Council takes budget discussions out and about

HIGHLAND Council’s new engagement policy with locals and staff has staged its latest public event in Inverness.

Council leader Margaret Davidson and budget leader Alister Mackinnon were joined by the new chief executive Donna Manson at the Victorian Market.

The local authority is planning for a potential budget gap of £66.7 million over the next three years despite over £100 million in cuts starting in 2013 and projected into next year.

Mrs Manson said: “What the public are saying to us is just be honest with us.

“The difference is that they want to see us being visible, they want a face-to-face – not everybody wants to engage online.”

Councillor Mackinnon said: “One thing that we have totally underestimated in the past is our staff – our staff are fantastic, they have fantastic ideas, we have to utilise that talent.

“There have been open and frank in discussions. I am the first to admit that we don’t always get things right.

“We have to look at better ways of delivering our services. Budgets are getting cut but we have got £660 million coming into the council and we employ 9500 people so there is lot of scope to work with.”