Efficiency savings all add up

The leader of the administration on Perth and Kinross Council says the organisation has “consistently excelled” in making efficiency savings.

Councillor Ian Campbell said savings of £14.436 million had been identified in the 2016-17 financial year, approximately 4.3% of the council’s net revenue budget.

He told members of the strategic policy and resources committee yesterday: “These savings have been achieved through areas such as asset management, procurement, workforce planning and streamlining of bureaucracy. It is important to remember that when we do make savings our priority is to divert them into improved service.

“We aim to continue this process into the future even though we face a continuing period of financial constraint in the public sector.”

Councillor Lewis Simpson said the authority should be lauded for the savings it has made and should “shout them from the rooftops” to the wider public.

“This is a good news story, we are saving money,” he said. “This would be the envy of many organisations.”

He also welcomed news that the council’s transformation programme for 2015 to 2020 showed a saving of £1.8m to date against a target of £1.5m.

The programme looks at developing new ways of sustaining services while making savings.