Councillors approve OIC budget for 2016/17

The OIC budget was passed at today’s meeting of the full council with a minor amendment to the education budget.

In all, savings of £1.4 million are needed in 2016-17, following a substantial reduction in the funding the council will receive from the Scottish Government to run services in the year ahead.

According to the council, during the budget setting process, a great deal of effort has gone into finding ways to lessen the impact on services, jobs and the Orkney community.

However, there will be a reduction of the council’s workforce by the equivalent of just under 10 full-time posts. Just under five full-time equivalent posts are currently vacant.

A council statement said the intention is to avoid compulsory redundancies if possible, and look instead at alternatives such as redeployment, voluntary redundancy and retirement.