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Council / SIC projecting overspend

SHETLAND Islands Council (SIC) is projecting to be overspent by £2.5 million at the end of the financial year – but the position is expected to improve over coming months.

The figure, which represents the position at the end of June, was presented to a meeting of the council’s policy and resources committee on Monday.

Finance manager Paul Fraser said the £2.5 million figure related to the general fund revenue budget – the day to day spend.

It mainly accounts for savings not yet achieved.

The council’s 2023/24 budget included savings reviews among every directorate in the SIC, with a one per cent savings target on top.

Fraser said feedback from SIC departments was that this was proving a difficult process.

The total projected draw from reserves on both revenue and capital expenditure is £33.4 million, which is £1.8 million over the revised budgeted draw of £31.6 million.

But Shetland Central councillor Davie Sandison reiterated that whilst the “vacancy factor” is a key part of making savings, there is a requirement to hire more expensive agency staff to fill gaps in essential services.

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While the financial projection is likely to change through the year, Fraser said it seems likely there will still be a revenue overspend come the end of 2023/24.

Meanwhile the council’s investments rose in value by £7 million over the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.

This involved a £10 million investment return and £3 million which was withdrawn and returned to the council. The overall value of investments at the end of July was £386 million.

Council leader Emma Macdonald said it was a positive step forward for the investments, but highlighted it was only a three month snapshot.

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