Budget consultation meeting at Lairg

The Highland Council begins a four month budget consultation at a meeting of its North West and Central Sutherland Ward Forum on Saturday (27 March).

The public meeting is being held at Lairg Community Centre and begins at 11 am. In the chair will be Councillor Robbie Rowantree, one of three ward members for North West and Central Sutherland.

The theme of the meeting is “The implications of the budget for The Highland Council” and in attendance to outline the challenges and respond to questions will be Council Convener Sandy Park;  Budget Leader David Alston, Chief Executive, Alistair Dodds, and Depute Chief Executive and Director of Finance, Alan Geddes.

They will highlight that having already identified savings of £24 million, the Council still needs to bridge a gap of £36 million in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

A budget briefing document is being produced to support the exercise and this will be launched next month.  It will set out the challenges facing the council and pose some key budget questions.

The consultation will run until the end of June and the Council aims to make decisions on the budget savings in the autumn of this year.  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.

Councillor Alston said: “Our meeting in Lairg marks the start of our consultation on the budget. We want to engage with as wide an audience as possible in highlighting the unprecedented budget challenges we will face over the coming years and to listen to what the public have to say about the options we will be presenting.”