Cabinet spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Councillor Shamin Akhtar welcomes the approved £7.5million increase in investment to support the delivery of vital adult social care services.
The landmark cross-party budget for 2025-26 set by East Lothian Council on Tuesday 18 February incorporated a 10% increase in Council Tax payments. From the income generated from this increase, the Council have been able to commit an additional £4.1million to support the delivery of services for vulnerable residents, in the form of health and social care services. The additional £3.2 million being invested in social care is part of the direct payment received by the Council from the Scottish Government to support national policy commitments.
The 2025-26 East Lothian Council budget was developed in the context of significant ongoing demand and cost pressures arising from East Lothian’s growing population, alongside wider economic challenges. Increasing demand on social care services is creating enhanced pressure on the delivery of statutory care services, while the gap between available funding and expenditure requirements continues to rise.
The increase in council tax subsequently means that every East Lothian household will be making a direct contribution to the delivery of community-based adult social care services across 2025-26.
The provision of social care services includes a wide range of interventions that support individuals to live healthy lives and maintain their independence, including:
- social work services for adults and older people
- provision of community-based activities and facilities for adults including day centres,
- delivery of personal care and support at home services,
- care home placements,
- support services for adults with physical and/or learning disabilities,
- mental health, drug and alcohol services,
- adult protection and justice social work services,
- breaks from caring,
- occupational therapy and reablement services, including housing adaptations,
- as well as technology enabled care, including telecare services.
In addition, East Lothian Council’s budget incorporated capital investment funds of £750,000 to support the transition of community-based alarms from analogue to digital alarm systems, as well as £1.7 million of additional investment to secure a sustainable future for the Haddington Day Centre by enabling its relocation of Tynebank Resource Centre.
The collective significant uplift in adult social care services demonstrates East Lothian Council’s commitment to providing community-based, person-centred approaches to deliver the right care, in the right place.
Council spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Councillor Shamin Akhtar comments, “As one of the fastest growing areas in Scotland over the past two decades, the increasing impact of growth in East Lothian has resulted in a dividing gap between expenditure demands and available resources. This is particularly acute in services for our ageing population, which has a direct impact on the delivery of social care services.”
The priority across health and social care is to keep people safe, with a focus on delivering care and support close to home and/or within community settings. To do this, we need to invest in these local services. The additional income being generated from Council Tax, will support us to do just that, and enable the continued delivery of these essential every-day support services.”