Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has agreed a budget strategy for 2016 – 2018, which could lead to almost £16 million in cuts. Some estimates predict a ‘worse case scenario’ of up to £15.7 million in savings could be required over the five-year period.
Uncertainty remains over what the actual figure might be, however the estimate of £15.7 million includes a reduction of around £6.3 million in government funding, also an estimate, if there is a continuation of flat cash funding. The remaining amount of £9.4 million is made up of inflation, pensions costs and demographic changes.
While the Comhairle has estimated what it needs to find year-on-year, and maintains that it has a good track record of managing its budget over the last five years, it admits that the estimates given are still very much dependant ‘on a number of unknown factors’.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is adamant that although the financial picture is uncertain, it will “continue to manage its finances as efficiently as possible and to lobby for the best possible financial settlement”.
£2.4 million of savings from loan charges and an additional £0.5 million of balances will reduce the savings needed in 2016/17 to £1.2 million.
Which means that a figure of £4.3 million will be needed over the two years between 2016-2018.
What services matter most to you?
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has agreed its budget strategy for 2016 – 2018, with some estimates suggesting that up to £15.7 million of savings could be required over the five-year period.
With some key services likely to be affected as part of these savings, Am Pàipear would like to know which services are most important to you and why?
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