Perth and Kinross Council: 137 posts face axe

Oct 29 2010 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

COUNCIL bosses could axe 137 full-time posts in a bid to save £9.4 million over the next three years, it was revealed yesterday.

The proposal, which will be put to council members next Thursday, is part of the local authority’s strategy to save £38 million by 2014.

PKC, which employs the full-time equivalent (FTE) of 6,200 staff, intends to make the biggest cuts – 48 posts – in administration and support, followed by 33 management posts and 24 expected to go in education and children’s services.

However, SNP council leader Ian Miller revealed he was “confident” that compulsory redundancies could be avoided.

“We began our budget process much earlier this year so that we could be as prepared as possible for the impact of the government spending reviews,” he said.

“Central to our approach has been a commitment to take all reasonable steps to avoid compulsory redundancies.

“During the first six months of this year we purposely left 133 vacancies unfilled. Some of them will go towards the cuts, but it won’t cover most of them.

“It will be a combination of things that will bring the number down, such as natural wastage through staff turnover, the accepting of voluntary severance and also those people agreeing to job share.

“However, the situation is serious and the cuts may still have major repercussions on the delivery of services within our council area.”

Depute leader of the administration, George Hayton agreed: “We won’t know the exact figures until December but we are well prepared.”

Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Alexander Stewart continued: “We believe that there are opportunities for efficiency savings whilst not having a detrimental effect on frontline services.”

Labour leader Archie MacLellan added: “I believe we are in a better position that most other councils across the country.”