The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Councillors make history by meeting away from Perth
Move follows pledge for decision-making process to be more accessible to local people
History was made when a full meeting of Perth and Kinross Council was convened in Kinross.
It followed a pledge by Councillor Ian Campbell, leader of the administration, earlier this year that he would make the authority’s decision-making process more accessible to local people.
Yesterday, he made good on that promise with a full council meeting staged in the assembly hall at Loch Leven Community Campus.
Around 20 members of the public and several classes of schoolchildren took the opportunity to hear councillors make decisions on a range of issues.
Local councillor Willie Robertson welcomed the public to the meeting and said they were part of what was a significant moment for the authority.
“I think this is the first full council to be held in the burgh of Kinross for over 50 years,” he told the meeting.
Other council committees will meet around the district in the coming months.
Among the issues debated at Kinross was one that will impact on people across the local authority area – the medium term financial plan for the next five years.
The council faces making savings of between £22 million and £103 million between 2018 and 2023, although the recommendation from council officers is that they tread a middle path by saving £55 million.
The meeting heard various factors will influence the sum, including uncertainty about inflation and the level of pay awards, all made more difficult by the fact that Scottish Government funding is only set for a year ahead.
Mr Campbell warned there would be difficult times ahead in terms of setting budgets. “There is no doubt that we are experiencing increasing demand for vital council services at a time when our finances are expected to be under greater pressure than ever before,” he said.
“The mid-range scenario shows the council facing potentially £55 million of savings over the next five years with an estimated target of at least £18.6 million for 2018/19.
“All of us, as councillors, will be faced with making very difficult decisions on the budget,” he added.
I think this is the first full council to be held in the burgh of Kinross for over 50 years. COUNCILLOR WILLIE ROBERTSON