Council spending - have YOUR say

Cullivoe Hall - 10 November

Ferries vital to future of North Isles

Around 70 people attended last night’s meeting in the Cullivoe Hall to discuss how the Council should save £26 million from its budget in the next two years. Much like the previous evening’s event in Baltasound, ferry provision dominated the agenda, with running costs, staffing and timetabling repeatedly mentioned by several commenters.

The session began with a briefing on the detail behind the authority’s current financial position, led by Councillors Alastair Cooper and Caroline Miller, and Head of Finance Hazel Sutherland. This was followed by a lively discussion, with early comments focused on the Council’s commitment to the future of Yell, Unst and Fetlar.

Two people voiced their worries about ferries being seen as an easy target for cuts, especially by mainland Councillors whom they suspected of being prejudiced against the Northern Isles. Councillor Miller, a resident of Bressay, responded by assuring the speaker that while she is an elected member of Lerwick North, her first priority, as with all councillors, is to represent Shetland as a whole. Councillor Cooper, agreed, but added that given the gravity of the Councils current financial status, there can be ‘no sacred cows anywhere‘when considering how savings can be made.

Another commenter spoke of a concern within the Yell community that cuts to the ferry timetable would lead to a bleak future of isolation and stagnation. He argued that any reduction in sailings would put an end to the chance of private sector interest in the area, and make it very difficult to attract new people to live and work in the Isles. In turn, the existing population would dwindle as people left in search of employment opportunities elsewhere. He concluded by saying that if something must give within the ferry service, then perhaps it should be put out to competitive tender by a commercial operator; or that the current situation, where the service is manned overnight, is ceased.

A woman who recently moved to Yell from England said there must not only be a good, but an excellent ferry service to keep folk in the North Isles. Her comments were echoed by a man who implored the panel to take back the message that there should be no reduction to the current timetable, nor any increase in fares. He said that living in Yell is currently costing him around two thousand pounds in ferry fares alone each year, a price he is prepared to pay because he wants to live on the isle. Change the ferry service, however, and he fears that he will not be able to stay much longer.

A development worker based in Fetlar spoke of the need to inspire ‘community confidence’ in the North Isles. This, he argued, would only be achieved if the Council avoids ‘creeping centralisation’ toward Lerwick and prioritises its services ‘fairly and equitably’. Get this right, he said, and the conditions will be favourable for working with remote communities on increasing their chances of attracting businesses and people to their shores.

Aside from ferry provision, there were some other interesting ideas offered on the night. These included investigating whether there may be future European funding opportunities for the development of fixed links and renewable energy projects; turning down heaters in council premises to reduce the cost of energy bills; and allowing council staff to change office light-bulbs themselves, without having to call the maintenance department for assistance.

Written by Jordan Ogg

Click here for a full transcript of the meeting

If you have a savings suggestion for the council please email: savings@shetland.gov.uk

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