Teacher cuts and jobs to go in brutal budget

Lollipop patrollers and street cleaners also face the axe in bid to save £40 million

Teachers and environmental services could bear the brunt of more than £40 million of council cutbacks, it has emerged.

Around 160 local authority jobs are under threat as Perth and Kinross Council attempts to slash spending over the next three years.

Changes to maths and English class sizes could see the loss of around 23 secondary school staff, and 26 primary posts could go.

Papers released ahead of next week’s budget talks reveal recommendations to close down all but two recycling centres.

And 23 street cleaning posts and 20 ground-maintenance staff could also be axed.

Savings may also be made by the complete removal of all school lollipop patrollers.

And there are calls to increase parking charges across the region by 10%.

Council leader Ian Campbell, who died earlier this month, had warned it was the “most challenging” budget faced in 20 years.

Scores of teaching posts could be axed as council bosses scramble to make savings of more than £40 million over the next three years.

Crossing patrollers could also be completely axed.

Perth and Kinross Council has revealed a range of money-saving options for its 2018-19 budget.

Council leader Ian Campbell, who died earlier this month while preparing for next week’s talks, warned it would be the “most challenging” budget the local authority had ever faced.

The proposals include a range of swingeing cuts to education and environmental services.

If approved, more than 60 full-time teachers could be lost.

Around 100 more council staff could also face the chop, including dozens of street cleaning and ground maintenance staff.

The budget options have been compiled by council officers, but councillors will get a final say on what proposals go forward at their meeting on Thursday.

The local authority could save more than £1m with a reduction of 23.3 full-time-equivalent (FTE) secondary school posts. This would mean reverting to maximum class sizes for English and maths in S1 and S2.

Council officers warn “fewer teachers in school would mean a reduction in personal support for pupils” leading to “larger classes and potentially more

Our administration is keen to ensure the provision of lessons is maintained. CAROLINE SHIERS

discipline issues arising in and out of schools”.

The authority is also considering cutting more than 26 FTE posts in primary schools, meaning more teaching time for head teachers. This would save an extra £1.2m.

A further 12 teachers in inclusion services, who provide support for the “most vulnerable young people”, could also be cut saving £523,000.

There are also plans to do away with school crossing patrollers completely.

In a report to councillors, officers point out “it is the parents’ responsibility to get their children to and from school and council staff will continue to work with parents in respect of safe school travel planning”.

Another option, to save £60,000, is ending primary school swimming lessons. The proposal has already been criticised by the council’s lifelong learning convener Caroline Shiers.

The Conservative councillor said: “The provision of primary swimming lessons is not a statutory requirement on local authorities, however our administration is keen to ensure the provision of lessons is maintained.”