A total of 56 jobs at Argyll and Bute Council could go in the next financial year as it prepares to consider a list of savings options.
The authority is facing a budget shortfall of £13.737million over the next three financial years.
A reduction to the council’s staffing of 55.8 full time equivalent posts within 2019-20 is the proposal revealed in reports to go before the Policy and Resources Committee tomorrow.
Among the jobs which could go are 12 school crossing patrollers, five environmental wardens, 17 posts within youth and adult learning and a music instruction job.
In the report, Kirsty Flanagan, head of strategic finance, writes: “It should be noted, that officers are working on bringing forward further detail on the policy savings options to the budget meeting in February.”
The savings options have been prepared by the council’s “Transformation Board” which is chaired by the Executive Director of Customer Services. Membership consists of a number of senior managers across the council as well as trade union representation.
Ms Flanagan continues: “The Transformation Board, with the help from individual services, has worked throughout 2018-19 to identify a number of savings options to be considered as part of the 2019-20 budget. Management/operational savings of £2.090m and policy options of £1.986m have been identified for 2019-20 and these savings currently exceed the estimated budget gap.”
Tomorrow, the committee is advised to endorse the operational savings and note the policy options.
Marri Malloy, chairwoman of Oban Community Council, said: “Only recently the council was advertising a post at £35,000 for someone in charge of amenities. If they are going to be cutting the budget, why are they still employing people?
“The cuts for school crossing patrollers are awful. That is a disaster waiting to happen. My fear is that young children get over-excited at the thought of getting home and run across the road.”
At its budget meeting in February this year, the council endorsed the proposed Transformation Board activities for 2018-19. This included a review of fleet management, review of procurement and to further investigate savings in respect of redesigning both Adult Learning and Youth Work and Instrumental Music Tuition.
