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Council budget 2023/24

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  1. Stickman
    Member

    Meeting is on Thursday.

    https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=150&MId=6473

    SNP proposing a more progressive council tax:

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/edinburgh-council-tax-snp-plans-to-be-put-to-council-and-would-see-council-tax-effectively-frozen-for-lowest-bands-4033654

    The Capital’s SNP council opposition group will put forward a plan to reform council tax, creating an effective freeze for households in the lowest two bands but increasing rates progressively for those in the highest. If approved by councillors at the City of Edinburgh Council budget meeting on Thursday, the proposals would raise around £20 million in additional revenue, which the SNP group proposes to use to protect key services, including reversing the administration's intended school cuts, saving the King’s Theatre, reintroducing a bike hire scheme, and increasing funding for rape crisis services.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  2. Morningsider
    Member

    Quite a clever workaround devised by the local SNP group. My only concern is it relies on a power which the the Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators in Scotland (SOLAR) describe as:

    Section 20 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 introduced a Power of Wellbeing. That power has been little used by local authorities and its scope has been steadily eroded by Court decisions, to the extent that it is now of little real value.

    Be interesting to see how this plays out, especially the approach taken by Labour and the Lib Dems. I reckon we can assume the Tories will automatically oppose this.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  3. neddie
    Member

    They could also double council tax on holiday homes and short-term lets to raise another 20 mil

    Posted 1 year ago #

  4. Stickman
    Member

    https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2023/02/snp-plans-to-raise-council-tax-deemed-unlawful/

    The opposition group announced this week it would put forward proposals to ‘reform’ council tax in the capital.

    Council tax increases are usually applied across the board but they said a “novel use of existing but rarely used local authority statutory powers” would allow rates to be frozen for those in the lowest bands and “avert the need for sweeping cuts.”

    However the plan has now been shot down by lawyers who told the council it would be against the law to proceed with it.

    A council source who spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service said external lawyers confirmed to council finance officers that the proposal was unlawful — throwing the SNP’s budget into chaos with less than two days to go.

    The source said: “It shows a staggering level of incompetence from a group that less than a year ago was actually in charge of the city’s finances.

    “It’s a particular embarrassment for Marco Biagi who tried to use his experience from his time as a minister, but in doing so has proposed something that is unworkable and unlawful.”.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  5. Yodhrin
    Member

    I also don't see how it's particularly progressive, the system as it stands is a joke; my one bedroom flat is in band E, while my mate's brand new 3 bedroom-with-integral-garage house is in band C in both cases purely due to postcode.

    Council tax needs to be replaced, not tinkered with - if they want to be progressive within the current constraints, they should raise all the bands and then significantly expand the rebate/relief scheme for those on low incomes beyond the current incredibly stingy proposition.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  6. acsimpson
    Member

    I don't think anyone ever claimed council tax was progressive, in fact it's usually considered regressive. It's entirely unrelated to income and even if you use home value in 1990 as a proxy for income there is a cap at band G which means the very wealthiest pay a tiny proportion of their property value.

    Have you looked into having your property rebanded? If it's worth a similar or lower amount than your friends house in the suburbs then it's quite possible you are over paying.

    I agree that it needs to be abolished and replaced with an alternative. My simple and quick suggestion would be an increase in income tax to match the difference. Of course in the world of unintended consequences this could lead to reducing average occupancy of properties so perhaps applying some sort of tax reduction for those sharing and increase for those with empty/second properties.

    While we're at it can we also abolish LBTT. A tax which raises very little but harms the economy and housing supply by disincetivising moving.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  7. toomanybikes
    Member

    Taxing income more and housing assets less not the most progressive route when intergenerational asset inequality is so high.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  8. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Labour has listened to residents, and their priorities will shape the budget we table tomorrow.

    “

    https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1628443249005445120

    Posted 1 year ago #

  9. acsimpson
    Member

    I would also suggest treating all income equally whether it is received through employment, assets or capital gains. That would go some way to alleviating the generational gap.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    Decision Day today.

    All sorts of policies, positioning and politics.

    Interesting posts on Twitter - inc from Cllrs - about how the process of last minute motions is not productive and doesn’t allow for sufficient scrutiny or adequate ‘consultation’.

    Whatever is decided, unclear if most people will notice the changes (even if the £10m pothole pot gets passed), or understand the 'might have beens’.

    Obviously money (and lack of) is important, but perhaps not as much as how CEC 'works’ - and offloads things like building tram routes.

