Council cuts could be 'enormous'

Campaigners have been fighting the council's proposed cutbacks

Frontline council staff and Aberdeen's most vulnerable will be hit hardest by almost �50m of council savings, it has been claimed.

BBC Scotland revealed the council faces making cuts of almost double the original �27m forecast.

Council leader Kate Dean said the figures had not been kept hidden.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) said an interim chief executive with financial expertise would be appointed.

Aberdeen South Labour MP Anne Begg said the sums were a "bolt out the blue" and could lead to serious cutbacks.

She said: "The BBC report was the first time I had heard that figure.

"You could be looking at enormous cuts in services."

Finance Secretary John Swinney said it was clear Aberdeen City Council had a "serious financial situation to wrestle with".

Public protests

Cosla president Pat Watters said: "All the information was recently brought together in one place.

"One of the outcomes of that work was a report advising that the total savings to be made were �49.7m."

Mr Watters said: "The external panel made a number of recommendations aimed at ensuring the council is able to make these savings, Aberdeen will consider those within the council and we will continue to meet them fortnightly.

Cosla's Pat Watters said the interim position was expected within weeks

"In addition, Aberdeen City and the external panel have agreed the appointment of an interim chief executive with financial expertise and experience of working with councils in this sort of serious financial situation.

"This interim postholder is expected to be in place within weeks."

In a report for a worst-case scenario, the council's chief accountant said the gross savings could total �49.7m.

Measures being considered include a freeze on recruitment and halting major capital projects.

The controversial plans to make the original �27m of savings meant school closures and major cuts in services, leading to public protest.

The authority, run by a Liberal Democrat-SNP coalition, needs to make the savings to balance its books.

A critical report from the Accounts Commission earlier this year said the council faced "extremely serious" challenges.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version