School clothing grants and the teaching of art, music and foreign languages in Angus are all to be targeted for cuts in this week’s budget.
Against the backdrop of the need to slash around £20 million from local authority spending over the next three years, Angus finance spokesman Alex King warned the days of “Rolls-Royce” provision are gone.
And he said the possibility of compulsory job losses among council staff could not be ruled out in the years ahead.
Councillor King delivered a budget briefing to The Courier ahead of Thursday’s meeting of the council in Forfar when three-year proposals for £19 million of savings are expected to be agreed after cross-party consideration of where services can be trimmed or delivered more efficiently.
“We need to do things differently, do different things and do less. No longer will it be ‘the council will do it’, it’s got to be should the council do it, or will someone else do it,” he said.
At local level, the budget also includes plans to close paddling pools in Brechin and Kirriemuir, with the end of the line in sight for Arbroath’s tourist road train unless a private operator can be found to take it over.
Mr King said the tough decisions would help fund a £1.8 million investment in Angus adult care services, £35,000 worth of additional development for employability services for the district’s young people and a £100,000 landfill tax commitment.Time may be up for Arbroath road trainThe bell may have tolled for Arbroath road train’s familiar ‘ding-dong’ call to visitors.
A feature of the seaside burgh for almost 20 years, the attraction is now costing the council more than three times as much to operate as it brings in.
Although there may be some miles left in the machine yet, a replacement could cost upwards of £80,000.
“Fares income last year was around £6,000, but running costs were £19,000, so we have really reached the point where we have to ask what this vehicle is doing,” said council finance spokesman Alex King.
The hope is that a tourism business might be willing to take on the road train and a similar transfer of the paid-for facilities at Montrose’s popular Seafront Splash is in the budget plan.
Museum and library hours are also to be reviewed to reflect usage.
“It’s a case of use it or lose it,” said Mr King. “It is just not sensible to have the door open if no one is going to be coming in.”
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