Council sets £22m savings target

The council is being asked to identify potential savings of £22.5m

A local authority in southern Scotland is facing a potential £22.5m savings target over the next two years.

Dumfries and Galloway Council's current budget strategy only seeks efficiencies of £7.8m between 2010 and 2012.

However, a report to its corporate policy committee says anticipated cuts in UK public spending levels mean it may have to find far greater savings.

Options could include cuts in school services and social work spending of £9m and £6m respectively.

Councillors will be told that the implications of revised local government settlements remain "very difficult to predict".

Nonetheless, they are being advised to draw up the potential savings list in order to allow for "flexibility in decision making".

"It is essential that savings are identified in a policy-led manner that protects, where possible, key services," the report states.

"Savings options should therefore be indentified through the service planning process."

The council is also being recommended to revise and accelerate its budget process in order to help identify areas where costs could be cut.