Thread by @donturvLDR

We’re about to get going here at the City Chambers...where councillors are going to debate and vote on what to do with YOUR money #EdinburghBudget2023

Here's a round up of what's in the different budget proposals to plug the £79m funding gap edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh… #LDReporter

I'll be live-tweeting the proceedings throughout the day and will bring you spending/cuts decisions as they come, and will do my best to keep things light... #LDReporter

The first deputation is from NHS speech and language therapy - a £370k cut is proposed to these services #LDReporter

edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh…

Karen Allan, Head of Children and Young People’s Speech and Language Therapy at NHS Lothian says the cut is not a sustainable way to tackle to attainment gap. "If these cuts are to go ahead, the workload cannot be picked up by the NHS."

Rep from Royal College of Speech and Language
Therapists: Children have to wait up to two years to see a speech and language therapist. He adds these is a vacancy crisis in the service and if cuts go ahead children would have to attend a community clinic #LDReporter

Next is Alison Murphy from Educational Institute of Scotland - she says she'll try and keep things brief and adds says she hopes the amendment to reverse around £5m cuts from school budgets is accepted.

"Schools are already on their knees" she tells councillors. #LDReporter

"Unfortunately as I read the papers, which I would point out were only published yesterday afternoon, it seems out education welfare officers are still under threat."

The budget before councillors includes a £400k cut to EWO roles this year and a further £200k next year.

She adds the current engagement process is "farcical" highlighting she only gets "5 minutes to speak about these significant cuts and five minutes for questioning".

"The people of Edinburgh deserve better." #LDReporter

Edinburgh Trade Unions Council is the next deputation. He points to an extra £100m for local councils announced in the Scotish Government budget last week and says he hoped it will become clear what Edinburgh's share will be used for during today.

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla…

Holyrood has also handed Edinburgh Council powers to increase parking fines from £60 to £100 (50 if paid in two wks) - it's estimated this will raise £2.4m a year for the roads and pavements repair funding pot. #LDReporter

edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh…

Edinburgh TUC says they are concerned about outsourcing and the staffing crisis in social care and are calling for a "clear strategy" from the council on how its going to raise revenue going forward #LDReporter

Next in the hotseat is Dave Harold, branch officer of Edinburgh Unison. He says spending per head in Edinburgh is lower than in any other local authority. He says the cuts proposed will "compound the misery caused by the cost of living crisis and energy crisis". #LDReporter

Mr Harold: As the trade union with largest membership, Unison will oppose any attacks on our members terms and conditions and attempts to cut services.

"Councillors should not be horsetrading with poublic services"

He urged the council to look at "new ways of thinking, new ways of working" and "stand up for Edinburgh" #LDReporter

Getting through these deputations at lightning speed ...questions will come after they're all finished I believe.
Next is Helen Duncan from Trinity Primary school's Parent Council: "The recruitment and retention
of teachers and school staff is at an all-time low...

"Children have missed considerable time in the
classroom over the past three years.

"In order to address these issues, we need to be investing in education...we wholly oppose the proposed cuts to education and children’s services
outlined in your budget.

"School budgets are already stretched and inadequate for the services you expect them to deliver and children are not currently getting the support they need, with impacts being felt by everyone in the classroom."

She calls for any cuts to be paused for consultation with parents

"We ask all of you to work together to resolve this situation, and to take ideas to address it from all
political parties. As a group of parents with different political views and priorities please know that
we will consider you all more favourably if you cooperate rather than...

"Descend into party politics. We would be delighted to engage in further dialogue if that would be useful."

Finally we'll hear from Unite City of Edinburgh Council branch #LDReporter

The two representatives are dressed in rags but say they "are still philanthropic".

"Do not cut anything - in fact increase," calling on councillors to join them in campaigning for better funding from both UK and Scottish Governments #LDReporter

Graeme Smith, branch convener: "The council is reaping what its sowed and its job evaluation scheme is not fit for purpose. We need to overhaul the job evaluation scheme immediately." He adds if cllrs think council workers will accept a 3% pay rise they "have another thing coming

After a short break and a more to a comfier seat we're now onto the main event, budget reports. First is Labour and Finance Convener Mandy Watt is moving the group's budget #LDReporter

She says the administration is fighting back with a budget that gives money to basic services like roads and pavements.

She is proposing shelving cuts to speech therapy, transition teachers, Taxicard

"They're all directed at making the council a good thing in citizens lives."

Labour wants to rise council tax by 5.75%.

edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh…

Next the SNP finance spox Lesley Maccinness moves the SNP/Green budget: We've come together with a progressive alternative.

"We have taken this process very seriously indeed."

