Balancing the Council Budget will be no mean feat, with council papers this month showing that current forecasts are suggesting there could be a funding gap in the region of £20 million.

Council leader Gordan Low has launched a four-week Budget Consultation, seeking views from the people of East Dunbartonshire on some of the commitments that have already been made and thoughts on some of the decisions that will be taken ahead of next year’s Budget.

Councillor Low explained: “Following the election earlier this year we identified our biggest challenges as the ongoing cost of living crisis, impacting all our households and the global climate emergency. We also gave a commitment to engage with and seek the views of our communities to inform our decision making.

“I am in no doubt how difficult setting the Council Budget for 2023/24 will be. Not only are our residents and service users facing huge financial challenges themselves, but that very cost of living crisis makes delivering Council services even more expensive – at a time when funding for all parts of the public sector is already under enormous pressure.

“While the Council will set the Budget in February, we want to hear the views from our communities in three key areas – potential increases in Council Tax and fees; the range of cost of living supports we have already put in place; and by what possible means more services could be delivered directly in the heart of our communities.”

The Budget consultation “Have YOUR say” is now live and will run until Sunday 11 December. The findings will inform the Council’s Budget decisions.

A Budget consultation webpage has been created and the survey, which can be completed online, should only take about five minutes to complete.