Job losses may be expected and services face being cut as Western Isles Council has to tackle what could be an estimated £11.4 million deficit over the next three years.
The council says it seeks to minimise the number of compulsory redundancies, as far as possible.
However, a significant proportion of the
Comhairle’s spend relates to direct employment of the workforce so finding the huge savings required will affect the workforce, councillors will be told as they debate the financial crisis during meetings over two weeks.
The Comhairle has to deal with forking out an extra estimated £90,000 in holiday pay to employees next year.
One financial blow is a significant overspend in the social work department this year, much of it caused by increasing demand for services, particularly with the soaring number of older people needing care.
Bosses have to prepare detailed budgets savings by February.
They have been asked to make 1% budget savings across all departments, despite earlier cuts, which could raise around £834,000.
An “efficiency drive” to find more savings is also proposed to be implemented between 2016 and 2018, says a council report.
The looming financial stringency follows two years of cuts to head off a £6 million deficit with jobs and services already targetted.
An estimated 200 plus council positions have vanished in the last three or so years including early retirement, vacancies which are not filled as well as redundancies.
Council looks to budget cuts to tackle £11.4 million deficit
25 November 2014