SPORTS and leisure facilities and cultural venues like His Majesty’s Theatre could face major funding cuts as Aberdeen City Council looks to slash tens of millions from annual spending to balance the books.
The public are being given a say on the city budget as the local authority plans for a funding shortfall of £83million over the next four years.
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It is estimated that £35million of the deficit will need to be plugged in the year ahead, and council leaders are looking for public input into where the axe should fall.
Education avoided much of the £43million worth of cuts in March, but school kitchens closing and free breakfast provisions ending are just two of the changes being put forward by Aberdeen City Council accountants this time around.
Councillors may even try to shorten the school day to claw back precious millions, according to the Press & Journal, though that would require the nod from Holyrood.
What are officers proposing?
The cost-cutting measures stretch across the entire education portfolio.
A £12million saving would be made over the next four years by delaying or stopping the school estate programme.
That would include putting the brakes on new primaries in Bucksburn and Newhills, Grandhome and Loirston. A new secondary for youngsters living in Hazlehead and Countesswells is also on the line.
Cutting free school transport could save the council £2million and more savings could be made by cutting music tuition and cleaning schools less often.
Cuts could spell the end of lollipop crossing patrollers, who might only be kept on roads without pedestrian crossings.
And a further £7million could be clawed back by halving the number of funded hours in city nurseries for all but the worst-off.
Phase 2 of budget consultation launched
Council chiefs are giving the public a chance to have their say on a raft of budget cuts and tax rises this year.
And they’ve been promised that their responses will be listened to. Phase 2 of their consultation has launched today, giving the public a chance to voice their opinion on where they would make cuts.
Finance and Resources Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “Aberdeen City Council has brought forward an enhanced public consultation on the budget setting process for the first time.
“There are no easy options for the council, given the challenging environment which we are operating in, to continue to deliver the same services when the cost of those service are increasing due to the unprecedented rate of inflation in the UK over the last 18 months.
“This consultation offers an opportunity for people in Aberdeen to understand the challenges the local authority faces, but also have their say on the officers savings proposals – ahead of Councillors setting the 24/25 budget next year.”
Council co-leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “I hope as many people as possible take part in the consultation. Each person’s views matter.
“It will be invaluable to learn about attitudes towards service delivery, how operations might be supported, and the potential impacts of any changes on people.
“The bigger the response to the consultation, the better chance the Council has of making the right Budget decisions for communities.”
