Education and care may be up for chop
Free swimming lessons for youngsters and nearly 100 care home places for Perth and Kinross’s older people could be cut by councillors.
Cash-strapped Perth and Kinross Council has assessed the savings from cutting 24 teachers for the core subjects of English and maths from secondary schools.
These are believed to be among a long list of departmental running costs which will come before councillors during next month’s budget meeting, details of which emerged earlier this week. The local authority has been running a budget tool where it asks users to save £10m from its services to introduce in 2017-18.
But it will decide the fate of many schemes on February 9. At the same time it is expected to see increases in council tax charges - by potentially as much as £500 for some households, according to a claim at the Scottish Parliament.
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser raised the issues in parliament and says he understands “heavy cuts” are on the cards for the SNP-run council in Perth. The Mid-Scotland and Fife representative says community campuses could see opening hours reduced, school meals prices would rise from £2.10 to £2.70 and the community wardens scheme could be scrapped.
Questioning finance minister Derek MacKay, Mr Fraser, shadow finance minister, said the council was considering the cuts despite the potential for a leap in council tax bills. Mr MacKay responded by saying the government was generous in its cash support to PKC. Councils have until today to confirm they are accepting the Holyrood deal.
Mr Fraser said after: “Modest properties across Perth and Kinross are set to see substantial increases in their council tax bills yet, despite this, the SNP-run council is considering a whole raft of damaging cuts to services.
“At a time where bedblocking is a huge problem it seems almost inconceivable for the council to be considering cuts to care home places. At a time where the performance of our children in literacy and numeracy is slipping, 24 teachers in English and Maths face cuts. At a time when community safety has never been more important this council is considering getting rid of the community warden scheme.
“We know Scottish Government funding from the UK is up over £500 million over the current year, yet councils up and down the country are expected to make tough decisions whilst increasing tax at the same time.”
The savings highlighted by Mr Fraser are understood to be among an annual root and branch review of budgets which it is open to councillors to consider as part of savings and efficiencies. This has been the method at recent years of budget meetings.
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “Perth and Kinross Council’s budget will be set on February 9, and the proposals will be published as part of the agenda and reports a week before that. No budget decisions have yet been made. It is ultimately for councillors to debate and consider the options and agree a final budget in February.”