Edinburgh Council Approves Budget with 8 Percent Council Tax Increase

Edinburgh council members agreed on a budget recently. Council tax will increase by eight percent. Many council services will also cost more. They plan to fund road safety improvements and transition teachers will not face cuts.

This decision followed last-minute talks where Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat groups reached an agreement. Councillor Mandy Watt presented this budget, describing it as balanced and focused on addressing resident concerns.

Labour’s goals were included in the final plan, featuring funding boosts for schools and investments in temporary housing.

The Liberal Democrats secured money for road safety and successfully prevented cuts to transition teachers and support staff roles.

Conservatives obtained funds for health and social care changes within the Integration Joint Board. They also secured money for data analysis, as well as enforcement and education support.

The budget lacked funding for holiday hubs that support families with children needing extra help. A parent highlighted the reduced support time for students, which has dropped from six weeks to just two since 2018.

Former council leader Cammy Day voted for the budget, while independent councillor Ross McKenzie supported the Green budget.