Moray Council staff briefed over budget
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
MORAY Council staff have been assured that no redundancies are anticipated in the next year.
Workers have been briefed on the budget proposals due to be debated at a meeting of the full council next Wednesday afternoon.
The briefing assures staff that no redundancies or service reductions are anticipated for the year 2016/17, but that the council faces a huge deficit in subsequent years.
Agenda papers for the meeting are due to be published on Friday. These will contain greater detail of where any savings are to be made.
The message to staff, from chief executive Roddy Burns, is that council expenditure will be £202 million.
Council Tax will be frozen after it became clear that the Scottish Government penalties for increasing it by 18 per cent - as originally proposed by the Independent-Conservative administration would jump from £1.1 million to £6 million.
The council has identified £3.5 million in savings.
Mr Burns said: "None of the savings identified put any members of staff at risk and should not result in a reduction to any council services."
He predicts a recurring annual shortfall of £7 million.
"We can use our reserves this year, but this presents a huge challenge for 2017/18."
And it is estimated that from April 2017 the recurring shortfall will double to £14 million.
Added Mr Burns: "With this in mind a report will be taken to the council meeting in March recommending extensive engagement with communities on the financial situation and the impact on council services.
"As most staff live in Moray we will be aiming to utilise existing links with staff, their clubs, societies and social networks to promote this engagement programme. More information will be circulated about opportunities to engage and influence changes to council services over the coming months."
