Budgets by North Lanarkshire Council
                                                Learn all about NLC's budgets sincew 2009 on Cumbernauld Media.

Welcome

North Lanarkshire Council’s budget comes from a number of sources. There are a number of budgets which people should concern themselves with; capital, income and revenue. A capital budget is the expenditure which the council chooses to dedicate to its assets, such as their buildings, schools, roads etc.; the income budget is the total monies given to North Lanarkshire Council from a number of sources; and, the council’s revenue budget is the total amount of funds which the council has at their discretion, and are able to spend on resources. This page will look at the council’s budgets since 2009.


Council revenue sources

North Lanarkshire Council receives its income from a number of sources, these sources include:
  • Aggregate External Finance (AEF); AEF is the council’s main source of income and consists on support packages from the Scottish Government. AEF has three subsets: 
  • The Revenue Support Grant (RSG). The RSG is the principal grant allocated by the Scottish Government, providing general revenue expenditure to local authorities. The grant received is determining the difference between the council’s spending assessment and the sum of resources from National Non-Domestic Rates and Council Tax.
  • Non-Domestic Rate Income. Every Scottish local authority collects Non-Domestic Rates from businesses in their area and the resultant income is paid into a central pool and distributed by the Scottish Government on the basis of each council’s individual population.
  • Ring-Fenced Grants, from the Scottish Government. These grants are paid in respect of specific services and initiatives, including the Police Grant, which is a current example.
  • The second source of the council’s income comes from fees, charges and other forms of income.
In addition to those sources of income described above, the council is able to generate income through direct charges for certain services such as council house rents, the provision of industrial and commercial premises and some social work services.
 
The third source of council income comes from ‘other grants’.

The largest element of other grants relates to the subsidy the council receives to offset the payment of council tax and housing benefits. However, North Lanarkshire Council also receives grants from a number of public bodies to fund or subsidise select council services. Examples include, ‘European Income’, ‘Offenders Grant’ and ‘Educational Maintenance Allowance’.
 
Finally, and perhaps the most commonly well-known source of council income, its Council Tax, or ‘Local Taxation’.  Council Tax is paid depending on the band of your house; paid directly to the local authority for ten months of the year. Council Tax often earns North Lanarkshire Council around 10% of the authority’s overall income.

How council finances work

Local authorities distribute their income to each of their departments, based on their size and requirements. All of the non-ring-fenced expenditure available to the council is distributed in this pattern.
 
Councils operate using the Government’s financial calendar, running from 1st April to the 31th March, the preceding year. Any monies left in the council’s pot after 31st March is deducted from their next Aggregate External Finance.

Most local authorities, in Scotland, begin to look at their next budget in January, very often taking a decision on their forthcoming revenue budgets, in February. 

Expenditure savings are often looked at much earlier than budgets due to laws on consultations. However, savings packages are often determined upon around the same time as a council votes on their budget. 

Want more information?

If you scroll down you will see our analysis of North Lanarkshire Council's budgets since 2009, in addition to a break down of the latest measures announced in the 2013/2014 North Lanarkshire Council budget and savings package.
 
However, should you like more information then you can find more details on anything which we discuss, below, on the council's website:
 

The budgets in depth

Have a look at the table below to read up on North Lanarkshire Council's 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 budgets; the key statistics and information.

Budget 2009/10

Budget 2010/11

   Budget        2011/12

Budget 2012/13

Income Sources:

Total budgeted income totalled £1,273,344,000. 37.5% (£477,633,000) derived from the Revenue Support Grant; 10.7% (£136,652,000), Non Domestic Rate; 3.7% (£47,754,000), specific/other Government Grants; 14% (£178,026,000) from inter-service charges; 13.6% from fees, charges and other income (£173,026,000); £133,269,000 from other grants – 10.5%, stemming from Council Tax rebates, £24,744,000; £60,543,000 for rent rebates; £32,571,000 for rent allowances and £15,411,000 for other grants. 0.4% (£4,714,000) for use of balances; 0.1% (£1,000,000) for the collection of Council Tax arrears; and, Council Tax, at £120,484,000, making up 9.5% of council income. 

