The challenging financial environment in which this budget has been composed has been well documented. The challenge - as has routinely been the case in recent years - has been to protect services while making the sometimes difficult savings and efficiencies necessary to balance the books.

In terms of general services revenue, I am heartened that there is again no reduction in spend on public bus services, which will rank highly with the public as a priority for investment. The contrast between the high quality subsidised - and indeed commercial - bus networks here in East Lothian, as compared with some areas, is stark, and I am delighted that the Council has routinely made this year on year investment a top priority.

As regards the capital programme, I welcome the very significant investment of £1.5 million over three years committed to building East Linton station. The overall contribution offered by this Council is £3.44 million, which reflects the funding mechanism recently formulated between ourselves, Scottish Borders Council and the Scottish Government. This is a complex project involving many rail industry partners, however the reason we have been able to take it to this stage is due in no small measure to cross-party support both here and at Holyrood. It is vital that this consensus be maintained and that the long awaited re-opening of the station be secured as soon as possible.

I also welcome the continued budget line for parking improvements. It has always been my intention that this fund should be available to address the well documented parking pressures at Drem, Dunbar and Longniddry stations when required. I am delighted that a great deal of work has been done by East Lothian Council - in partnership with Network Rail and ScotRail - to move these projects forward.

I am pleased that we have been able to focus our energies on maximising efficiencies - which is the only sensible thing to do when faced with so much financial uncertainty at a national level – while also maintaining the high quality services which the people of East Lothian have quite rightly become used to; and delivering on a range of commitments in our Council Plan.