Yesterday
I submitted my proposals for additional
savings in the council’s 2014/15 revenue budget for consideration by the Policy
and Resources Committee on 13 February.
They
are the same items I asked to be deleted from the budget last year but as they
weren’t accepted by the SNP administration at that time I am having another
go.
Included are £9,000 for alcohol purchases, £7,200 for food and refreshments
for councillors, £1,000 for councillors’ attendance at conferences and £28,800
for hospitality in various council departments.
The
amount in the budget for alcohol purchases last year was £6,916, this year it
has gone up to £9,000, an increase of about 30%. People might be surprised by
this large increase particularly when so many other things are being cut.
The
£28,800 hospitably saving I am proposing doesn’t include what is spent in the
City Chambers. The only impact on civic events would be that alcohol wouldn’t
be one of the beverages served.
I
have also proposed a 1% reduction in energy costs which would save £33,000. In
its proposal the SNP administration is expecting to see a 5% reduction in
energy usage across the school estate in 2014/15 and 10% reduction in 2015/16.
That being the case I think a 1% reduction in energy costs across all other
council buildings is achievable.
I
have met with a lot of council officers to discuss the budget and I have
received representations from organisations and individuals about the impact
some of the administrations proposals will have. Those who have contacted me,
in the main, have been concerned about the 3% reduction in funding to external
service providers and the removal of early years practitioners from primary
schools. I’m sure that the SNP councillors will have received similar
representations and I am happy for them to put the savings I have identified
towards measures to lessen the impact of their proposals.
