Dundee City Council could be faced with savings of nearly £70 million over the next three years, councillors will be told at a meeting of the policy & resources committee.
The Financial Outlook 2018-21 report outlines projections that may be required to achieve a balanced budget, based on possible reductions in the grant the council receives from the Scottish Government.
Over a three year period, the projected cumulative savings range from £54.1 million based on a 3% grant reduction, £61.9 million on a 4% reduction and £69.6 million on a 5% reduction.
Council leader and convener of the committee Councillor John Alexander said: “These projections have been produced to allow us to better plan how to make efficiencies and shape services for the future.
“We are working hard to produce a balanced budget but there are a number of risks and uncertainties around this process. These include the impact of Brexit, the performance of the Scottish economy and the policies of both the UK and Scottish Governments.
“I am absolutely determined to do the very best we can for the people of this city.
“We need to develop better ways of delivering services to meet these significant financial challenges, building on our strong partnerships with agencies across the city in innovative and pioneering projects.
“Our ambition for Dundee remains undiminished and we are committed to making the city a better place for everyone.
“We cannot shirk the hard work that lies ahead to adapt our services in the face of serious pressures.”
Finance secretary Derek Mackay is due to make a budget announcement in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday December 14, three days after the policy and resources committee meets on Monday December 11.
The report explains to councillors that a further update will come to the policy and resources committee in January, detailing the actual grant settlement for 2018-19 and the process for setting the revenue budget and council tax.
Councillor Alexander added: “We have a responsibility to clearly explain the financial position of the council and the implications this will have for everyday service delivery.
“We will also be providing regular updates to the general public and our staff in the lead up to the setting of the council’s revenue budget and the council tax.
“I would stress to the people of Dundee that we are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to finding a way forward for our council.”
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
