Alternatives to controversial cuts planned for Dundee’s education budget are to debated at a special meeting in the City Chambers.
The meeting will allow opposition councillors and other groups to put forward their own ideas on how the council can claw back some of the £4 million it hopes to save from the education budget this year just part of the total £14.5 million savings the council needs to make this year.
The administration has put forward 19 measures it wants to implement to save the money, including creating a city campus for pupils from across the city to use.
They also hope to save £323,000 through a review of the devolved school management scheme, which will mean schools are given responsibility for meeting the cost of all long-term absences.
Fears have been raised that this could unfairly affect pupils at a school with several staff on long-term leave. Labour councillors accused the SNP administration of drawing up plans that will set back education in the city nearly 40 years.
The council will vote next week on this year’s budget.
Labour group leader Kevin Keenan described the SNP’s plans as a “back to the future” programme, and said the savings his party is proposing should be put into a ring-fenced devolved school management budget.
Mr Keenan added, “When we see their budget forced through on February 10 it will see our educational service back to an operational model from 1972.Propaganda”Education convener Councillor Fordyce is the only person who believes her own propaganda in that £4 million of cuts will improve the education service and opportunities for our children.”
Mr Keenan said the council could save £350,000 by allowing the lease on the Lord Provost’s car to expire and scrapping a £70,000 fund used to pay bills when there is a dispute between individual departments over which should pay.
“We would suggest that any such future needs be more clearly identified and taken from an individual department or contingencies,” said Mr Keenan.
The Labour group also proposes scrapping the council’s £266,000 bus route development grant. The money is used to improve bus routes in the city and it has been warned that scrapping it may reverse the shift from private to public transport.
However, Mr Keenan said, “We have given this considerable consideration and feel that this is a saving that can be taken. We have also given consideration to the bus service that has been offered to this city over the last two years under the SNP administration and I would ask the public to consider if they feel they have been given value for money.”
The Dundee Primary Headteachers’ Association has also submitted its own alternative education budget.
SNP group finance spokesman Willie Sawers said all alternative proposals would be debated at a meeting in the City Chambers at noon today (Thursday, February 3).
He said, “I haven’t yet seen any alternative savings proposals, but there is a meeting at midday. All the savings proposals will be exchanged between all groups and independent parties and we will consider all alternatives put forward.”