Continued funding for leisure centres will need 1% tax rise
There was speculation earlier in the year that leisure centres and swimming pools were at risk of closure because of a forecast budget deficit for Edinburgh Leisure, the council’s armslength organisation in charge of sports provision.
But the council managed to find £3.2 million to keep open all the centres and pools and also allow Edinburgh Leisure staff to be paid the Real Living Wage.
However, the council warned that continuing funding for Edinburgh Leisure at this level would require a council tax increase of 1 per cent in 202/26.
PARKING
Pay-and-display parking charges will be increased by 22 per cent and the cost of residents' parking permits will rise by around 5 per cent. The exact amounts are still being calculated, but the new charges are expected to come into force on April 8.
Finance convener Mandy Watt said: “As Scotland’s capital, parking controls are essential for keeping our city moving, making sure roads are free of obstructions and safe for everybody that uses them, as well as encouraging the turnover of spaces to support our local economy and businesses.
“All of the income accrued from parking is invested back into Edinburgh’s roads and transport infrastructure, including active travel improvements. This, alongside our excellent public transport systems, helps give residents, commuters and tourists more choice when deciding whether or not to drive their car in Edinburgh or to use sustainable ways of getting around such as walking, wheeling or cycling and public transport.”
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The council provides a subsidy for certain bus routes which are not commercially profitable but are judged essential for local communities, mostly in remote, rural or disadvantaged areas.
There were fears the money previously set aside for these supported bus services would not be enough to ensure their continuation, so the minority Labour administration accepted an amendment from the Lib Dems to add £300,000 to the budget, which is expected to help retain the services for Ratho, Kirkliston and South Queensferry.
Labour also accepted a Tory amendment for a further £240,000 to restore the Nos 69 and 20 bus services for Willowbrae/Lady Nairne and Dumbiedykes.