‘Tough inheritance’ for administration

ANGUS Council’s new finance convener had an early dig at the authority’s fiscal management by the previous SNP administration after highlighting a £3 million overspend last year.

Kirriemuir and Dean Conservative councillor Angus Macmillan Douglas said the new multi-party administration had been left with a “tough inheritance”.

A full council meeting before summer recess considered a report setting out the authority’s 2016-17 financial outturn, and signed off draft accounts for the final year of the SNP’s last term in office.

But the balance sheet has already suffered another hit after staff severance costs associated with controversial changes to care services came in “significantly” above estimates.

Mr Macmillan Douglas said: “I would draw members’ attention to the fact that Angus Council overspent by £3.064m in the 2016-17 year.

“This overspend by the previous SNP administration, coupled with the use of hardearned reserves built up over previous years, and the Scottish Government’s yearon-year reduction in funding for the council, has given the new administration a very tough situation to deal with.

“This situation will not be easily or quickly resolved. But the administration has made a good start by working with officers to identify how Angus Council can become more effective in the provision of services.”