BOSSES at a service jointly run by a cash-strapped council are under fire for handing out "insulting" gifts to staff as the local authority fights to plug a financial black hole.

Employees at West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership were given a mug, biscuits and sachet of hot chocolate as a token of appreciation for their work on Friday.

However, the gesture has been labelled as "wasteful" as the area’s council looks to find ways to make savings totalling £14.3 million.

One source told the Glasgow Times: “Staff have been told that the council needs to make cuts and reduce spending, yet this offshoot is dishing out insulting gifts at a time when people’s jobs could be on the line.

“It begs the question as to why waste the money in the first place? To be honest I’d rather have nothing than what was handed out. They have some cheek, it’s really a slap in the face.”

Glasgow Times:

West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (WDHSCP) is a strategic venture between West Dunbartonshire Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to provide health and community care services within a single structure.

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Another source said: “The council has a massive financial hole to fill yet bosses at the WDHSCP are wasting money on gifts that, to be frank, staff don’t want.

“We’d rather see the cash spent on securing vital services that are so desperately needed within the local area. It is wasteful and people are hardly going to see hot chocolate as a thank you for going the extra mile.

“The whole thing was ill-judged and in poor taste. It hasn’t gone down well.”

Council bosses will meet on March 1 to discuss how to close their biggest-ever budget deficit, which sat at more than £20m in December.

We previously revealed that one potential option set to be presented to members is plans to cut the school week by a day, with the local authority estimating that this could save £1.3m in 2023/24, rising to £2m in 2024/25.

A report by the council’s education chief says: "Under this proposal schools would continue to meet their statutory provision of learning and teaching time across a four-day week.

"Primary schools would open Monday to Thursday from 8:30am until 3:45pm, providing pupils with the same amount of teaching time across four days, instead of five.

"Secondary schools will run an eight-period day, Monday to Thursday, 8:20am until 4:10pm.”

Plans also being considered include cutting learning assistant posts from 28 to 25, reviewing school clothing grant budgets, removing breakfast clubs and swimming lessons for primary school children, as well as three weekly bin collections.

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The budget document proposes reviewing school crossing patrols, library provision and cuts to clerical posts.

It states: “The council still has to find a further £14.3 million in savings to continue delivering services to residents.

“Our situation has been further compounded by a range of factors including increases in inflation, utilities, fuel materials and employee costs.

“This is the most significant financial challenge since our inception as a council and at a time when our residents are relying on our services more than ever, we must take action to balance the budget savings for educational services which will be discussed in the meeting.”

A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership said: “As part of funding ring-fenced for use for the benefit of employee health and wellbeing only, a small gesture of thanks was issued to our Health and Social Care teams to recognise their tireless work to deliver essential HSCP services throughout the winter months.”