Edinburgh City Council will freeze council tax rates at their current level for another year, in spite of what Cllr Phil Wheeler, Convener for Finance and Resources, believes are "the greatest financial challenges it has experienced in living memory."
The continued freeze in Council Tax for 2010/2011 will maintain Edinburgh’s Band D council tax at £1,169, the lowest of Scotland’s four major cities. Scottish Water charges for water and sewerage have also been frozen this year.
Education and care services are expected to be at the heart of the City of Edinburgh Council’s budget, announced today. The overall schools budget will increase by 2.6% (£5.2m). There will be an extra spend of £3.16m to support vulnerable children and an additional £3.7m in services for vulnerable adults.
“We have also added £2m to our reserve funds to cope with unexpected circumstances and unforeseen situations such as flooding," said Cllr Phil Wheeler.
Among the key provisions of the new budget is £18m to complete the flood protection works on the Braid Burn and £25m for the second phase of the Water of Leith flood protection scheme.
More Efficiency Savings
The council hopes to make around 72% of the savings for 2010/11(of £41.6m) from efficiency savings, increased income and other savings which do not impact on service provision.
Cllr Wheeler said: “The next couple of years are going to be even tougher and savings of around £30m need to be made in each of the next two years. We have made a start by proposing savings of £11.6m and £7.4m in 2011/12 and 2012/13. The Council is facing a severe reduction in its budget over the next few years. At the same time, as a result of population changes, demand for certain services such as support for vulnerable adults and children, will continue to increase.”
Edinburgh's Festivals will see reduced council funding, but of not more than 1.5% on the previous year.
Councillor Jenny Dawe, Council Leader, said: “The reduction in public sector funding, caused by the global recession, means that Edinburgh must save around £90m in the next three years and the 2010 Spending Review may threaten that position further."
“Work is already underway to bring about significant cost savings for the current financial year, and we are on target to save over £26million. The Council must continue to improve the efficiency and productivity across all services and where appropriate look at other ways of delivering them. Sharing services with other local authorities and public bodies is another option we are looking at which could help to modernise the Council.”
Key Provisions
The total revenue budget is £1038.2million. Council Tax makes up £226.9million of this with £811.3million coming from Government grants. The total capital budget is £235.205million.
Schools and nurseries
- Almost £1.3m over the next 2 years to implement class sizes of 18 in P1-P3 in deprived communities
- £371,000 for early years services
- £250,000 for supplies and services
- £163,000 for smart metering technology to give schools greater control over their budgets
- £41m for a new Portobello High School
- £20m for a new James Gillespies High School
Looking after vulnerable children
- £358,000 for inflation on payments to carers
- £1.8m for services dealing with the increase in numbers of vulnerable children
- £1m for children’s social work services
Caring for vulnerable adults
- £2.5m for people with learning and physical disabilities
- £1.124m for older people
- £100,000 for respite care to support carers
- £3m to complete the Kings Inch Care Home
- £7.6m for an additional care home at Drumbrae
Economic development
- Commitment to maintaining the record additional investment of £1.3m in economic development
Housing
- £38m to improve the quality of council homes for existing tenants
Transport
- £2million for projects to improve road safety and to promote walking and cycling
- £18m to complete the flood protection works on the Braid Burn
- £25m for phase 2 of the Water of Leith flood protection scheme
- £2.8m for a new public transport route linking Craigmillar and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
- Commitment to keeping Lothian Buses in public ownership
Culture and sport
- £37m to continue refurbishment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool
- An additional £600,000 to fulfil our commitment to £2million capital works to the the King’s Theatre
- £2m for refurbishment of the Assembly Rooms
- £660,000 investment in properties managed by Edinburgh Leisure over the next three years
- £243,000 fabric renewal across the cultural and sporting estate
Edinburgh’s festivals
- Protection for festival funding, with the reduction limited to 1.5% on previous year’s funding