School meal price could rise in savings bid

THE cost of parking and school meals could rise as cashstrapped Perth and Kinross Council tries to make nearly £17 million-worth of savings.

The local authority has unveiled its “prudent and cautious” spending plan for the next 12 months.

Bosses will dig into reserves and use Scottish Government funding to help plug a budget black hole, which has been largely created by their response to the pandemic.

Papers show they now need to make savings of more than £60 million over the next six years.

The council could achieve its savings while avoiding job losses or swingeing funding cuts, but officers have recommended a price increase for school dinners and parking.

It is further proposed that a plan to axe secondary school teachers which was approved last year will be halted, sparing around 11 jobs.

Last week, councillors agreed to freeze council tax after the Scottish Government offered the equivalent of a 3% council tax rise in its draft budget with the proviso council tax was frozen in the forthcoming financial year.

In a plan to be considered by councillors next week, officers propose raising parking charges by around 10%.

For example, an hour’s on-street parking in Perth city centre would rise from £1.30 to £1.40, while up to 10 hours at the Canal Street multi-storey would cost £11.80, compared to £10.70.

Schools meals could rise from £2.15 to £2.25 for primary pupils, and £2.30 to £2.40 for secondary.