Councillors have approved a radical overhaul of children’s music lessons in Perthshire, making a further £60,000 of cuts.
And there could be more changes to come, with consultation about to begin on plans to shake-up music tutors and the way they are funded.
A task group, led by three senior teachers, was set up to review the region’s highly regarded Instrumental Music Service (IMS).
It followed a decision by councillors in March to partially reject proposals to cut £75,000 from the IMS budget, while avoiding swingeing cuts to jobs and services.
However, critics have said the latest proposals are a “backward step” and may put future generations off signing up to the service.
The cutbacks were set out in the council’s 2014 budget, but they were given a stay of execution to avoid making changes during the service’s 50th anniversary last year.
Members of the housing and health committee voted 11-3 in favour of £58,600 worth of savings – around 5.8% of the total IMS budget.
Around £35,000 will be saved by withdrawing free tuition from S3 pupils.
A review of music camps will also save £1,000 by cutting down on some bus trips and £3,000 by removing the need to have a full-time nurse on site.
The committee was told nurses were not used on similar sized school outings.
A further £19,600 will be saved by withdrawing the equivalent of half a full-time member of staff – understood to be a music tutor who is getting ready to retire.
Parents and service users will soon be consulted on further changes, which include redirecting Youth Music Initiative funding from guitar and voice tutors into a new music technology specialist post.
It is also proposed to work with charities to expand the offer of lessons in popular areas such as bagpipes and drumming.
Stuart Clyde, headteacher at the Community School of Auchterarder, chaired the review group.
He said the IMS, which was set up in Perth in 1965, was “exemplary” and highly regarded outside the area.
“Over the past 50 years, the service has remained arguably unchanged,” he said.
“But if we look at the changes in music, we have to ask: Are we doing enough to meet with demand.”
He stressed that tutors would not face pay cuts, but their hours would be reallocated under a review of the way they take time off in lieu.
Councillor Willie Wilson proposed deferring a decision to allow for consultation on all options with service users and their parents.
“There’s some things here which I welcome, but there are other aspects which I would very much be opposed to,” he said.
“The parents and the people using this service should have been consulted in the first place.”
Michael Jamieson, secretary of the Perform in Perth festival, questioned the proposals.
“I just feel this is a backwards step,” he said.
“If they start charging for services, such as guitar and vocal tuition, then given the budgetry restraints on most families these days, that is going to put off a lot of parents.”
