Row looms over shorter school week among Highland Council savings cuts plan
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A HIGHLAND Council proposal that primary kids could be sent home at noon on Fridays sparked a furious response yesterday from the leader of the authority’s opposition.
Parents and carers are facing the shock prospect of North primary schools being cut to a four-and-a-half day week as the local authority makes swingeing cuts in an effort to balance the books.
And the Highland News has learned that further drastic cuts are up for consideration, drawn up by officers and the council administration.
They include:
Cutting secondary school staff, saving £500,000 to £600,000 over two years;
Increasing the cost of school meals, saving £150,000 over the next couple of years;
Axing free music tuition for kids, saving £80,000;
Closing some play-parks and cutting back maintenance on others, saving £112,000, and making bin collection savings which would see a reduction in five posts and a saving of £100,000.
The council independent administration is seeking to avoid compulsory redundancies where possible and any deletion of posts could be managed through vacancy control.
Budget leader Councillor Bill Fernie said: “These are among a range of proposals we are considering in the light of an anticipated budget gap of over £21 million next year alone.
“We are consulting with staff, unions and our Citizens’ Panel over the coming days and weeks before taking proposals to council in February for a decision.”
Leader of the SNP opposition, Councillor Maxine Smith, said: “I think it is appalling that the members learn about this proposal for cutting school hours via a press release sent out late on Monday.
“This should have been something that was discussed in our briefings with the administration. They talk a nice talk about open-ness and transparency, but when it comes to the crunch there is no such thing.
“I am so disappointed that this is being brought forward just before Christmas, raising huge concerns amongst the workforce, at a time when they are already stressed about finances.”
The school hours cut could mean parents having to make new and costly child care arrangements.
And carers who have jobs face the prospect of having to take the afternoon off to look after youngsters, and losing out on wages.
The administration believes that if this proposal were agreed by members, there could be significant savings in heat, light and power.
Most staff would still work their existing contracted hours, but doing so over 4.5 days. Some people may wish to reduce their contracted hours and this option could be available on a voluntary basis where practical.
But Cllr Smith said: “It is important to remember that people take on jobs that they can fit around balancing their work with having a life, and for many who have families, it is not possible for them to start work at 7am or 8am.
“I would also question whether or not contracts can be changed in this way without having an impact on terms and conditions, so therefore imposing a 4.5 day week may well be illegal.
“Employees who want to start work early are already doing so under the flexible working terms. If they are not, then this is for a good reason.
“I do not think this will produce energy savings as buildings still need to be cleaned, which will necessitate having heated buildings.
“It is illegal to have people working in buildings below a certain temperature, and cleaners are no exception to this.”
Cllr Fernie responded: “At this stage this is just a proposal, but we think it is a good idea and one which compares very favourably with some of the others.”
