Space to explain
As the ludicrously unfair Workplace Parking Levy is the brainchild of the Green Party, why have none of its representatives in Holyrood been made to justify it? A case of the tail wagging the dog, or power without responsibility.
EP CARRUTHERS New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh
The Scottish budget is in the news. Councils need more money and are either going to cut services or find more ways to remove money from the working population.
I am reminded of my parents’ era. The lady of the house was given the housekeeping budget. This was used and carefully accounted for. Extra treats and that new piece of furniture would have been saved for.
We have huge budgets being spent on too many non-essential items while people are being asked to pay ever more tax. Billions of pounds are not in the same league as the housewife’s account book but the premise is the same. Derek Mackay and council leaders forget that it is NOT their personal fortune to mismanage.
DORIS MH DUFF Belmont Gardens, Edinburgh
While much of the discussion after last week’s budget announcement by the SNP Government has focused on workplace parking, it must not be forgotten that the SNP have made a spectacular u-turn in allowing councils to levy a “tourist tax”.
It was only a few months ago that the SNP Government tourism minister slapped down the SNP council leader in Edinburgh, saying the Government had no plans to introduce a visitor levy. They were supported by many organi- sations in the tourist industry. Now that has all changed, thanks to a successful campaign fought principally by Scottish Labour, who locally had the support of their SNP coalition council partners in Edinburgh, plus the Greens and Lib Dems on the council.
Estimates are that for Edinburgh, a tourist tax could bring in £14 million a year, a useful sum, very welcome for hard-pressed council tax payers. A sum which will pay for extra cleaning, extra buses etc.
While this u-turn is good news, the bad news is that the extra money will not come in immediately. Even with the Greens once again riding to the rescue, albeit pretty halfheartedly, Edinburgh is still having to make budget cuts of £30m this coming financial year. This is a grant cut far higher proportionally than the UK Government imposed on the Scottish Government. The SNP Government seem to prioritise building up their reserves over providing adequate funding to councils, and are now looking to council tax payers to stump up extra, by increasing the council tax by 4.79 per cent instead of the previous 3 per cent maximum. Fairness for councils and council tax payers does not seem to be what the SNP is about.
PHIL TATE Craiglockhart Road, Edinburgh