A review of Western Isles Council’s workforce is being undertaken a bid to tackle a budget crisis up to 2018.
The Comhairle estimates an overall £10.6 million shortfall in its budget between April 2016 and 2018.
Project savings in loan charges would bring the funding gap down to £7.7 million over the two years.
Islanders will be asked to make choices over cutting services when a series of budget cuts roadshows in village halls over October and November. Further consultation will continue in January.
Council faces £7.7 million shortfall, reviews workforce
16 April 2015
In a council report, finance chief Robert Emmott highlighted “choices are likely to be more difficult this time.”
He added: “With employee costs making up 51% of the council budget each head of service will be carrying out a comprehensive workforce review.”
Council bosses are to look at potential cuts, making efficiencies, and restructuring services.
Staff at risk of losing their jobs may be offered retraining or transferring to another post.
The Comhairle does not give an updated figure but well over 200 council positions have vanished in the last three or so years including early retirement, vacancies which are not filled as well as redundancies.
Significant demands in looking after elderly people left the council with no option but to increase the social work department’s core budget by £500,000 this year. It follows a massive £847,000 overspend in care services at the end of March.
The problem is set to worsen in the future as nearly 22 % of the islands’ 27,400
population are aged over 65 -
Ultimately councillors will be forced to decide which services they wish to prioritise.
The council will also examine what services they are not legally obliged to provide.
Mr Emmott said proposals for cuts and savings will focus on how “efficiently the council delivers its services.
“The choices will consequently focus on services where council has discretion to decide how and to what extent they should be delivered.”