Graham Leadbitter, leader of Moray Council

The council also agreed further £104,000 of cuts including a reduction in funding for Moray Leisure Centre, Moray Women’s Aid, and to recharge schools for the cost of music tuition for SQA pupils – bringing the total approved savings for 2020/21 to more than £3 million.

Moray Council has also said it will be using £2.34m of reserved cash this financial year.

Over £42m will be invested in capital projects in 2020/21, including new-build and school refurbishments, harbours, road improvements, waste management, bridges and economic development. Funding for Health & Social Care Moray will increase by £1.79m compared to 2019/20.

Lorraine Paisey, Moray Council’s chief financial officer, explained that there has been some recent and major changes to the council’s finances, including confirmation of an additional £1.6m funding from the Scottish Government, and an increase of £900k raised from capital receipts, which can be used to fund transformation in the council.

Councillor Graham Leadbitter, leader of Moray Council, added: “It is important to recognise that this year’s budget will be the largest revenue budget that the council has ever implemented at over £210m. Taking our housing revenue budget and our capital expenditure into account the investment in services in Moray will exceed £300m.

“This investment includes our hugely important Early Years service rollout, investment in school counsellors, continued investment in new schools and community facilities, investment in new council housing and in many other areas of service.”