Aberdeen Council’s New Plan For £20m Cutbacks

CRISIS-HIT Aberdeen City Council is looking to make another £20 million of cuts, the Evening Express can reveal.

The savings come after the authority was forced to slash its budget by £50 million this year.

The new cuts, which will come in the next financial year, are expected to see its £400m budget cut by 5%. Aberdeen City Council today said all services would be looked at for potential savings.

A spokesman said it would take into account the possible impact on council services and their users.

Council leader Kate Dean, speaking on behalf of the leadership board, said: “It is vitally important that we start the budget process as early as possible.

“We can then make sure that we are well prepared to manage its impact on our services, our citizens, our staff and the many organisations which rely on council support.”

This year’s savings included massive cuts to its social care budget, the closure of Bon Accord Baths and mothballing of the Linx Ice Arena.

Labour councillor Willie Young said: “The council’s budget is £400m and it is planning to axe £20m of this.

“It’s a complete disgrace that we’re having even more attacks on services.”

Initial considerations of budget and service options for 2009/10 will start at Budget Monitoring Board meeting on October 27.

The plans will then be looked at by senior officers and elected members before detailed consideration by the resources management committee on November 25.

It is expected that the full council will meet on December 17 to make most of the decisions on the planned cuts.