Moves which will see Angus schools instrumental music tuition slashed by more than a third continue to cause disharmony among elected members.
In advance of next month’s budget-setting meeting, Angus children and learning committee councillors last week voted through a proposal to restructure the authority’s “patchy” Instrumental Tuition Service (IMS).
The shake-up follows an in-depth review of the IMS, which identified areas of weakness that officials believe can be addressed by offering instrumental tuition in different ways, including group teaching and remote learning.
But the plan, which will see the number of full-time equivalent teachers drop from 18 to 11, is still being fought by arch critic David Fairweather, who is furious a bid to bring the issue before every member of the council has been blocked.
Arbroath councillor Mr Fairweather, whose amendment to defer the IMS decision until after the budget meeting was narrowly defeated, said he had intended to refer the matter to the full Angus Council.
“The next full council meeting is the budget meeting and I have been informed that I cannot refer it there,” he said.
“If that is the case, I would suggest that the council’s standing orders are flawed and I would be very angry if I am not going to be able to have this brought before every member of the council before the budget is set.
“These are savage cuts prior to the budget through the back door before the front door is opened.”
He added: “I’m not prepared to accept this and I don’t think the parents and pupils of Angus are prepared to accept it.
“I have written to the chief executive asking for a full explanation of why I cannot refer this to full council under normal procedures, along with a number of other questions about the consultation.
“The timing of this report may even have been designed to ensure that, in the event of an amendment falling, it could not go to full council.”
He continued: “The reaction, which has been coming to me since last week’s meeting, is one of dismay about the way this is going for the future.”
The review report said learning a musical instrument was “perceived as a benefit and a force for good in children’s lives” and the authority is confident the restructure will help achieve the ambition of having an orchestra in every Angus secondary.