Dumfries and Galloway Council draws up redundancy plans

The council has been advised it could have to cut more than £50m from its spending

Dumfries and Galloway Council is seeking approval of a voluntary redundancy scheme to meet a savings goal of £50m over the next three years.

The authority estimates it will need to cut its budget by £20m in the next financial year alone.

A report to councillors has recommended approval of a "severance" scheme for its staff to help reduce spending.

However, it has also warned that compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out in the years ahead.

The council has recently completed a public survey to seek suggestions of areas where it can make cuts.

The outcome of that study has yet to be released.

However, a report to the council's corporate policy committee has already recommended the introduction of a voluntary redundancy plan.

It said the authority was facing an "exceptional challenge" in dealing with projected reductions in public spending.

Officers have also advised the council to consider lobbying the Scottish government to lift its freeze on council tax.

Dumfries and Galloway currently has the lowest rate for a band D property in mainland Scotland at £1,049.

The report has estimated an extra £5.8m could be generated for the authority by raising that to the national average which is £100 higher.