The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Councilsface challengeto balancebooks
COUNCIL SERVICES will come under threat with “substantial savings” required over the next four years, according to Scotland’s public spending watchdog.
A udit Scotland said local authorities must find savings from areas other than reductions in staffing if they are to continue balancing their books.
The implication is that funding could be slashed from other services, such as social work, schools, road maintenance and bin collections.
Its report for the A ccounts Commission on an overview of local government in 2014 said that so far savings have been made mainly by cutting staff, but this measure is not sustainable in the longer term.
The report, published today, says: “Councils, as with other parts of the public sector, have always faced difficult choices in allocating limited money, staff and other assets such as buildings across competing priorities.
“However, against a backdrop of savings and staff reductions to date, these decisions are increasingly difficult.”
The financial position of Scotland’s 32 councils, which collectively spent almost £21 billion in 2013, has also highlighted the need for “strong political and managerial leadership”.
The report identif ied “heightened tensions” in some council chambers, which is “leading to strained working relationships”.
These problems threaten effective leadership, and the council’s ability to do business effectively and achieve best value for services, it was stated in the report.
It said: “Looking ahead, further pressures and tensions are likely.
“Locally, the political make-up of councils is closely balanced, with half of councils run by coalitions, and reduced budgets mean that choices and decisions on services are harder.”
A ccounts Commission chairman Douglas Sinclair said: “Increasing numbers of older people, who typically need more public services — notably health and social care, as well as the public’s rising expectations of service quality are among a range of factors contributing to increased demands on services.”
He added: “The commission has expressed its consistent view that it is unacceptable if political tensions become so extreme that they compromise a council’s ability to ensure effective leadership, demonstrate good governance and, as a result, weaken the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of the council and its councillors to conduct public business.” of the Centre of A dvanced Textiles at the Glasgow School of A rt.
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