Budget options considered at Wick meeting

The implications of budget challenges facing The Highland Council will be the focus of discussions at a meeting of the joint Caithness wards forum at the Mackay’s Hotel, Wick on Tuesday night (6 April), starting at 7.30 pm.

Councillor David Flear, Ward Business Meeting chairman, will chair the public meeting which will also be attended by Convener Councillor Sandy Park, Budget Leader, David Alston and Caithness councillors as well as Chief Executive Alistair Dodds and Depute Chief Executive and Director of Finance, Alan Geddes.

The budget consultation process began last Saturday at a meeting of the North West and Central Ward Forum at Lairg and will run until the end of June. Other ward forum meetings will be held after the General Election at Strontian, Invergarry, Inverness, Lochcarron, Boat of Garten and Nairn.

In addition, a new Citizens’ Panel will be asked for its views. Already more than 2,000 people have indicated a willingness to take part. Council staff and trade unions will continue to be encouraged to identify where savings can be made. A budget blog will open on the Council’s web site next week.

The Council aims to make decisions on the budget savings in the autumn of this year. 

Councillor Alston said: “We have posed some really big questions in our consultation documents and intend engaging with as wide an audience as possible in addressing the budget challenges we will face over the coming years.”

Councillor David Flear, who will be chairing the meeting, said: “This is a chance for the people of Caithness to tell us how the Council should be prioritising its resources.”

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