Income Sources:

Total budgeted income totalled £1,295,928,000. 39.3% (£508,989,000) derived from the Revenue Support Grant; 10.1% (£130,258,000), Non Domestic Rate; 2.1% (£27,940,000), specific/other Government Grants; 13.5% (£174,583,000) from inter-service charges; 14.1% from fees, charges and other income (£182,702,000); £144,613,000 from other grants – 11.1%, stemming from Council Tax rebates, £26,300,000; £63,898,000 for rent rebates; £38,925,000 for rent allowances and £15,490,000 for other grants. 0.3% (£3,831,000) for use of balances; 0.1% (£1,000,000) for the collection of Council Tax arrears; and, Council Tax, at £122,012,000, making up 9.4% of council income. 

Income Sources:

Total budgeted income totalled £1,267,935,000. 41.9% (£531,841,000) derived from the Revenue Support Grant; 7.6% (£96,759,000), Non Domestic Rate; 2.2% (£28,058,000), specific/other Government Grants; 13.3% (£168,454,000) from inter-service charges; 13.4% from fees, charges and other income (£169,994,000); £149,417,000 from other grants – 11.8%, stemming from Council Tax rebates, £26,729,000; £66,868,000 for rent rebates; £42,423,000 for rent allowances and £13,397,000 for other grants. 0.1% (£1,000,000) for the collection of Council Tax arrears; and, Council Tax, at £122,412,000, making up 9.7% of council income. 

Income Sources:

Total budgeted income totalled £1,270,228. 41.7% (£529,349,000) derived from the Revenue Support Grant; 8% (£101,467,000), Non Domestic rate; 2.2% (£27,580,000), specific/other Government Grants; 12.4% (£158,361,000) from inter-service charges; 14% from fees, charges and other income (£178,100,000); £152,059,000 from other grants – 11.9%, stemming from Council Tax rebates, £26,537,000; £66,941,000 for rent rebates; £45,886,000 for rent allowances and £12,695,000 for other grants. 0.1% (£500,000) for the collection of Council Tax arrears; and, Council Tax, at £122,812,000, making up 9.7% of council income. 

Capital Spending projects:

The general services Capital Budget was £111,607,000, in 2009/10. The break down, by department, was, Central Services, £2,343,000 (2.1%); Property, £5,018,000 (4.5%); Chief Executive’s (Economic Regeneration), £5,343,000 (4.8%); Environmental Services, £22,395,000 (20.1%); Finance and Customer Services, £930,000 (0.8%); Housing and Social Work Services, £3,161,000 (2.8%); Learning and Leisure Services, £72,417,000 (64.9%). 

Capital Spending projects:

The general services Capital Budget was £125,022,000, in 2010/11. The break down, by department, was, Central Services, £2,011,000 (1.6%); Property, £2,798,000 (2.2%); Chief Executive’s (Economic Regeneration), £7,164,000 (5.7%); Environmental Services, £21,637,000 (17.3%); Finance and Customer Services, £930,000 (0.8%); Housing and Social Work Services, £3,405,000 (2.7%); Learning and Leisure Services, £22,063,000 (17.7%); Schools and Centres 21, £65,014,000 (52%).

Capital Spending projects:

The general services Capital Budget was £144,742,000, in 2011/12. The break down, by department, was, Environmental Services, £29,306,000 (20.2%); Learning and Leisure Services, £13,276,000 (9.2%); Finance and Customer Services, £800,000 (0.6%); Corporate Services, £2,400,000 (1.7%); Housing and Social Work Services, £2,828,000 (2%); Chief Executive, £3,292,000 (2.3%); Schools and Centres 21, £92,840,000 (64%).

Capital Spending projects:

The general services Capital Budget was £66,450,000, in 2012/13. The break down, by department, was, Environmental Services, £22,363,000 (33.7%); Learning and Leisure Services, £9,224,000 (13.9%); Finance and Customer Services, £966,000 (1.4%); Corporate Services, £1,235,000 (1.8%); Housing and Social Work Services, £4,752,000 (7.2%); (2.3%); Schools and Centres 21, £27,910,000 (42%).

