A first glimpse of Dundee City Council’s provisional revenue budget report has failed to reveal details of almost £15 million worth of cuts.
The 106-page document, providing draft figures for the SNP administration’s 2011-12 spend, was published ahead of next week’s crunch talks when councillors sitting on the special policy and resources committee will finally set the city’s budget.
The local authority has to claw back £14.58m in a bid to balance its books a saving of more than £100 for every person in the city.
Speaking ahead of the crucial meeting, Councillor Willie Sawers said cost-cutting moves imposed by the Westminster government have made this a “very challenging budget.”
“As an administration, we have still been able to deliver a budget for the city that proposes a council tax freeze for a fifth year in a row, maintains our commitment to no compulsory redundancies and finds the majority of our savings from areas which are not front-line services,” said the councillor, who also holds responsibility for finance.
“We have already taken steps to limit the impact on the vulnerable people in our community within the overall budget of Dundee City Council.”
The Conservative group said the cash-strapped authority had spent £7000 on alcohol and £14,000 on sandwiches in the past year money it argued could be better spent.DifficultCouncillor Derek Scott said, “It is difficult for opposition councillors to identify alternative savings without having council officers working for us in the same way as they do for the council administration.
“However we have identified some savings which we are proposing on a point of principle. We think it sends out the right message that taxpayers shouldn’t be funding this sort of expense when services are being cut.”
The Labour group wants the council to surrender the lease on the car used by the lord provost on official business, generating savings of £6000.
It has also suggested scrapping a £266,000 bus route development grant and a £78,000 fund used when there is uncertainty over which council department is liable for bills.
The money should be diverted to the education budget, specifically to aid schools in paying for cover during staff absences, it said.
Group leader Kevin Keenan said, “We trust our savings proposals will be seen by the public and the administration as a positive contribution. We hope they are taken in place of the ones in education, which we believe will do most damage.”
Liberal Democrat group leader Fraser Macpherson said, “I’m minded to support the position the Labour group is taking they’re making a lot of sense in terms of releasing additional funds for education.”
The Dundee Primary Head Teachers’ Association has also put forward alternative ideas for helping the council achieve its savings target.
Councillors will set the city council’s budget for 2011-12 next Thursday.