Strikes by teachers saved the council more than £1million last year.
Members of the EIS and other teaching unions staged a series of walk outs in late 2022 and early 2023 due to a pay dispute with the Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).
The industrial action led to schools across the region being shut and that – combined with wages not being paid to striking workers – unintentionally provided the council with a saving.
A report for this month’s education committee states: “At the end of the financial year, the teachers industrial action resulted in cost reductions of £1.156 million.”
The money was used to help pay for transport for children with additional support needs (ASN) and also address a pay award funding gap.
Councillors will be told that education and learning services came in £616,000 under budget last year.
However, the report warns there are “continuing challenges” – rising fuel and energy costs and also the increased demand for ASN transport.
Primary schools came in £324,000 under budget – almost £99,000 of that being due to non-teaching vacancies.
Secondary schools were £145,000 under budget, with £97,000 due to non-teaching vacancies.
More than £1.6 million was spent on matters such as extra cleaning and staff absence cover, with nearly £600,000 allocated to the recovery this
year.