 

Capital projects included:

  • Broadwood, £4,622,000
  • Burial Grounds, £1,000,000
  • Care Services, £3,161,000
  • Corporate Property, £7,961,000
  • Developing the Organisation, £930,000
  • Education Properties, £7,551,000
  • Flood Prevention, £1,000,000
  • Other Environmental Services, £657,000
  • Parks / Open Spaces, £1,088,000
  • Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, £24,608,000
  • Roads / Bridges / Lighting, £9,300,000
  • Schools & Centre 21, £31,800,000
  • Small Communities, £1,000,000
  • Sport & Leisure Investment, £3,236,000
  • Strategic Waste, £1,500,000
  • Town Centres & Economic Regeneration, £12,193,000
  • Total Capital Investment Programme cost:  £111,607,000
 

Capital projects included:

  • Burial Grounds, £600,000
  • Care Services, £3,405,000
  • Corporate Services, £4,809,000
  • Developing the Organisation, £930,000
  • Education Properties, £5,406,000
  • Flood Prevention, £1,000,000
  • Other Environmental Services, £1,065,000
  • Parks/Open Spaces, £1,073,000
  • Roads/Bridges/Lighting, £9,379,000
  • Schools & Centres 21, £65,014,000
  • Small Communities, £1,000,000
  • Sport & Leisure Investment, £16,657,000
  • Strategic Waste, £970,000
  • Town Centres & Economic Regeneration, £13,714,000
  • Total Capital Investment Programme cost: £125,022,000
 

Capital projects included:

  • Burial Grounds, £2,868,000
  • Care Services, £2,828,000
  • Corporate Services, £2,400,000
  • Developing the Organisation, £1,700,000
  • Education Properties, £5,249,000
  • Flood Prevention, £1,000,000
  • Other Environmental Services, £1,755,000
  • Regeneration Projects, £3,292,000
  • Roads/Bridges/Lighting, £14,949,000
  • Schools and Centres 21, £92,840,000
  • Sport and Leisure Investment, £7,127,000
  • Strategic Waste, £500,000
  • Town Centres, £8,234,000
  • Total Capital Investment Programme cost: £144,742,000
 

Capital projects included:

  • Burial Grounds, £2,855,000
  • Care Services, £4,752,000
  • Corporate Services, £1,345,000
  • Developing the Organisation, £966,000
  • Education Properties, £6,200,000
  • Flood Prevention, £1,000,000
  • Other Environmental Services, £1,951,000
  • Regeneration Projects, £1,320,000
  • Roads/Bridges/Lighting, £10,999,000
  • Schools and Centres 21, £27,910,000
  • Sport and Leisure Investment, £3,024,000
  • Strategic Waste, £389,000
  • Town Centres, £3,193,000
  • Total Capital Investment Programme cost: £66,450,000
Workforce detail:

In 2009/10, North Lanarkshire Council had 14,520 full-time equivalent staff. 402 (2.8%) were in Corporate Services; 118 in the Chief Executive’s Office (0.8%); Finance and Customer Services, 484 (3.3%); Learning and Leisure employed 6,815 (46.9%); 3,641 (25.1%) in Housing and Social Work; and, Environmental Services employed 3,060 (21.1%)

Workforce detail:

In 2010/11, North Lanarkshire Council had 14,516 full-time equivalent staff. 400 (2.8%) were in Corporate Services; 124 in the Chief Executive’s Office (0.9%); Finance and Customer Services, 522 (3.6%); Learning and Leisure employed 6,696 (46.1%); 3,749 (25.8%) in Housing and Social Work; and, Environmental Services employed 3,023 (20.8%)

Workforce detail:

In 2011/12, North Lanarkshire Council had 13,985 full-time equivalent staff. 373 (2.7%) were in Corporate Services; 117 in the Chief Executive’s Office (0.8%); Finance and Customer Services, 488 (3.5%); Learning and Leisure employed 6,558 (46.9%); 3,576 (25.6%) in Housing and Social Work; and, Environmental Services employed 2,873 (20.5%)

Workforce detail:

In 2012/13, North Lanarkshire Council had 13,520 full-time equivalent staff. 306 (2.3%) were in Corporate Services; 44 in the Chief Executive’s Office (0.3%); Finance and Customer Services, 466 (3.5%); Learning and Leisure employed 6,440 (47.6%); 3,467 (25.6%) in Housing and Social Work; and, Environmental Services employed 2,797 (20.7%)