Renfrewshire Council "can't afford any more failure" as it stares at a funding gap of £45-50 million in the next three financial years, a councillor has said.
The cash crisis facing the local authority for the period from 2024 to 2027 was discussed by elected members at a key meeting last week.
It has been estimated a council tax increase of five per cent in each year would cut the shortfall to somewhere in the region of £30-35m, meaning savings of around £12m each year would be needed to balance the books.
Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling, Labour group finance spokesperson, said "openness, transparency and competence" were necessary if the council was going to deliver such a high level of savings in the near future.
She said last Thursday: "As this council strives to reduce spending – it's been mentioned in the audit update that we've got to save a minimum of £12m per year – we do need openness, transparency and competence, and to work together as well as we possibly can to achieve these savings."
She raised the issue of the Dargavel Primary School debacle, where errors in the council's capacity calculations have left a bill of up to £75m for a second primary school and high school extension on the table.
Initial sums projected the existing school's roll wouldn’t exceed around 430 pupils.
However, recent analysis predicted numbers could peak at 1,131 by 2033 – adding space might even be needed for 1,500 if demand continued.
Councillor Ann-Dowling said: "While I don't want to overly dwell on Dargavel, I think the incompetence that was personified by Dargavel is just one example of why Renfrewshire taxpayers will be left paying more and getting less in return.
"We can't afford any more failure and I look forward to working with the officers and elected members to try and deliver financial sustainability for this council and make it as painless as we possibly can for the people of Renfrewshire."
A council spokesperson said last week: “We have a strong financial track record in Renfrewshire and have made significant savings of more than £170m since 2011, but like all councils across Scotland we continue to face hugely challenging financial circumstances."
At the meeting last Thursday, councillors agreed "further savings options" should be developed for consideration.
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