What more could individuals and communities do for themselves?
There is a long history of communities owning and managing community assets in the Highlands, e.g. community forests, community swimming pools, village halls and harbours. We benefit from high levels of volunteering; 29% of our adult population volunteer in some way and over half do so in more than one activity and more than once a week. Is there an appetite for communities and
individuals to do more?
For example, we spend £3.9m on street cleaning and litter collection. We also spend £4.3m on grounds maintenance, flower beds and play areas. Could community involvement help to reduce these costs by £1m? What else can we do to be less tolerant of people dropping litter? Should we fine more people and ask the Scottish Government to make fines higher?#
Further Potential Savings to 2013 = £1m
Can community businesses provide Council services more cost effectively?
We currently spend £26m each year to support community groups, social enterprise and charities. They provide a huge range of public services, drawing on volunteer time and accessing funding from other sources. Examples include recycling projects, housing associations, care and support providers, community transport, sports clubs, lunch clubs, children’s clubs, tourism groups, biodiversity groups, arts and culture groups, festivals and museums. Where these organisations can provide services more efficiently and effectively than the Council, should we route more services through community groups or community businesses? If you think so, which areas should we focus on and what support would be needed?
Further Potential Savings to 2013 = To be confirmed
Are the public and users of services able to pay more for the services they receive?
The Council already charges for a range of services, including school meals, hire of rooms and facilities, commercial refuse collection, leisure centre use, car parking, and burials. We receive income of approximately £68m from these charges. While some of these charges are set externally, for example planning fees, if we increase other charges, or introduce new charges, that would reduce some of the cuts in service the Council is having to consider. The Council would continue to offer concessionary arrangements and discounts to avoid charging certain service users. If we increase charges we control over the next two years, over and above inflation, that would save the Council £3.7m.
Further Potential Savings to 2013 = £3.7m