Highland Council continues to consult on budget savings

1st October 2015

Significant energy is being spent on work to plan ahead and identify savings to address the anticipated budget gap.

The Council meeting in June 2015 considered a report which estimated a forecast budget deficit for the next three financial years of £46.28 million. This takes into account new pressures including pay awards, teacher pensions, changes to national insurance and a grant cut of 1.6% p/a.

There is significant uncertainty around the level of grant cut (and the period); and no account has yet been taken of the potential to increase council tax (or any replacement).

The Scottish Government's policy decisions for 2016/17 in respect of maintaining both teacher numbers, and council tax freeze, have yet to be clarified. It is anticipated that the Council will not know its grant figures for 2016/17 until the week commencing 18th January at the earliest. This leaves very little time to finalise the Council's budget and it is therefore planned to hold a special Council meeting on 25th February.

The focus has therefore been on getting to a balanced position for 2016/17 as this represents the most challenging year and services have been asked to identify savings amounting to 6%.

There are a number of risks to the current forecast budget position. These are failure to achieve all the savings agreed in December 2014 and new pressures that will require to be met.

Chair of Resources, Councillor Bill Fernie said: "Colleagues and I have been meeting with Service Directors and budget holders over the last few weeks to scrutinise every opportunity to make savings. We met on Thursday 30th September 2015 with members from each of the political Groups to discuss the situation, the continuing uncertainties and the impact of the vast amount of savings which need to be found. We will also be seeking the views of the public as savings plans become clearer.

"We will continue to work together to plan ahead, but we need to be clear that we cannot make savings at this level and not impact on service delivery. There will be difficult decisions ahead for everyone."

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Today : Local Authority

What Changes in Highland Today? New Rules for Private Hire Drivers and a Fresh Garden Waste Year

For most people in Highland, 1 September is simply the start of another month.  But today also marks the beginning of two changes introduced by Highland Council which will affect different groups of residents.  

Today : Local Authority

 
Candidates for Highland Council Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness By-Election confirmed

Following today’s deadline for nominations, The Highland Council can confirm the details of the 5 candidates that are standing in the Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness by-election.  There are 5 candidaes.  

31/8/2026 : Local Authority

Head Teacher at Thurso High School, outlined measures that have helped improve educational outcomes

Highland Council’s strategy to raise attainment in the region is making good progress, with encouraging early data emerging from this year's examination results.   Last week councillors on the education committee noted the work undertaken in Highland Council's Education and Learning Improvement Plan (ELIP) and the associated Raising Attainment and Achievement Strategy (RAAS).  

28/8/2026 : Local Authority

Council Funded Advice services assist 25,000 customers and exceed £30.3 million in financial gains

Almost 25,000 customers were assisted by the Council’s Welfare Support Team and Citizens Advice during 2025/26 for support with welfare, debt and housing issues.   As a result, financial gains for clients exceeded £30.3 million, representing a £18.84 return for every £1 allocated to these services by the Council.  

28/8/2026 : Local Authority

 
Do We Need a New Kind of Cemetery? Could Highland's Greenspaces Help Make Funerals More Affordable?

There may be no more appropriate time to ask Highland Council whether we need to rethink the way we remember those who have died.   The Council has just launched a six-week consultation on its draft Greenspace Biodiversity Management Strategy 2026-2030.  

26/8/2026 : Local Authority

The Triple Squeeze: Energy, Mortgages and Council Tax — How Much More Can Households Take?

There is a point at which individual increases in household costs stop being individual problems and become something much bigger.   A £100 increase in the annual energy bill may be manageable.  

24/8/2026 : Local Authority

Thurso Schools: Public Meeting and Statutory Consultation – Key Dates

Highland Council has now formally launched its statutory consultation on proposals to replace Thurso High School and reorganise primary school provision in the town.   The consultation concerns the proposed relocation of Thurso High School, Pennyland Primary School and Miller Academy Primary School to a new education campus based around the existing Thurso High School site and the proposed Community Point of Delivery.  

21/8/2026 : Local Authority

Public consultation to help shape future policy protecting Highland's dark skies

Councillors have approved the launch of a public consultation on draft guidance aimed at reducing light pollution across the Highlands, supporting environmental protection, public wellbeing and the area's internationally recognised dark skies.   Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee yesterday (Thursday 20 August) agreed to publish the draft Reducing Light Pollution: Good Practice Guidance for consultation, once minor clarifications are included, giving residents, communities, businesses and developers the opportunity to help shape future policy.  

21/8/2026 : Local Authority

Highland bus service improvement plans

The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has endorsed plans to launch a 12-week public consultation on a proposed Highland Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP), giving communities, passengers and stakeholders the opportunity to help shape the future of bus services across the region.   The consultation will seek views on draft proposals developed by The Highland Council in partnership with HITRANS and bus operators to improve the operational performance, accessibility, attractiveness and consistency of bus services across Highland.  

19/8/2026 : Local Authority

Demand for social housing remains high across Highland Butit is part of a biggr Scottish Problem

Demand for social housing across the Highlands remains high, with almost 8,826 households on the Highland Housing Register (HHR).   Housing and Property Committee Chair, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair, said: “The demand for social housing across Highland remains significant and continues to outstrip the number of homes available in many areas.