Last year the parent council was part of a campaign to stop cuts to the school’s budget. This was a big success but the world has now changed and the horizon looks distinctly dark. The Westminster Government is giving the Scottish Executive £500 million less next year. The Scottish Executive will be giving councils £174 million less. It has not yet been finalised but East Lothian Council believe they will be getting about £3 million less than they were expecting next year.  These reductions are going to continue. The council therefore expects to have to make cuts of about 4% each year for the next 3 years in their overall budget.

There is a consultation process staring at the end of November through which the council hopes to gain opinions from the public as to where these cuts should fall. The options include making up to £1 million savings from the education budget. None of the choices are easy ones. All the savings involve real cuts in services. Nobody is claiming that frontline services can be maintained and still deliver the savings needed. The question is where the axe should fall. Please follow the link for more information:

http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/youpayhaveyoursay

The parent council and the East Lothian Association of Parent Councils will be making representation to the council concerning the budget. Please add your comments below, or if you want to voice your opinion directly please do so at  youpayhaveyoursay@eastlothian.gov.uk