Leaders from all sectors will gather this week in Edinburgh, ahead of the UK Government Spending Review, to debate the capital city’s future.
The City Summit, being held on Friday, 15 October, organised by The City of Edinburgh Council and Scotsman Conferences, is part of one of the most ambitious and challenging consultation programmes around budget issues in the UK.
At the Summit key figures from the public, voluntary and private sectors will have the opportunity to contribute to making the right decisions for the city over the next five years to ensure that Edinburgh retains its competitive edge.
As well as debating issues around the future of Edinburgh’s economy, delegates will also be given questions to debate around issues such as paying for services, how organisations can work better together and future service provision in the city.
The Summit is the culmination of six weeks of local meetings and extensive engagement through the Council newspaper, Outlook, and online surveys.
This phase of engagement and consultation will end on Thursday, 28 October. A report on all of the feedback gathered will be compiled for the Administration as helpful guidance during the budget setting process.
Views are welcome after this date as the budget issue is long-term and the Administration is keen to hear from as many staff and residents as possible.
Council Leader, Jenny Dawe, said: “The Summit will help delegates to better understand the challenges faced by the public sector. It will also help those attending appreciate the implications of budget decisions made by the public sector on the wider economy.
“The way the Council and our partner organisations deliver services will have to change significantly in the next five years.
“The interest in this Summit, and the wider engagement and consultation process, reinforces the need for concerted joint action to successfully deliver the massive change we have ahead of us.”
The basis for financial planning assumptions for the city’s key public sector agencies are:
City of Edinburgh Council – at least a 12% reduction by 2013/14, with a possible further 4% per annum reduction to 2016 – effectively 20% savings over 5 years.
Police Service – 6% per annum for the next 5 years, with a 9%-10% reduction in 2011/12.
Fire and Rescue Services – 12% reduction by 2013/14.
NHS Lothian – 20%-25% over 5 years.
