Comhairle Meeting

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar met today in a special meeting of the full Comhairle. A report before Councillors setting out a range of measures to deliver the Comhairle’s updated Corporate Strategy was agreed.

The report included financial savings required to bridge the projected financial shortfall over 2021/22 and 2022/23.

All proposals will be subject to consultation and full impact assessments prior to decision by the Comhairle on implementation.

The Comhairle is bringing forward its budget setting process to take account of the difficult circumstances arising out of the COVID Pandemic.

The Comhairle is potentially looking at a need for savings of £6.6m in the next two years.

Comhairle Leader Roddie Mackay said: “Over the past 10 years the Comhairle’s approach to financial stringency has been a combination of efficiency savings, service redesign and maximising opportunities. However the circumstance facing us now are unprecedented although we will continue to work with COSLA, SOLACE, Directors of Finance and other organisations to lobby Government to recognize the extremely difficult situation for Councils. Essential to the success of any Budget Strategy is its alignment with the Corporate Strategy, with the political priorities agreed by Elected Members, and with other plans, such as our Workforce Strategy.

COVID has been as unsettling to public finances across Scotland and the UK as it has been unwelcome in its effects. Our job is to prepare, plan, mitigate and support each other through this crisis and this process.”