Aberdeen’s Liberal Democrat Budget Proposals

Aberdeen’s Liberal Democrat councillors yesterday proposed investing in education, abolishing the Garden Tax, repairing crumbling roads and pavements, and enhancing Aberdeen’s environment at Aberdeen City Council’s budget meeting. 

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Ian Yuill said: “The Liberal Democrats’ priorities are education, the environment and repairing Aberdeen’s crumbling roads and pavements. 

“Our proposals include investing over £46 million in city schools, abolishing the hated Garden Tax and investing in properly maintaining Aberdeen’s roads and pavements. Things that affect the whole city. It is important that the council gets the basics right.” 

Key points of the Liberal Democrats’ budget proposals included: 

  • Investing £46.4 million in education buildings including a new primary school for Torry, relocating St. Peter’s School, improving nursery facilities at St. Joseph’s School and £2 million to increase capacity at Bucksburn Academy.
  • Abolishing the Garden Tax, the unpopular charge made to collect residents’ garden waste from brown bins. 
  • Investing an extra £14 million over five years in repairing roads and pavements across Aberdeen. This would pay to resurface up to 70 miles of road surface. 
  • Investing in improving Aberdeen’s environment including tree planting and action to enhancing biodiversity. 
  • Improving road safety by creating a Road Safety Fund and rolling out 20mph speed limits in all residential areas in Aberdeen. 
  • Investing £16 million in improving charging facilities for electric vehicles in Aberdeen. This is the equivalent of over 3,200 fast chargers. 
  • Investigating the feasibility of planting rose beds at key points alongside Anderson Drive. 
  • Investigating generating green energy using ground source heat pumps in council playing fields and parks. 
  • A 3.3% increase in council tax. 
  • Cutting by £50 million to £100 million the funds allocated to the City Centre and Beach Masterplans.  

Ian Yuill said, “Despite the huge cuts forced on the council by the Scottish Government, the Liberal Democrat have once again focused resources on our priorities of education, Aberdeen’s roads and pavements and our environment.”