Cash-strapped Orkney Islands Council is holding meetings in local communities to look for ideas to save money or generate income.
One proposal being considered at the “Community Conversations” events is investing in renewable energy.
The meetings are being held across the Orkney mainland and linked South Isles next month.
A series of questions will be posed to local residents at Tankerness, St Margaret’s Hope, Dounby, Kirkwall and Stromness.
Budget savings of almost £11 million have had to be found over the last six years.
Council Leader James Stockan, said: “It is never easy to make cuts to services that are valued by people. But we have to live within our means and, with our own funding from government reducing year on year, savings needed to be found.
“I would stress that this is about seeking alternatives to cuts. We are actively considering new sources of income for the council by, for instance, investing in renewables.
“The stark reality is that continuing to fund services under our current model is becoming more and more challenging for us as the years go by. I firmly believe that communities across Orkney have their own role to play and must step forward to engage with us on how we develop our service provision for the future.”
The meetings begin on Monday June 4 in West Mainland, at Milestone Church, Dounby, 7-9pm. June 11, King Street Halls, Kirkwall, 7-9pm; June 12, Tankerness Hall, East Mainland, 7-9pm; June 18, Stromness Town Hall, 7-9pm.
The date for the meeting at St Margaret’s Hope is to be confirmed.
