MORAY Council’s budget meeting which will see over £4 million cuts to jobs and services will be broadcast live.
Tomorrow’s meeting begins at 2pm and will be shown on the local authority’s webcast system.
There have been difficulties with the system over recent weeks, but these have been resolved in time for the budget setting debate.
The majority council meetings are webcast, which allows people with internet access to watch and listen to local authority business as it happens.
Convener Stewart Cree said: "Webcasting of council meetings was introduced five years ago as an open and transparent way of allowing the public to see the democratic process in action because the vast majority of people simply don’t have the time or the means to sit in on meetings.
"There have been one or two problems with the webcasting equipment of late but I’m happy to say these have been sorted out in time for the budget meeting in which there is understandably a great deal of public interest."
A demonstration by those opposed to plans to slash the number of primary school classroom assistants by a third to save £410,000 will be held outside Moray Council headquarters from 1pm tomorrow.
The ruling administration has also proposes a total of 75 full-time job cuts, halting roads maintenance for a year, withdrawing £320,00 worth of bus route subsidies and closing seven libraries.
In addition services for the homeless as well as grants to Moray Women’s Aid and the arts are under threat.
Over the next four years the council needs to axe £30 million from the budget.
As a result as many as 10 primary and two secondary schools could close.
The webcast can be accessed via the Moray Council website at www.moray.gov.uk
For reaction to the budget and a picture special, see 'The Northern Scot' print version on Thursday night.
