SBC Chief executive Tracey Logan has hailed the multi-million-pound savings made by the council as it looks to transform the way it operates.

She was speaking after councillors were told of the local authority’s vision for the future as it presented outline plans for its new transformation programme called Fit for 2024.

SBC announced the Fit for 2024 programme as part of its budget in February, with the aim of achieving a revenue savings target of £18m over five years.

Tracey Logan said: “Since 2013/14, we have delivered £47m of permanent savings.

“This has been a great achievement and I would like to publicly thank all the efforts made by staff to date to achieve this.

“Fit for 2024 embodies the message that we are not afraid to invest where we need to, nor are we afraid to change the way we do things when it is in the best interest of our residents and communities to do so.

“We are moving into new and challenging territory now, and in order to achieve this, we need everyone to play their part.

“We will be taking a whole Council approach where every part of the organisation will be reviewed and subject to change.

“It will look at aspects of how we deliver services and will impact the Council’s structure, management, workforce, business processes, productivity and culture.”

The Council will initially focus on reviewing the Senior Management Structure, Social Work Services, Fleet Management and Passenger Transport.

Further reviews across the whole of SBC are being planned with more details being presented to Council later this year.

Councillor Simon Mountford, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Transformation and HR, explained: “The Council of 2024 will not be the Council of 2019.

“It will focus on delivering services in ways which meet the needs of those we serve while exploiting new technologies and other opportunities.

“We are determined to drive significant improvement in outcomes.

“To achieve that, it will take all of us to play our part, including Councillors, management, staff, partners and our residents.”

Tracey Logan added: “The programme is already well underway with projects such as Inspire Learning, which confirms our commitment to delivering digital technology in order to improve equality for everyone.

“We have been out speaking to staff in all localities about the Fit for 2024 programme and getting their views.

“This is just the start of how we want to work going forward.

“We want to be working with staff and communities to deliver better outcomes for everyone while being realistic about the challenges.

“We always encourage residents to go along to their Local Area Partnerships and look out for events and consultations to take part in.

“We continue to ask everyone to play their part in any way they can.”