News / Building budgets
ISLANDERS are to be given the opportunity to build their own budget as Shetland Islands Council seeks to identify the public’s spending priorities.
The local authority will stage six public meetings with officials and councillors attending an attempt to provide an understanding of how SIC budgets are allocated to different services, and help identify areas for future savings.
An interactive digital programme has been developed to give people the chance to get involved in planning for next year’s budget.
It comes after several years of belt-tightening to wean the council off its unsustainable reliance on its oil reserves.
Political leader Gary Robinson and finance chief James Gray have both warned in recent months that, while the books are close to being balanced, expected cuts to its Scottish Government grant and other pressures mean the era of tightly restrained spending is likely to continue until at least 2020.
The major stumbling block to the local authority’s cost-cutting plans remains a passionate and entrenched campaign opposing school closures and other education cutbacks.
There will be a presentation and Q&A session at the public meetings before people use the interactive programme. Anyone travelling by ferry to the meetings will be given a free ferry pass after the event.
Robinson said: “A huge amount of time and effort goes in every year to setting out our budgets, and with the financial pressures we have at the moment – and those which we’re likely to see for the next few years – it’s important we get a clear view of the public’s priorities for future spending.
“We must save over £2 million next year, and this project will give people a chance to think about where that money might come from. If this pilot is successful, we’d like to run the process again in future years.
“People should not look on this as a ‘consultation’, but a chance to see how we work, what leeway there is when it comes to adjusting budgets, and – most importantly – to let us know what their spending priorities are.”
The SIC’s “Building Budgets” meetings will take place between 7pm and 9pm on the following dates:
Thursday 31 July: Sellafirth Hall, Yell
Tuesday 5 August: Lerwick Town Hall
Monday 18 August: Whalsay Junior High School
Tuesday 19 August: Brae Hall
Wednesday 20 August: Aith Junior High School
Thursday 21 August: Sandwick Junior High School
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