Only six to 10% of the Highland population will be of working age within the next three decades according to one statistic, it emerged at yesterday’s Highland Council meeting in Inverness.
Cromarty Firth councillor Maxine Smith said this figure had been shared with her recently and she found it “really frightening not only for ourselves, but also for the NHS.”
Councillors were discussing the findings of an Audit Scotland report into local government.
The independent report describes the complex, increasingly uncertain environment facing local government with Brexit, the continuing reduction in central funding and the aging population just some of the major challenges ahead.
Corporate resources director Derek Yule said a workforce strategy is being worked on by his committee, involving all services.
He said: “The age profile needs to be factored in to the future workforce strategy of the council, which should link with the key strategic priorities of the council, to make sure we have the right staff, with the right skills in the right place to deliver the service that the council wishes to deliver.”
Council leader Margaret Davidson said the report confirmed a reduction in real terms of 9.6% in revenue funding with increasing amounts being ring-fenced to education and social care.
She said: “In Highland, we have the additional pressure of costs of rurality. We have the largest geographical area of any local authority, with nearly 7,000km of regional roads and 202 schools to maintain, let alone bring up to improved standards.”
Budget Leader Cllr Alister Mackinnon said: “We aim to begin a review the system of budgeting across the council to ensure that budgets address key outcomes and priorities. We will examine the key performance statistics and how well the service is performing in relation to other councils, current spending, and the resources required to deliver the current level of service.
“This will enable the preparation of a long term financial strategy which can focus and align to the strategic priorities of the Council and to ensure best value is achieved for public resources, supported by a workforce strategy to deliver these outcomes over the next few years.”