Government ‘must help meet any £45m council budget crisis’
A war of words has broken out as Renfrewshire Council looks to plug a predicted £45 million budget gap over the next three years.
The local authority has revealed plans to save £25 million between 2020 and 2023, which include - among other measures - reviewing existing short term contracts and gauging employee interest in voluntary redundancy or early retirement.
Trade unions and opposition councillors have expressed their worry over the stark financial picture.
Councillor Jim Harte, the Labour group’s finance spokesman, said: “The shortfall is significant and it can’t go on like this. There has to be an injection of funds from the Scottish Government.”
John McMenemy, GMB Renfrewshire branch secretary, had previously said he was “genuinely concerned the job losses will run into the many hundreds”.
The cost-cutting programme has been outlined in a council report called Right for Renfrewshire and also included plans to work with service directors to “develop and deliver a range of smaller scale service led efficiencies” and “identify budget reallocation opportunities”.
Increasing council tax as part of the annual budget setting process is also considered an option.
Council leader Iain Nicolson has spoken out on the concerns aired by Councillor Harte and Mr McMenemy, accusing them of “scaremongering”.
He said: “Right for Renfrewshire is the continuation of a programme which has run for nearly ten years in change and transformation of how the council delivers its services.
“For five of those years it was known as Better Future, Better Council under the previous Labour administration of which Councillor Harte was a member.
“Their programme approved the use of voluntary redundancy packages - not once but twice - to manage the finances of the council.
“All local authorities are working under tight financial constraints and Renfrewshire is no different, however we recognise that we must also change in the face of increasing technology and find different ways of working.
“This is to ensure we are fit and ready for the future.
“This type of scaremongering is disgraceful and founded upon complete ignorance of any facts.
“Our staff expect better from their elected members and trade union representatives.”
The shortfall is signficant and it can’t go on like this. There has to be an injection of funds from the Scottish Government