an indicative budget for 2016/17 agreed unanimously. The revenue budget for next year will
deliver over £91m for education, communities and organisational development; nearly £49m for health and social care services and £31m for environment, regeneration and resources. There will also be additional areas of
investment including services to school children with additional support needs; increasing the school clothing grant per child for the next four years; an increase by 20 per cent in the value of Christmas vouchers for older people from and to double the lowest council apprentice wage rate.
Bowling club improvements will be
boosted; there’ll be an extra £120,000 for play areas and £300,000 for town and village centre environmental improvements. Councillors have agreed savings
totalling £4.1m for the second year with the temporary use of reserves agreed to deliver a total savings package of £7.4m for 2016/17. Council leader, and proposer of the
Council budget, Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “While the key focus on budgets is often in the savings and cuts, it is worth looking at the overall picture. The revenue budget for Inverclyde in the next year is £193m. “These are challenging times but, with the overall budget spending in
place, the additional areas of investment and hard work to protect essential services, you can see we are still ambitious to make Inverclyde a better place for us all to live.” Depute Leader of Inverclyde
Council, and seconder of the budget, Councillor Jim Clocherty, said: “This is a prudent budget with some difficult decisions behind it. But, those decisions have at their heart the views of the most important people – our residents, businesses and service users across Inverclyde.” The council budget also decided that the council tax will be frozen.
Attainment Challenge Accepted
Inverclyde Council schools will take part in the £20m Scottish Attainment Challenge aimed at closing the attainment gap in Scottish schools. The council is joining with six other
Scottish Councils to tap into the first batch of funding totalling £20m from the Scottish Government. Inverclyde’s Council leader, Councillor
Stephen McCabe, said: “Bridging the attainment gap is absolutely critical to the success of our young people. When resources are being pressed it is important that we are tapping into additional funding when it is available and will add to the quality services already being delivered in our schools.”
New name, same
quality serivce From Spring 2015, CHCP becomes HSCP, a new legal entity. You will start to see our new identity appear.
Green light for new £1.8 million community centre for Inverkip
New designs have been revealed and planning permission agreed for a brand new community centre for Inverkip. This new £1.8m development is an
Artist impression of new Inverkip community centre
investment in the Inverkip community and work could begin as early as May this year. Within the centre there is a multi-purpose hall with a 90-seat capacity with tables and storage facilities, space for a library facility, a meeting room, changing facilities and a small café and kitchen.
The new centre will also include
a new five-aside 3G sports pitch and community open space. Inverclyde Council’s Environment
and Regeneration convener Councillor Michael McCormick said: “There has been a great deal of community involvement in this exciting project. The Council is investing in the new centre which will be at the heart of activities in Inverkip, providing a real focal point for everyone in the community.
Find out who your local councillor is and how you can get in touch on page 11
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