News / SIC departments must cut even deeper
FURTHER cuts of more than £700,000 will have to be found from Shetland Islands Council’s education budget.
The council’s education and families committee heard on Wednesday that frontline staff were most likely to be affected by the latest development.
The additional pressure on budgets has come about after £2.2 million of projected corporate savings were re-distributed to the various departments with children’s services receiving the largest share at £711,000.
Director Helen Budge described the development as “unfortunate” and added that senior council officials – the so-called Directors for Change – were placed in a difficult position when the shortfall in savings became clear.
She said the only way out was to split the sum across all departments with children’s services taking the brunt as it has the largest budget, adding: “We as directors do not want to see this happening again.”
The rest of the extra savings will be spread across the council, with social services seeking £363,000, corporate services looking for £246,000, economic development providing £296,000 and £342,000 coming from infrastructure services.
Committee vice chairman George Smith said that he was concerned these savings would now have to be found from front line services.
Shetland Central member David Sandison said the council must have got its budgets wrong “in the first place”.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.