Edinburgh Council has received an increase of £48.5 million from The Scottish Government, which equates to five point two per cent from the £14 billion funding announced for all 32 councils.
This is, the government says, a real terms increase, but the Council Leader in Edinburgh, Cammy Day, fails to agree.
Cllr Day said on social media that there was a 1% cut on the core grant and the Capital grant has also been cut “making it harder for us to build houses” leading to cuts in the future. He also claimed that regeneration funding has been stopped. He said: “Despite the unique demands of a capital city and ever greater demands on our frontline services, particularly in housing, homelessness and social care, it seems inevitable from the budget that Edinburgh will remain the lowest funded local authority in Scotland.
“I’ve asked Ministers for a fairer settlement for local government. It’s clear this continues to fall on deaf ears. Years of cuts have now come to a head, forcing us to find £76m of cuts and £60m next year. We’ve already been forced to find £400m worth of cuts in the last decade.
“We have hugely ambitious plans for Edinburgh, to face into the climate emergency and tackling poverty once and for all, but following yet another disappointing settlement, we’ll face yet more difficult choices when we come to set our own budget in February.”
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance Shona Robison said: “In the face of a profoundly challenging financial situation, we are making available record funding of over £14 billion to councils – a real-terms increase of 4.3% on the previous year – should they agree to freeze council tax. The £144 million for the council tax freeze would be equivalent to an above-inflation 5% rise in council tax nationally.
“We recognise the crucial role councils play in their communities, which is why we have increased their overall share of the Scottish Budget.
“We have made no secret of the tough choices that have been required to balance our Budget, after an Autumn Statement that failed to provide the funding Scotland needs for its public services. While I know councils had sought more funding, the settlement confirmed today represents a fair and sustainable offer.
“We have chosen to invest in our people and public services. This is a Budget that reflects our shared values as a nation and speaks to the kind of Scotland that we want to be with a record settlement for local councils at its heart.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
