‘Services could be lost. Local jobs could be lost. That’s the harsh reality. Setting the council budget must be about matching resources to greatest needs now and longer term.'
These were the words of Leader of the council, Councillor Jim Lynch, following the last committee meeting before the council sets its budget next week.
Reports to the Policy and Resources Committee today show a budget gap of £13.3 million for 2026/27.
They set out the scenario for balancing the budget on the basis of a 6% increase in council tax.
This would include the closure, sale or transfer of all public toilets, closure of face-to-face customer service points, reduction in the roads winter maintenance and street sweeping services, the loss of environmental wardens, reduction of funding to Live Argyll resulting in the closure or reduction of some library and leisure services, and loss of council jobs across different council services, affecting 66 people.
The budget gap includes £4.5 million of cost pressures, covering a range of demands including additional support needs (ASN) support for young people, costs for bus transport, council dams, harbours repair and maintenance, resurfacing at Oban Airport and school clothing grants.
The reports also highlight the growing demand for social care services for elderly and vulnerable people bringing multi-million pound cost pressures.
Councillor Ross Moreland, Policy Lead for Finance Services said:
“There is huge and growing demand on the council budget. We all use council services every day in some way. And ɬ’s geography means that this council delivers significant services that other councils do not.
Work to set the budget goes on throughout the year, to look at all the options, and how we can deliver every ounce of value from every pound there is.
If we spend money on one thing it can’t be spent on another. Setting the budget is as simple and as complex as that.”
The council will set its budget on Wednesday 25 February.
For an idea of what council funding delivers see