She adds uncontrolled "rampant inflation" have hit all areas of the economy. #LDReporter

She says the Scottish Government must work faster to give councils more powers to raise revenue.

She criticises the proposed education cuts saying "we cannot stomach the thought of removing funding for young people". The SNP/Green budget would reverse all £8m education cuts.

The joint budget includes a 5.99% council tax rise. Plans to apply greater increases for higher band households and a freeze for lowest were scrapped after legal advice suggested this would be unlawful.

edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh…

Cllr Macinnes welcomes the legal advice which she said confirmed that grants can be administered through the council tax system.

She claims this would be "lawful and deliverable" but "could not be considered at this meeting".

Cllr Macinnes also takes aim at the administration for doing the "bare minimum" to prepare for today.

"Our motion chimes loudly and clearly with the requests from many of today's deputations." she adds.

Next Greens co-convener Alys Mumford will go into detail about the motion

Cllr Mumford said the challenges faced are "enormous" and the Green group "do not take responsibilities lightly".

The joint budget proposes an extra £1.2m for addressing the climate crisis, continued free tram travel for under 22s, £500k roads & pavements, £400k public toilets.

Now it's the Lib Dems turn and Neil Ross is speaking, he thanks the council's finance director Hugh Dunn and other advisers.

He says it is "the most challenging of all six budgets I've worked on" and points out the £76m gap is 5.5% of the council's income. #LDReporter

The Lib Dem budget includes a 5% council tax increase, which would raise an additional £5.39 million.

Cllr Ross says the increase will avoid £6m cuts to school budgets.

He adds the state of the roads are the worst they've ever been - and wants to see £11m spent on improvements

LD budget is also has plans to save £600k by withdrawing the council's commitment to no compulsory redundancies and £500k by reviewing outsourcing of waste and cleansing services. #LDReporter

He calls for best service value reviews across all council departments starting with street cleaning: "We want the council to deliver better outcomes in a cost effective way." #LDReporter

Sidenote: What's interesting this year is that despite being the smallest group the Conservatives hold the cards - if they decide to vote with Lib Dem rather than Labour once their budget falls (which I'm led to believe they still could) then admin budget is scuppered.

Cllr Lewis Younie, Lib Dems, says the group are opposing the £370k cut to speech and language therapy, a service which he needed when younger.

He brands the SNP council tax reform plan "unworkable" and adds: "The SNP and Green groups should be ashamed of themselves."

Last but not least...the Tories, who have proposed the lowest council tax increase at 4%.

Cllr Phil Doggart: The council has been subject to chronic underfunding for years.

He likens the budget to "pouring a quart into a pint pot".

"We cannot keep doing the same things year after year expecting different outcomes.

"We must address the shortcomings identified in two best value reports."

He says money could be saved by maximising use of council buildings and looking at delivering services differently.

The Conservatives also want to see more 'spend to save' measures by using £1m reserves.

Doggart: "This spend to save money is not to be used to go away, have a think for six months and come back with no changes, this is designed to save lots of spending by spending a little."

The Tories have rejected the administration's pledge to spend 10 per cent of the roads budget on cycling infrastructure and plans to save £800,000 by increasing the cost of on street parking permits.

They also wants to see £200k spent on restoring bus services for Willowbrae/Lady Nairne and Dumbiedykes; £8million on roads and pavements; £500,000 on a 'city clean up'; £750,000 in parks and greenspaces; £1.5million on maintaining bridges and £3million on the King's Theatre.

(I should note that all parties have pledged £3m for the King's, and reversing cuts to speech and language therapy). #LDReporter

We're now onto amendments - first is Lib Dems. This seeks to cancel the remaining £4.65m cut to school budgets which is left over in the admins plan

Lib Dem Louise Young: "These cuts go too far and are taking money back from schools.

"There has to be line, these are cuts our group is just not willing to make.

"We have consistently proposed keeping or increasing funding for schools over the years."

Second amendment is from the Tories - see in full below. It is asking for more money for bus services, street cleaning and graffiti, a commitment to more spend to save measures and £2.5m for overhaul of service delivery in EIJB (council's health partnership). #LDReporter

Cllr Jason Rust (Cons): "Having sat through nearly two decades of budgets they seem to get more depressing year on year.

"What really concerns me is some of the hype around some of the budget positions that have been found to be unlawful and incompetent."

LUNCH - we'll be back at 1.30 #EdinburghBudget2023

Cllr Ross McKenzie (Currently independent whilst suspended from Lab) has just RESIGNED from the Labour group.

He takes a swipe at the administration's budget for being 'misleading'. #LDReporter

Cllr McKenzie: “I know how little work the administration has put into this budget and that could be down to personal failings but it’s also down to the political reality of the need to leave space in our motion for the Tory party.

