The status quo is not an option in the latest consultation over cutbacks in vital services across Argyll and Bute.
There is no opportunity to say that spending on school crossing patrols or public toilets should be maintained, let alone increased, in the council’s online survey.
Instead the public can only choose between ‘stop service’, ‘reduce service’, ‘keep service with community involvement’ or ‘don’t know’.
Asked whether leading questions were being asked in order to force specific responses, the council defended its methodology by saying: “The consultation is set up so that people can answer as many or as few of the questions as they wish; and there are options to give general comments rather than answer specific questions.”
But in fact there is no opportunity make general comments after questions about cutting public toilets, lollipop patrols, grass cutting, pest control, playparks and street cleaning.
Instead the survey asks: “What help would local communities need to make delivery of services possible?”
Then there is a final question: “Any other comments or ideas for cutting the costs of any/all of these statutory and non-statutory services?”
A £50m rural growth deal for Argyll and Bute was announced over 12 months ago, while the cost of the Helensburgh waterfront project has risen to £22m and £1m was given to Rothesay pavilion in this year’s council budget.
A council spokesperson would not reveal how the rural growth funding would be spent, but said: “The council continues where possible to invest capital in projects that promote economic growth and regeneration that will build prosperity.
“We secured commitment for Argyll and Bute’s Rural Growth Deal from the UK and Scottish Governments.
“This funding is for economic growth and cannot be used for day-to-day service delivery.
“The council also invests its own capital budget in infrastructure projects and again this cannot be used to deliver day-to-day services such as amenity services.”
The survey closes on October 18.
The spokesperson added: “Next year the council is forecasting a shortfall in its budget of £6.7m.
“We are working to identify efficiencies across all our services and will continue to look at areas that do not affect service delivery.
“However a significant proportion of our budget offers limited or no opportunity for savings because of statutory or national commitments.
“We are seeking views about amenity services as these services are part of the small section of our budget from which we can take savings needed to bridge next year’s gap in our funding.
“Years of funding cuts mean tough decisions for making more savings, as indicated by the questions asked. We would welcome as many people as possible responding, and thank those who already have.”
I took the opportunity to respond, in several places, with:
“Stop sqandering money on consultants and reduce the overblown and overpaid management structure.”
This comment based on your FOI request that showed number of staff on £50K or more doubling in a year and my FOI from a year or so ago that showed they spent almost exactly £1 Million on contractors in a year.
Needless to say these will be their last choices. They will probably want more managers to find ways to cut the numbers that perform a service.
Sorry, should have said consultants rather than contractors. I shudder to think what the contractors bill might be.