Edinburgh Council Tax Freeze
The City of Edinburgh Council today froze Council Tax, meaning that Edinburgh has the lowest Band D Council Tax rate of the four largest Scottish cities. The Band D Council Tax rate will be £1,169.
In taking this decision, the Council has agreed to the Scottish Government’s finance deal of an additional £6.9million. The Council next year expects financial recognition for the unique pressures that the nation’s capital faces.
Key elements of the budget include:
- £13million for vulnerable members of society
- £33million for five new ‘wave 3’ schools
- £21million for Meadowbank and the Royal Commonwealth Pool
- £20million a year on roads and pavements
- £5million for pitches and pavilions
- Committed funding for Edinburgh festivals
Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, Finance Convenor at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This Council needed to get its finances back on an even keel, and we have made huge in-roads with that in our first budget. However, I’m delighted that we’ve still been able to announce new investment in some of the city’s most valuable facilities. Our decisions will help to reverse years of decline in our schools, roads and sport venues.”
Councillor Jenny Dawe, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This budget is balanced, responsible and sustainable. Despite tight constraints, this is a milestone budget for Edinburgh, created in the best interests of Edinburgh residents. We are looking after our city and the people who live in it, especially some of our more vulnerable citizens.”
Councillor Nick Elliott-Cannon, Depute Finance Convenor at the Council, added: “We have made significant savings across the Council so we can focus efforts and resources on vulnerable people in our communities. We are safeguarding key frontline services whilst the search for efficiencies continues.”
Councillor Steve Cardownie, Deputy Leader, said: “A capital city needs to look ahead and we have prepared this budget with an eye to the demands on Edinburgh in the coming years. It will allow us to protect and enhance our position as a leading destination in which to live, work, visit, study and invest.”
Chief Executive Tom Aitchison added: "Establishing a stable and financially sustainable budget is essential to tackling the issues that we face. There are major shifts in national public policy, substantial changes in the city and a need to continue modernising the Council. However, I'm optimistic that there is a determination within the organisation to drive forward and meet this significant challenge."
Summary of key points from the budget motion
Caring for our most vulnerable
- £5.8million per year for vulnerable children including those in foster and residential care.
- £6.2million per year for care of older people.
- An additional £1.3million per year to support adults with learning disabilities (on top of the £700,000 agreed in the Budget in 2006/07).
Maximising opportunities and learning for our children
- £19million over three years in school buildings.
- £33million to rebuild or refurbish all five schools in the ‘Wave 3’ scheme, with £16million of that allocated over the next three years. The Council is completing feasibility studies and will work with the Scottish Government to look at current and potential funding mechanisms.
- Introducing greater transparency in the budget allocation to schools with no indirect cuts and additional resources of £0.8million to cover increases in energy costs, both of which have been widely welcomed by Head Teachers.
- Reaffirming our commitment to a locally delivered Community Learning and Development service by confirming that there will be no closures of Community Education Centres and allocating £100,000 to activities for children during school holidays to be determined and delivered locally.
A safe, green, clean and attractive city
- An additional £240,000 for street cleaning.
- £6million for improved waste reduction, reuse and recycling, which will take the city’s recycling rates from 30% to over 40%
- £45million over three years in flood prevention schemes.
Promoting economic growth
- An additional £0.3million per year to support economic development and the planning function. The post of Head of Economic Development has recently been filled having been left vacant for some time.
- £350,000 for the future promotion of Edinburgh as an Inspiring Capital and a destination in which to live, work, invest, visit and study.
- Continued funding for the Edinburgh/Glasgow collaboration project of over £100,000 in 2008/09.
Capitalising on our iconic festivals and internationally renowned cultural and tourism offering
- £542,000 for the Edinburgh International Festival (bringing the total financial support to £2.4m); £800,000 for Winter Festivals; and £200,000 for other festivals. This will increase the level of investment previously allocated through the Cities Growth Fund and will alleviate currently unfunded budget pressures.
- £6m over three years for refurbishment of the Kings Theatre
- £3m for Tattoo stands.
- £1m for a national photographic centre (subject to matching funding being sourced).
- £115,000 for additional staff which will allow for the opening on Sundays of museums in Edinburgh.
Promoting Sport and Leisure
- £21million for National Sporting Facilities - Royal Commonwealth Pool and Meadowbank;
- £5million for refurbishment of Glenogle Baths;
- £5million investment in parks, pitches and pavilions;
- £3.5million for a new library at Drumbrae; and
- £0.7million allocated from the Capital Fund to support a variety of key international, sporting and civic events.
Modern, effective transport arrangements
- £60m over three years in roads, pavements and streetlights to make our streets safer for all users, not least cyclists.
- £2.4million over three years for cycling, walking and safer streets, and a further 0.5million for cycling projects
- Continuing to spend £1million on supported bus services where there is demonstrated demand
- £600,000 in the further expansion of the Bustracker real time information system.
Investing in the fabric of Edinburgh
- £11million over three years in property over and above the specific investment in school buildings.
- £0.5million a year, rising to £1.5million a year by 2010/11 for ongoing maintenance of buildings.
A range of affordable housing options
- £3.6million over three years in housing regeneration.
- £36million of housing development funding to increase the supply of affordable housing.
- Record levels (£32million) to upgrade existing housing stock to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.
Improving the Council’s performance
The Council is committed to identifying and eliminating all obsolete or inappropriate work practices and duplication of activity and to pursuing every efficiency.
Record efficiency savings will be delivered which allow resources to be directed towards investment and front line service delivery. In 2008/09 further efficiency savings of £15m are planned and can be retained by local government to help meet pressures and new burdens.
This will include:
- Streamlining the catering and cleaning service
- Reviewing the management structure of the organisation and cutting unnecessary bureaucracy
- Being more efficient in how we communicate with the public, for example, by using new technology to replace existing publications
- The Children and Families department has an annual cost of £2.9million for staff posts for which there is no funding. The Council is saving £2million through a restructuring of management in Children and Families as a means of safeguarding frontline education services.
