Since 2013-14, the local authority has had to make budgeted savings of more than £100 million and the Administration said it has recognised that the erosion of services and staff “cannot continue”.

Like most other Scottish local authorities, Angus has taken the decision to increase Council Tax following a long period where tax increases were capped or frozen. The increase for 2025-26 is 11% and aims to mitigate cuts to council services and staff, ensuring continued support for the community.

For the fiscal year 2025/26, the Band D Council Tax will be set at £1,461.52, reflecting an increase of £144.84 from the previous year.

Within the budget is the new Angus Public Infrastructure Fund, which will receive an initial cash injection of £1m and increase the council’s borrowing capacity by approximately £20m.

This capital investment fund will be used to address ongoing impacts of climate change and to restore the county’s basic infrastructure, which has suffered through underinvestment and climate-related damage.

That includes the recovery from unprecedented devastation caused by severe weather incidents, such as Storm Babet at Brechin, and the Montrose coastline, which has been ravaged by successive storms. Road repairs will also be a priority. Angus Council’s capital plan will, for the first time, show expenditure relating to climate change as its impacts make increasing demands of the council and Angus citizens.

Measures to support children and young people are also a feature of this budget. It prioritises £1.5m in funding for the modern apprentice programme and the recruitment of graduate apprentices, who will all be paid at least the living wage.

Further funding of just under £460,000 will be provided to ensure that our new children’s residential facility at Brechin will open in 2025-26.

The Holiday Food and Fun initiative will continue, with an additional budget provision of £100,000. The initiative has been an unmitigated success and providing food and activities for children throughout the school holidays, as well as valuable employment and volunteering opportunities and meaningful support to parents and families.

Town centre parking charges will end permanently. Having been suspended since the Covid pandemic, they will not be re-introduced, and machine and signage will be removed from our car parks.

The people of Brechin’s requests for a general waste skip at the local recycling centre have been heard and that service will be restored. A cleaning up programme for bus shelters and road signs as well as investment in maintaining roads, parks and buildings will take effect.

Angus Council is also rejoining the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce to strengthen relationships with the local business community and improve the economic wellbeing of the region.

Angus Council leader Cllr Bill Duff said: “Our priorities in striving to achieve a balanced budget for Angus will always be to provide the best services that we possibly can to the citizens of Angus and the best environment for people and places to flourish.

“They deserve no less. Young and old; those in education, or others in hardship and need of support; the more vulnerable among us; those who are working hard to establish their business and create jobs and prosperity; and everyone who is and wants to be proud to call Angus home.

“It’s a huge challenge that has become increasingly difficult over the years. Hard and sometimes unpopular choices must be made.

“But this ambitious budget is designed to deliver positive outcomes. We will provide significant additional funding of almost £5m across education, roads and infrastructure, children, families and justice, as well as focusing on improving the employment opportunities of our young people in Angus.

“Our budget also seeks to make Angus a go-to destination – a place that is safe, clean and vibrant, where people can live and visit; work and study; relax and play.”