Highland Council Staff Numbers Underspend Helps To Create A £3million Surplus
25th February 2021
The Corporate Resources Committee of Highland council debated the latest account to December 2020 that show an underspend in staffing costs of £14,474. This saving has helped to create a surplus and stated in the report "at current projections for the year-end outturn position suggest a net year end budget surplus of £3.1m, a significant improvement from the £8.7m forecast overspend reported to this committee in November."
Councillor Matthew Reiss appeared today to chair the meeting of the Corporate Resource committee following the resignation of councillor Alister Mackinnon.
It was emphasised that no important and necessary posts have been held back for recruitment.
The year has been unusual due to Covid but government cash flowing to councils have helped to avoid big overspends. Reserves will not be required to be used unless something big changes.
Council staff were praised for their management of the financial situation in particularly difficult times.
Councillor Margaret Davidson praised the work of the finance staff to reach the current position.
Councillor Alistair Christie the deputy leader will be presenting this years budget and after some comment asking who was responsible for the budget he said,"We are all responsible for the budget".
