Classroom cuts could see staff pushed out the door at North Ayrshire schools.
Leaked budget proposals show that local authority executives are weighing up axing workers in order to save more than £1.7 million
Drastic measures are on the table in North Ayrshire as council bosses look to make significant savings of around £14.5m next year.
It’s understood that the proposed review into staffing levels could be carried out at both primary and secondary schools in the region as early as next year.
But North Ayrshire Council would not confirm or deny if any review would include teaching staff.
Top brass are proposing to save £1,054,799 in 2023/24 and £659,249 in 2024/25 as part of a review into “primary and secondary school staffing entitlements” to make a total saving of £1,714,048.
The news comes a week after the Ayrshire Live told you the Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine is facing closure as part of the ruthless cost-saving exercise. The beloved theatre could be closed in a bid to save £49,000.
One source described some of the budget options currently being considered as ‘horrifying’.
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “It’s important to stress that no decisions have yet been taken on budget savings for next year.
“We will shortly be undertaking consultation across North Ayrshire which will inform us of our residents’ priorities ahead of the budget being set.
“However, across Scotland and the United Kingdom, everyone is feeling pressure from the cost-of-living crisis and the council is not immune from that.
“Over the past 12 years, we have had to find savings of more than £129 million while ensuring we protected frontline services and jobs.
“And there’s no doubt that difficult financial choices continue to lie ahead for all of us. For the financial year 2023/24, we currently anticipate a funding gap of £14.5m, while our financial outlook also indicates the council has an anticipated budget gap of £35m over the next three years.
“Rising inflation and energy costs have created additional pressures on our already challenging financial position.
“Unfortunately, that means that a wide range of difficult options are likely to be considered in order for us to deliver a balanced budget. However, no decisions will be taken on how to achieve these savings until full council meets to consider the 2023/24 Budget on March 1, 2023.”
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