Budget will see council tax rise by 4.79 per cent
Difficult decisions will be made today (Thursday February 21) when Argyll and Bute Council meets to finalise its annual budget.
The council has already revealed that it will be increasing council tax by 4.79 per cent.
A statement was issued on Tuesday by its leader, Councillor Aileen Morton, and deputy leader, Councillor Gary Mulvaney.
Mr Mulvaney said: ‘Faced with a choice between slashing a vital service like social care or increasing council tax, we’ve decided to go along with SNP guidance and increase council tax by 4.79 per cent.’
The council has a £7.9 million budget gap and a number of services are under scrutiny.
This includes youth and adult services, which stands to lose 17.1 full-time equivalent positions, which equates to 57 per cent of the current Argyll and Bute team, in a bid to save £330,000.
However, pupils at Oban High School, Campbeltown Grammar School and Hermitage Acadamy in Helensburgh are not happy about the proposed cuts and plan to protest.
They were scheduled to walk out at 11.05am on Wednesday February 20 for up to 30 minutes.
On behalf of the Oban pupils, Dante Lopez said: ‘In this budget, the council is proposing to cut the youth services budget massively.
‘This means that it will no longer be able to provide the same quality of services and events that have had such a positive impact on young people in Argyll.’
Councillor for Oban South and the Isles and deputy provost Roddy McCuish said: ‘It is unfortunate we have to look at youth services along with everything else in this budget.
‘We are at the stage now where there are extremely difficult choices to be made. Although some services are up for cuts, it could be an
opportunity to reorganise these services.’
Discussing the budget in general, Mr McCuish added: ‘Over the past five years, Argyll and Bute Council has saved £24.8 million.
‘The £1.6 million from the Scottish Government is very welcome, but it still leaves a big gap.
‘The most vulnerable in our society need long-term care. We can’t give them that comfort as we are dealing with one year funding.’
Councillor Aileen Morton said: ‘Our core funding has been reduced by a further £3 million this year.
‘This means that we, like all Scottish councils, have had to look at some very difficult proposals this year, with a shortfall of almost £8 million to consider and very significant budget gaps forecast for the next two years too.’
If the proposed cuts go ahead, a total of 55.8 fulltime equivalent positions would be made redundant in 2019/20.
Proposals have also been made to streamline managerial roles in some departments of the council, including biodiversity, economic growth, and marine and coastal development.
Speaking at the council’s policy and resources committee last Thursday, Councillor Ellen Morton said: ‘In terms of the public perception of the council and our own perception about reducing management costs, it is a very easy thing for people to say.
‘It is an option we are looking at, but a good manager is worth his or her weight in gold as, without managers, staff do not have an organisational plan to work to.’
Other proposed savings would see 21.5 road safety patrollers being removed, saving £115,000, and the road safety unit being scrapped to save £74,000, as well as a reduction of five full-time equivalent environmental wardens, saving £140,000.