TEACHERS will be offered early retirement and spending on pupils’ books, paper and pencils will be cut as Western Isles Council tries to slash its spending.
There was anger inside and outside a budget meeting in the Hebrides yesterday after plans to save £2.4million were backed. The new spending regime will include a raft of job losses across various departments – on top of the estimated 250 posts that have disappeared over the past three years.
A radical move to create virtual classrooms through e-learning – also called curriculum redesign – will mean teachers in one island tutoring students elsewhere through tele-links.
The council performed a partial U-turn on plans to scrap all buses to Laxdale School.
The £107,000 saving would have forced pupils to walk two miles, but the local authority agreed to introduce a public bus service on the route for five years and let children pay a fare.
There were angry exchanges after SNP councillor Gordon Murray tried to block proposals to get rid of specialist teachers for gym, music and art in primary schools to save £200,000.
He also wanted to stop a £30,000 cut to community minibuses in isolated rural districts.
Independent councillor Roddie Mackay criticised the late move by Mr Murray, saying: “This is the first we have heard of Mr Murray’s passion for the services.”
Nationalist councillor Rae Mackenzie retorted: “That is an absolutely diabolical thing to say.”
He accused Mr Mackay of portraying himself as the saviour of the Laxdale School buses, when he “actually seconded the motion” for the policy to axe them.
The row continued after the meeting when SNP group leader Donald Manford clashed with Mr Mackay, insisting that the council leadership had not finalised its budget proposals until the start of the meeting.
Mr Mackay maintained the SNP had weeks to air and debate its own budget plans.
The council agreed to freeze council tax again, which means a band D household pays £1,024.
Under the new £110million budget, grants for community bodies to look after public toilets will be affected.
And despite concerns, a service providing frozen meals at home for pensioners will be implemented, saving £200,000.
About £250,000 could be saved from new employment conditions for council workers by cutting overtime, early retirement and reduced working on public holidays.
The customer-services and council tax and benefits section will be relocated to Stornoway Library.
And opening times and the reception service at Stornoway’s Sandwick Road council offices will be reduced.
Plans for a council trial of two hydrogen cars have been scrapped, and a £15,000 European grant will be paid back and two vacancies left unfilled.
Council leader Angus Campbell highlighted the fact that employment would be created by local authority construction work worth nearly £71million in the next five years.
It included the redevelopment of Lews Castle, coastal protection work at Balivanich, new care and respite facilities to replace Ardseileach, Ardveenish harbour in Barra and a new North Uist primary school.
Mr Campbell said: “The hard work we put in last year has enabled us to manage a fourth successive year with a significant reduction in funding and rising inflation.
“However, we are still managing to implement developments across our islands and we continue to provide high-quality services.”
The council has not yet put a figure on the number of jobs that will be lost.