On Wednesday I submitted some additional savings to the council’s chief executive for consideration at the council budget meeting on 14th February. These include £6,916 that is spent on alcohol purchases for the City Chambers and £7,000 that is spent providing councillors with food and refreshments. I also proposed that £750,000, which is distributed to six electoral wards to fund local community projects be allocated equally in 2013/14 across the eight wards in the city including Broughty Ferry and the West End.
My intention in identifying additional savings was to save the Friendly Bus from being axed but thankfully the SNP administration has dropped that idea due to the representations that were made.
Although the savings I have identified are modest in comparison to the overall council spend I think council tax payers in Dundee will be surprised to learn that these items haven’t already been cut from the budget.
The terms of my savings proposals are as follow:
Provisional Revenue Budget & Review of Charges 2013/14:
1. Corporate Services / Corporate Finance
Delete Budget for Councillors Attendance at Conferences - £1,000
2. Corporate Services / Support Services
Delete Budget for Alcohol Purchases - £ 6,916
3. Various Departments – Delete Budget for Hospitality:
Chief Executive - £ 4,000
City Development - £ 6,100
Communities & Policy - £ 4,280
Social Work - £ 3,930
Environment - £ 1,000
Corporate Services - £ 6,50
4. Corporate Services / Support Services
Delete Budget for Food & Refreshments for Councillors - £ 7,000
Total Savings - £ 40,726