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/council/edinburghs-budget-labour-proposes-ps10m-for-roads-and-pavements-but-end-to-free-tram-fares-for-under-22s-4037831

    Posted 1 year ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    Live thread -

    https://mobile.twitter.com/donturvLDR/status/1628696422743695360

    Posted 1 year ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    “

    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.

    “

    https://twitter.com/donturvLDR/status/1628730085602729984

    Posted 1 year ago #

  13. Stickman
    Member

    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

    https://twitter.com/donturvldr/status/1628750394506596353

    Posted 1 year ago #

  14. chdot
    Admin

    And

    “

    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.

    “

    https://mobile.twitter.com/donturvldr/status/1628752237978689537

    Fun and games

    Posted 1 year ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    “

    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"

    “

    https://mobile.twitter.com/donturvldr/status/1628758495758626816

    Posted 1 year ago #

  16. chdot
    Admin

    “

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

    The Liberal Democrat budget is PASSED.

    “

    https://mobile.twitter.com/donturvLDR/status/1628780733383774211?s=20

    Posted 1 year ago #

  17. neddie
    Member

    Lib Dems budget has passed, after tactical voting by the Greens.

    The Labour administration have failed to set a budget!

    Posted 1 year ago #

  18. chdot
    Admin

    “

    In case you missed it, the Labour-led administration of Edinburgh Council just failed to get its budget passed. The Lib Dem budget was passed instead. Can Labour run a council with only 12 of the 63 members? Is the leadership of the three-party unionist alliance shifting?

    “

    https://mobile.twitter.com/MarcoGBiagi/status/1628781930891079680?s=20

    Posted 1 year ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Delighted that the LibDem budget got majority support at Edinburgh Council today.

    A budget that:

    stops £5 million of education cuts
    injects £11 million extra to tackle our broken roads and pavements
    more investment for parks
    new money for climate change action

    “

    https://mobile.twitter.com/kevin_lang/status/1628783588245229568?

    Posted 1 year ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-council-tax-rise-5-26315492

    Posted 1 year ago #

  21. chdot
    Admin

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/council/edinburgh-budget-dramatic-twist-sees-lib-dem-spending-for-edinburgh-approved-4039443

    Posted 1 year ago #

  22. Morningsider
    Member

    What have we done to deserve this? An overwhelming vote for progressive politics at the last election and we get a reheated Thatcherite budget (privatisation and the great car economy). Has Cllr Arthur been along to blame it all on the Scottish Government yet?

    Posted 1 year ago #

  23. chdot
    Admin

    Not yet.

    “

    Were you one of the Greens that backed the Tory budget?

    “

    https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1628834988102647808

    Posted 1 year ago #

  24. chdot
    Admin

    “

    What does @Edinburgh_CC’s dramatic budget decision mean for walk/cycle Investment?

    We don't know!! (probably no one does yet)

    However most #activetravel cash is anyway from @scotgov/@SustransScot, which shouldn't be affected

    Also pleased to see more #ClimateTeam cash

    “

    https://twitter.com/SpokesLothian/status/1629106152142254080

    Posted 1 year ago #

  25. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Likely soon be third in number of seats in council. SNP 19, LibDems 13, Labour 12. Not sure how Labour can sustain control when are 3rd? How does that work @CllrScottArthur ?

    “

    https://twitter.com/thesmithlot/status/1629192300013268994

    Posted 1 year ago #

  26. chdot
    Admin

    https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2023/02/edinburgh-councils-budget-a-handy-guide/

    Posted 1 year ago #

  27. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Due to a family emergency I missed the Budget votes yesterday. I would not have voted for the Libdem Budget. Edinburgh Labour group now needs to show humility and admit they got it wrong and apologise to our brothers and sisters in the trade unions.

    “

    https://mobile.twitter.com/KatrinaFaccenda/status/1629116595464245249

    Thread

    Posted 1 year ago #

  28. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Labour group assuring these £1.1m savings are being reversed means either LibDems have agreed to scrap them or Labour banking on Snp/green voting with them later down the line. It also unbalances the budget, which I assume will need to be addressed before end of financial yr

    “

    https://mobile.twitter.com/donturvldr/status/1629194013348663297

    Basically it’s a mess and not a sensible/effective/productive way to run any organisation.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  29. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Edinburgh Labour members call on party's councillors to resign administration after budget fiasco

    “

    https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-labour-members-call-partys-26345749

    Posted 1 year ago #

  30. chdot
    Admin

    “

    The SNP leader of Dumfries and Galloway council is to step down after losing a budget vote.

    Opposition Conservative plans were approved which Stephen Thompson said left his position untenable.

    “

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-64798981

    Posted 1 year ago #

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