Calls to keep Aberdeenshire moving this winter despite fears over cuts to other services

Calls have been made to keep Aberdeenshire moving this winter despite fears a harsh cold snap could impact other vital services.

Councillors met at Woodhill House to discuss the local authority’s financial performance six months on from setting its budget.

At the moment, Aberdeenshire Council’s general fund is predicted to be facing an overspend of £3.5million.

Previously, council leader Gillian Owen warned that a bad winter could come at a hefty price.

She told the LDRS that the local authority had stocks to deal with whatever comes, but no reserves to help as a back up.

Banchory and Mid Deeside councillor Ann Ross begged council chiefs to top up the winter maintenance reserve pot to ensure the region can keep moving.

She said: “We need to replenish those reserves because we don’t know what kind of winter we are going to have. We need to keep rural roads open so that everybody can go to and from work, school and health appointments.”

However, infrastructure boss Alan Wood explained that a tough winter last year caused the back up cash to be used up.

He said: “In previous years we have had the benefit of a revenue budget and a winter maintenance reserve. We have been fortunate that we haven’t had to draw down on that winter reserve in full in the past.

“Last year we had a particularly difficult winter – it was long, drawn out and required a lot of gritting. That put a pressure on the reserve and the decision was taken to fully utilise that and in the budget process, that wasn’t replenished.”

READ MORE: Fears brutal winter could severely hit Aberdeenshire Council's cash reserves

However, he explained that extra cash was placed in the general winter maintenance fund last year.

Mr Wood hopes this will be enough to cover some of the money that has since been lost from the reserve.

He also revealed that the change will be looked at as officers look ahead to the next budget setting process.

But, council leader Gillian Owen believes the worrying forecast financial position is “manageable” and can be addressed.

She told the chamber she was “confident” the gap could be filled with “careful spending” during the remainder of the year.

“Despite financial challenges the council takes pride in the services we deliver, working with communities to make sure they are what is important to them,” she added.

Mrs Owen also stated that officers are always looking at whether any changes to services can be made so budgets can be kept on track.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Gwyneth Petrie asked for a budget review to always take place mid-year to allow councillors to learn more about the financial state of play.

“The budget that was set back at the start of the year was almost unsustainable and built on assumptions that we had not see come to bear,” she exclaimed.

“For example, for a number of years now we had budgeted on the basis of a tenant coming to Woodhill House but that hasn’t come to be.

“The reality of the financial situation that we are now in is that we must realise that such assumptions are no longer possible going forward. We can’t base our budgets on things that are going to cost us in a year.”