Edinburgh Council's Labour Group today announced that they will be protecting front line services in their budget.  Where the proposals by the Lib Dem/SNP Administration are to slash budgets for the city’s schools and most vulnerable, Labour will not allow any savings to be taken from these areas.  Labour Finance Spokesperson, Councillor Ian Murray said, “This discredited Administration have published proposals to slash school budgets, close 8 community centres, take over £3m out of care for the elderly and the disabled and decimate grants to voluntary and charitable organisations."  The Labour Group are also angry at the fact that the Council have managed to find over £2m per week to reduce the budget savings from over £40m to £27m. 

Labour Group Leader, Andrew Burns commented, “Whilst the Administration manages to find £90m to buy the Council HQ, £62m to bail out the Council’s property arm and thousands on Burns Suppers, foreign travel and new furniture, the education of our children and the vulnerable are being ask to pick up the bill.  We will not see front line services such as crèches closed, teachers sacked and community centres demolished.”

The Council budget meeting on 11 February will set the budget and Labour will present an alternative budget that protects ALL front line services. 

Notes

City of Edinburgh Council Budget 2010 - 2011

• In 2009 – 10 total revenue budget is £1042million. Council Tax makes up £225m of this with £816m coming from various Government grants. The total capital budget - £294million.
• 2010 -11 Local Govt Finance settlement from Scottish Government, direct grant to CEC has increased from £796.856m to £810.885m an increase of more than £14m (1.76%)
• Under previous Labour Administration Education was top priority, protecting schools based budgets and investing over £300m rebuilding or refurbishing 34 education establishments (schools and community centres) between 1999 and 2007.
• Not one new project initiated since May 2007
• Proposals for next year’s (2010/11) budget were to cut schools (Secondary, primary and special) budgets by 2.5% (£5m)
• This has now been amended to 1.9% (£3.767m) 
• Alternative officials’ proposals include reductions in music and language specialists, librarians, Classroom Assistants and teachers to the value of £4.3m

Other proposed cuts include –

• Cutting transport including home to school by £375k
• Non implementation of free school meals for P1 – P3 (£1.654m)
• Closure of 4 Primary Schools (decision taken in Dec 09) (£725k)
• Closure of 2 Secondary schools, 1 each in 11/12 (£1.2m) and 12/13 (£1.2m)
• Cuts to Community Learning & Development and Community High Schools (£1.160m)
• Closure of 8 Community Centres (£235k)
• Closure of 3 Nursery Schools (£163k)
• Reduction / Removal of full time nursery places (£895k over 3 years)
• Reduction Sure Start and Childcare Strategy Grants (£200k)
• Increase charges for school lets (£207k)
• Reduction in grants to voluntary organisations and total “disinvestment” from 12 others (£407k)
• Closing of Edinburgh Leisure crèches