Outgoing police board convener warns local authorities will pay price of single national force
Setting up Scotland's single police force could have a knock-on effect for local council finances in future years, Tayside's departing police board convener fears.
- By Graham Brown
- Published in the Courier : 14.02.12
- Published online : 14.02.12 @ 04.17pm
As plans continue towards the establishment of the Scotland-wide single force and with Scotland's council's heading to the polls in May, Ian Mackintosh said he could not see a way for future savings to be made without local government budgets coming under even greater pressure.
Kirriemuir councillor Mr Mackintosh has regularly voiced concerns over the move to a single force, both in his capacity as convener of the Tayside joint police board and as depute leader of the coalition Angus Alliance on the rural authority.
He oversaw approval of a Tayside police budget for the year which included savings of £2.27m, while maintaining officer numbers at 1,229 to secure the Holyrood funding settlement.
The Angus Council budget of last Thursday delivered a £6m-plus savings package for 2012/13, but Mr Mackintosh fears future years will bring intolerable pressure on efforts to balance the books.
''I've been convener of the police board for five years now and I am seeing a new single police force for Scotland developing with an implementation date of April 2013, supposedly to deliver massive savings whilst still maintaining quality service,'' he said.
''Most of these savings can only be delivered via staff savings. If the rest of Scotland is anything like Tayside, while we had people willing to take voluntary redundancy last year. This year is a different story.''
Only 13 Tayside staff have come forward for early severance, bringing some £350,000 of savings.
Mr Mackintosh added: ''With no compulsory redundancy for Scottish Government employees, it is possible that there will have to be a rethink on how proposed savings can be achieved.
''While Angus won't be paying directly for police or fire in the future, if these savings are to be achieved there has to be a possible future financial risk for local government settlement.
''We will be handing over a police service which is performing very well and watching closely to ensure that performance doesn't suffer under the new single force,'' said Mr Mackintosh, adding that he would not like to see Angus Council's prudent work of past years undone.
''The work of Angus Alliance in continuing to pay back debt, as we have done for the last five years, can only stand us in good stead for the future as times become more difficult. It is only correct, therefore, that we continue to practice good housekeeping, as evidenced by this year's Angus budget, built on solid rock and not shifting sands.''
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