Appendices 1-3 - 15_ Savings Templates All Services Council 26Nov - updated 18Nov
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 November 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 26 November 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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APPENDIX 1 BUDGET PREPARATION 2026-27 - SAVINGS OPTIONS MANAGEMENT/OPERATIONAL Release of Earmarkings 2025-26 Saving One-off Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count COM03 Catering School Food Procurement & Efficiency 150 0.0 0 150 0.0 0 150 0.0 0 COM06 Commercial Services Reduce Consultancy Budget 50 0.0 0 50 0.0 0 50 0.0 0 COM07 Estates Increase Commercial Income for New Leases 240 0.0 0 240 0.0 0 240 0.0 0 COM09 Commercial Services Commercial Investment Technical Resource 79 COM10 Commercial Services Site Investigation Works 21 CSS03 ICT All ICT Savings - SWAN Networking cost savings, reduced SQL Licences and remove Forcepoint Content filtering (from April 2027) 260 0.0 0 604 0.0 0 819 0.0 0 DEG04 Strategic Transport Increased income (£90,000) from fuel sales due to Bristows operating from Oban Airport from 1 April 2026. In addition £50,000 one off saving due to grant funding that can be used for staff costs. 140 0.0 0 90 0.0 0 90 0.0 0 DEG05 Regulatory Services Short term lets fee income to be used for services provided across the Council that are required in relation to short term lets. 43 0.0 0 172 0.0 0 237 0.0 0 DEG07 Development Management/Planning Increase budget for planning fees to reflect income trends 150 0.0 0 50 0.0 0 50 0.0 0 EDU01 Early Years - Postive Starts Budget Scottish Child Minder Association is currently working with us on a similar placement programme - Family Childminding Partnership. This comes at no cost to the Council so the previous budget can be given up. 50 0.0 0 50 0.0 0 50 0.0 0 2028-29Ref Service Area Saving Summary 2026-27 2027-28
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APPENDIX 1 BUDGET PREPARATION 2026-27 - SAVINGS OPTIONS MANAGEMENT/OPERATIONAL Release of Earmarkings 2025-26 Saving One-off Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count 2028-29Ref Service Area Saving Summary 2026-27 2027-28 EDU02 Schools As a result of falling school rolls and parental choices for children to attend larger nearby schools 4 schools, Minard, Achaleven, Kilchrenan and Southend have been formally closed by agreement. The saving relates to staffing budgets held that are no longer required as staff have been redeployed. 700 0.0 0 700 0.0 0 700 0.0 0 EDU07 MCR Pathways There is an £80k earmarked reserve that was set aside by the service to ensure MCR Pathways programme could be delivered across all of our schools. This earmarking is now no longer required as schools contribute funding and other funding streams have been identified to deliver this important work. 80 EDU08 Universal Free School Meals As a result of an efficiency exercise in catering and a falling school role we are able to offer a saving of £250k. 250 0.0 0 250 0.0 0 250 0.0 0 EDU10 Teachers Removal of 100 day promise earmarked reserve. Plan to release in 2027-28 to allow for time to conclude any unfulfilled capital Promise commitments. 0 0.0 0 500 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 FS03 Revenues and Benefits Over Recovery of Agency Income 40 FS06 Accounting and Budgeting Recharge to Capital 60 60 0.0 0 60 0.0 0 60 0.0 0 FS07 Finance Reduction to Contingencies Provision 100 100 0.0 0 100 0.0 0 100 0.0 0 FS08 Finance Release of Earmarked Reserves 80 LRS01 NPDO and Hub Schools Contract measures has identified a one- off saving of £150,000 in addition to a recurring saving of £100,000. 250 0.0 0 100 0.0 0 100 0.0 0
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APPENDIX 1 BUDGET PREPARATION 2026-27 - SAVINGS OPTIONS MANAGEMENT/OPERATIONAL Release of Earmarkings 2025-26 Saving One-off Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count 2028-29Ref Service Area Saving Summary 2026-27 2027-28 LRS02 Procurement Education Purchasing Team paid for from core resources no need for earmarked reserve 210 LRS07 IJB Governance & Committee Services Review Recharge - increase by 4% 4 0.0 0 4 0.0 0 4 0.0 0 LRS08 NPDO and Hub Schools Reduce School Survey Budget 8 0.0 0 8 0.0 0 8 0.0 0 LRS09 NPDO Schools Recharge to Argyll Colleget can be fully budgeted 9 0.0 0 9 0.0 0 9 0.0 0 Totals 470 200 2,464 0.0 0 3,137 0.0 0 2,917 0.0 0
