Quietly does it as council leader Jane proves a success story - Susan Dalgety
Council boss Jane Meagher may be one of the most low key city leaders of recent years, but could she be the most successful?
The former community development worker, who was only elected a councillor four years ago, took over the reins of the Labour administration in December 2024, following the sudden resignation of Councillor Cammy Day.
Even her appointment was under the radar. She was in Africa visiting family when she was voted into the top job via Zoom.
At the time, she said she was by nature a consensus builder and open to compromise. She said she was “willing to take the type of decisions that will help and benefit the people of Edinburgh – particularly those most in need of our support.”
The council’s latest budget suggests she is true to her word. Last week’s budget – agreed after discussion with Tory and Lib Dem councillors – means that the Capital will likely have the country’s lowest council tax rise of 4 per cent.
Parking charges have been frozen and there is to be a £1.6 billion investment in housing. Council chiefs have even found money to improve our notorious roads and pavements. A remarkable achievement, given that Edinburgh is Scotland’s lowest funded council per head.
Of course, the city now has the advantage of being able to count on income from the tourist tax, or the Visitor Levy to give it its official title, but even so, Cllr Meagher deserves credit for delivering a measured budget that puts tackling the city’s housing emergency at its heart.
Less praiseworthy perhaps is the 7 per cent rent rise for council homes which will prove challenging for those householders already struggling to make ends meet. Now more than ever, the city council must ensure that its tenants receive all the information necessary for them to make ends meet.
Last year, it was revealed that £80 million in benefits – including housing support – remains unclaimed and every effort needs to be made to ensure that every tenant gets the help they need.
Running a city, even one as prosperous and attractive as Edinburgh, is a tough job, as I know from experience. In a different life, I was deputy leader of a Labour administration for several years, and with my colleagues wrestled with similar budget challenges to the ones facing the council today.
I still recall the blunt advice from the then head of social work who told us that if we went ahead with a plan to close residential homes for the elderly, some old folk would die as a result.
“The shock of moving can kill vulnerable people,” he said. We decided to cut the budget for the maintenance of roads and pavements instead.
So hats off to Cllr Meagher. She may not seek the limelight, as some of her predecessors did, sometimes to their detriment.
And she may not be many people’s idea of a media savvy, in-your-face political leader. But does the city need a Zack Polanski-type? I would argue no.
Cllr Meagher’s steadfast, competent approach to leadership achieves better results. Proof, if needed, that if you want a job done well, ask a busy, preferably older, woman every time.