“When I sit down just now I’m going to resign from the Labour Party, I won’t be voting for any of the motions today I don’t think.”

He says it’s not a protest but a result of being isolated from the budget process and decision making like other, unsuspended members of lab group

He says as an independent he’ll work over the next four years to “make this city a fairer place”.

His resignation takes Labour group to 12 councillors - even with the Lib Dem’s. #LDReporter

Quite an extraordinary intervention, even for a councillor who has dissented since his first day in the chambers.

Anyway, the SNP's David Key is now talking, questioning Labour's decision to invest £10m in roads while cutting £6m from education budgets. #LDReporter

The Council leader and Labour whip have exited the chamber. #LDReporter

Lib Dem leader Kevin Lang is now poking fun at the SNP/Greens for their scrapped council tax plans.

The Green's Alex Staniforth replies this is only being brought up because they couldn't find anything in their final budget plan to criticise. #LDReporter

Cllr Christopher Cowdy says the Conservatives are focusing on things people actually care about - "we will make sure council tax brings the benefits that you deserve" he says, quoting the Tory council manifesto.

He adds the Tory budget is "sensible realistic and effective".

Val Walker (Labour) says the Labour budget works to protect culture in Edinburgh: "We can all see that our arts and cultural organisations are already under huge pressure.

"We are aiming to maintain as much as possible the council's grants in funding and we would be working..

"with cultural organisations over the year to achieve that.

"We will be helped by implementing the full cost recovery of events and filming in Edinburgh - this will include holding back recovery and any loss of income including from parking charges."

Labour are planning to scrap fines for overdue library books, at a cost of £185k and invest £3m (added to £4m already budgeted) for the King's Theatre refurbishment. #LDReporter

The SNP's Finlay McFarlane: I must admit coming into my fuirst budget felt oddly familiar...and then I realised that as well as anyone else, I know theatre when I see it.

He expresses disappointment at not being invited to the "Labour, Tory, Lib Dem dress rehearsal"

Cllr McFarlane: I am very proud to stand behind this SNP/Green budget...budgets are about priorities and I am proud and confident our groups have represented them today

We’re now into hour 4 of the budget, which means it must be time to get the mini eggs cracked open...

Cllr Stuart Dobbin (SNP) says he is stunned that Labour thought education funding could be cut.

He says cutting speech and language therapy would "dump the problem on the NHS".

"Education is key for our children's future and the ability to communicate is critical to that."

Ed Thorley (Lib Dems) says parks and greenspaces need investment "for so many reasons". The Lib Dem budget includes £3m for parks.

Scott Arthur (Lab) says the administration is not funding continued free travel for Under 22s because the Scot govt 'don't see buses and trams as equal'.

"We are making transformative change to street cleansing and road maintenance" the 'interim' transport convener says.

Stephen Jenkinson (Lab) has accused SNP's Marco Biagi of 'hiding at home' as he is attending meeting remotely - he is heckled by SNP councillors for making the comment. #LDReporter

SNP leader Adam McVey criticises the Labour budget for not having 'not a single word on climate change', says they "couldn't be bothered".

Adds: We need leadership & the only leadership we have is akin to a jellyfish in the sea floating whichever way the Tory current pushes it.

Chas Booth (Greens) says failure to invest in climate action will prevent the council from meeting its emissions targets.

He says he'll give finance convener Mandy Watt "one last chance" to include £290k for climate team in the administration budget. #LDReporter

We're breaking for 10 mins☕️ #EdinburghBudget2023

We're back - and the Greens have not returned to the chamber #LDReporter

Oh wait, they're just late, not protesting. Thought they were doing a Glasgow for a second.

Council leader Cammy Day says the council needs a "massive injection of cash, funding and resources form the Scottish Government" which he blames for cutbacks.

He highlights again the £10m for roads in the Labour budget and says he'll work to ensure climate targets are met.

Mandy Watt (Labour) says she will accept most of the LibDem and Conservative amendments but cannot commit the requested by Tories £250k for graffiti cleaning. #LDReporter

We're about to start voting...here we go!

The budgets are:
Labour (administration) (w/ amendments)
SNP/Green
Lib Dem
Conservatives

Conservatives - three Green councillors have voted with them

Lib Dems - a different three Greens have voted with them

SNP/Greens - all SNP councillors and three Greens voting for this

Labour - 12 votes from Lab

The administration's budget has FALLEN as a result of the tactical voting by the greens.

Extraordinary turn of events - the administration will fail to set a budget.

Next round - 28 vote snp/green; 23 lib dem
;9 Cons - Conservative falls.

Third round:
29 votes SNP/Green
32 Votes Lib Dems

The Liberal Democrat budget is PASSED.