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APPENDIX 2 BUDGET PREPARATION 2026-27 - SAVINGS OPTIONS POLICY WITH NO STAFF IMPLICATIONS Release of Earmarkings 2025-26 Saving One-off Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count COM01 Live Argyll Reduction to Live Argyll management fee for 2026/27 by 15% (10% already in budget outlook as deferred saving from 25/26) 156 0.0 0 156 0.0 0 156 0.0 0 COM02 Catering Increase Charges for School Meals 50 0.0 0 50 0.0 0 50 0.0 0 COM08 Energy Efficiency Fund Remove Energy Efficiency Fund which will reduce future works to reduce capacity for the Council to reduce its carbon footprint 210 DEG01 Transformational Projects Stopping support to Strategic Events and Festivals. Funding was previously agreed for 2026-27 and call for applications will open soon - saving could still be made in 2026-27 if Members wish or defer until 2027-28. 90 0.0 0 90 0.0 0 90 0.0 0 DEG03 Regulatory Services Removal of Crown Estate Funding for Redevelopment of 5-7 East Clyde Street Helensburgh 270 DEG06 Transformational Projects Capitalisation of project management costs within Rural Growth Deal PMO (capital funding would need identified). 112 0.0 0 112 0.0 0 112 0.0 0 EDU06 Early Years Third Sector Grants Removal of Early Years Third Sector grants allocated to non-statutory services. 0 0.0 0 40 0.0 0 40 0.0 0 FS04 Revenues and Benefits Devolved Empty Property Relief - Removal of forecast underspend 330 RIS01 Amenity Services 15% Increase in Fees and Charges for parking 22 0.0 0 22 0.0 0 22 0.0 0 RIS02 Amenity Services 15% Increase in Fees and Charges for Cemeteries and Crematorium (6% already accounted for in budget outlook) 33 0.0 0 33 0.0 0 33 0.0 0 RIS07 Ports and Harbours Campbeltown Overtime to be covered by Shipping Berthing Fees 35 0.0 0 35 0.0 0 35 0.0 0 Totals 480 330 498 0.0 0 538 0.0 0 538 0.0 0 2028-29Ref Service Area Saving Summary 2026-27 2027-28
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APPENDIX 3 BUDGET PREPARATION 2026-27 - SAVINGS OPTIONS POLICY WITH STAFF IMPLICATIONS Release of Earmarkings 2025-26 Saving One-off Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count CSS01 Customer and Engagement Team Close Service Points and Move all Phone and Email Traffic to CSC 224 6.4 10 224 6.4 10 224 6.4 10 CSS02 Communications Remove part time Research and Insight Officer post and efficiency saving by changing an LGE11 post to two part time LGE10 posts. 38 0.5 1 38 0.5 1 38 0.5 1 CSS04 HR Refocus work and use of more digital systems and processes that should save staff time. Also a small amount of savings in non staffing budgets, e.g. training and travel and subsistence. 95 2.2 3 191 TBC TBC 191 TBC TBC DEG08 Development Policy and Housing Transfer costs to Strategic Housing Fund for 2 staff working on the delivery of housing. 147 2.0 2 147 2.0 2 147 2.0 2 EDU03 Early Years Remove 2 early years posts that are vacant due to reducing rolls. 82 2.0 2 82 2.0 2 82 2.0 2 EDU04 Life Long Learning and Support Remove a 0.4fte Teacher Post at end of current contract period. This post supported schools with English as an Additional Language, inclusion, UNCRC including Rights Respecting Schools. 18 0.4 1 24 0.4 1 24 0.4 1 EDU05 Wellbeing, Inclusion and achievement Post for wellbeing work comes to an end July 2026. 46 1.0 1 74 1.0 1 74 1.0 1 EDU09 Early Years Teachers Removal of teacher time to every ELC facility. 108 1.6 16 108 1.6 16 108 1.6 16 FS01 Revenues and Benefits Removal of two Benefits Posts 10 80 2.0 2 80 2.0 2 80 2.0 2 FS02 Revenues and Benefits Removal of one post from Council Tax Admin Team 20 0.6 1 20 0.6 1 20 0.6 1 LRS04 Legal Services Removal of part time Senior Solicitor post due to retirement 7 hours @ LGE12 14 0.2 1 14 0.2 1 14 0.2 1 LRS05 Legal Services Reduction in Solicitor LGE11 post by 14 Hours 25 0.4 0 25 0.4 0 25 0.4 0 LRS06 Legal Services Removal of Admin Post Currently Vacant 25 0.9 1 25 0.9 1 25 0.9 1 2028-29Ref Service Area Saving Summary 2026-27 2027-28
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APPENDIX 3 BUDGET PREPARATION 2026-27 - SAVINGS OPTIONS POLICY WITH STAFF IMPLICATIONS Release of Earmarkings 2025-26 Saving One-off Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count Saving FTE H/Count 2028-29Ref Service Area Saving Summary 2026-27 2027-28 RIS03 Amenity Services Close, Sale or Transfer of Public Conveniences 100 4.0 12 100 4.0 12 100 4.0 12 RIS04 Roads and Infrastructure Services Reduction in Administration Costs 36 1.0 1 44 1.0 1 44 1.0 1 RIS05 Amenity Services Removal of Amenity Service Environmental Wardens 178 5.0 5 214 5.0 5 214 5.0 5 RIS06 Roads Winter Maintenance 10% Reduction in Winter Maintenance Budget which brings us closer to the average treatment routes for all Scottish Authorities 270 TBC TBC 270 TBC TBC 270 TBC TBC RIS08 Parks Reduction to operational budget in parks resulting in reduced level of service 88 3.0 3 106 3.0 3 106 3.0 3 RIS09 Street Sweeping 15% reduction to street sweeping budget resulting in a reduced level of service 147 5.0 5 176 5.0 5 176 5.0 5 Totals 0 10 1,741 38.2 67 1,962 36.0 64 1,962 36.0 64