Scottish councils’ financial situation has been described as ‘increasingly fragile’, with Argyll and Bute Council facing ‘the most difficult budget setting context seen for many years.’
The council faces a budget gap of more than £13.8m in 2023-24 alone, and of more than £53.3m in 2023-2028.
Earlier today it was revealed here that communities could be asked to run their own school crossing patrols, while the reception area of he council’s Helensburgh offices would not be staffed.
Scotland’s Accounts Commission says councils will need to continue to make increasingly difficult choices, in what’s described as the most difficult budget setting context seen for many years.
Commission chair William Moyes said: “It’s clear the financial situation of councils is increasingly fragile.
“Councils are having to deal with the effects of inflation, the increasingly desperate cost of living impacts and rising demand for services.”
Argyll and Bute Council will set its budget on February 23. In preparation for that, a report outlining initial savings options will go to the policy and resources committee next week.
Council leader Robin Currie said: “The council delivers more services than we have a duty to do.
“We have saved those additional services for as long as we could, to benefit the area.
“Multi-million pound funding cuts over many years mean unfortunately that the priority now has to be on saving the services we have a duty to deliver.”
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