The City of Edinburgh council passed a budget with a £1.8 billion spending program on Thursday 20 February, as council tax rates are set to increase by eight per cent.
Anticipated to raise £26 million, this increase concludes a nationwide freeze of council tax rates that has been implemented over the last financial year.
The increase in council tax rates, alongside a 10 per cent rise in on-street parking charges, will be used to balance the budget and to increase spending on “frontline services.”
The budget includes £6.6 million to be spent on road safety, up to £66 million to be spent on Health and Social Care facilities, and the highest spending on school buildings in recent years.
Five new campuses, five extensions for primaries and high schools, and a replacement building for Fox Covert Primary School have been allocated £296 million.
£40 million has been attributed to roads and transport in direct response to calls from local residents during extensive budget consultation.
Council leader Jane Meagher emphasised the council’s commitment to local priorities identified by Edinburgh’s population, claiming “we’ve listened and we’ve gone further.”
Although the Labour Party controls the council through a minority administration, no single party holds a majority. This has resulted in a compromise budget.
The approved budget maintains Labour’s focus on temporary housing and schools; this has been reflected by the £50 million investment in purchasing and building suitable temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats won a reversal of proposed cuts in transition teachers alongside a one-off sum of £1.6 million for road safety projects, whilst the Conservatives obtained £1 million for reforms of the board that delivers health and social care funding.
The Liberal Democrat and the Conservative support of the Labour administration was essential in passing the budget, which was approved with 35 Councillors voting in support against 27 voting to oppose the motion.
Despite the council’s commitment of an additional £2.9 million to supporting city partners in addressing climate change and nature emergencies, the Green party criticised a “timid budget devoid of ideas.”
The Finance and Resources Convener, Councillor Mandy Watt, cited governmental weaknesses and underfunding as the primary weaknesses of the budget. She stated:
“Huge pressures on health and social care and housing remain unaddressed nationally and while this Budget does everything within our power to protect local services, we need greater action to be taken at a governmental level.”
“Waverley Court, Edinburgh Council offices – geograph.org.uk – 3506708” by Stanley Howe is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.