Council budget to mark the start of reform

Highland Council has agreed sweeping changes to this year’s annual budget of around £570 million with the aim of not just balancing the books – with measures addressing a funding gap of almost £30 million – but to instigate major reforms in how it provides services.

Last Thursday, councillors debated, amended and approved its budget with policies including a three per cent rise in council tax and rising costs of funerals, cremations, commercial refuse collections and bulky uplifts, while fees for emptying brown bins will go up by £5 per year.

Leisure and culture provider High Life Highland (HLH) came out better than thought after the SNP negotiated a rise in membership cost of £1 or less which took £205,000 off the original £610,000 proposed cut.

But in a major shift from previous years the financial measures were targeted to reform services – particularly education – where millions of pounds of savings are being sought by improving performance.

In another break with tradition, many of the proposals are dependant on further consultations with staff and the public.

Cuts include funding for additional support needs – when a child needs more or different support to get the most from school – in what is a major shake-up of the service which some fear could be too much for the public to stomach.

Chief executive Donna Manson said: “I call it a budget for change. Education transformation – it is all about getting better outcomes.

“We will work through that in the next three years. I am committed to doing that, but the key to it will be regular monitoring.”

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