Budget cuts to have “dramatic” impact on Perthshire

Jul 6 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

CURRENT “stark” financial conditions will have a “dramatic impact” on essential services people throughout Perthshire rely on every day of their lives, councillors have been told.

Council leader Ian Miller told elected members gathered at a full meeting that almost £38million-worth of savings will have to be made over the next three financial years.

He added the scale of the financial difficulties faced by all Scotland’s local authorities was hammered home by the 25 per cent ‘real term’ cut in unprotected public spending announced as part of the recent national budget.

Cllr Miller stressed: “Finding these savings will have a dramatic on our ability to provide services.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the scale of the financial challenges we now face will be the most severe in local government since World War II.

“That said, we know that this council is probably better placed than any other to meet this challenge.

“The fiscal prudence that we have implemented over the last few years will stand us in good stead in meeting part of the problem. But no-one could have envisaged the draconian level of reductions that now face us.”

Councillor Alexander Stewart implored all political parties to come together on the issue and take “a flexible approach” in order to help the wider community through “the stark financial situation we now find ourselves in”.

A report outlining the figures mentioned by Cllr Miller, referred to as a ‘medium term financial plan update’ in council circles, was later approved.