A series of measures have been agreed today that begin to address a £22million funding gap next year in Dumfries and Galloway Council’s budget.

The Corporate Policy Committee agreed unanimously to open up a voluntary severance scheme.

Staff will be asked if they are interested in early retirement/voluntary severance over the next few weeks on the understanding that there is no ‘right’ to go and decisions will be based on business need.

Speaking after the meeting Council leader, Ivor Hyslop, said:

“These are tough times and we must make tough choices. Our Council cares for people from birth to death and provides critical services that mean our children are better educated and fewer people suffer poverty and deprivation. We must do all we can to protect these frontline services, but we must be realistic. The scale of the financial situation facing all councils means change is inevitable.

“That is why we also welcomed an update on the work being done to modernise the corporate heart of the Council protecting the frontline and reducing the layers of management.

“Tough times also bring opportunities. Radical change is now a reality, but it is also a real opportunity to reprioritise what we do and change how our public services are delivered. We asked for your views during the engagement process in August. The first reports from this are now feeding back in and they will help us move forward as we develop all the other change options needed to balance the budget next year.”

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