Demands for Government to step in to stop 'disastrous' city council job cuts

The council is facing a £12 million shortfall

Union calls urging ministers to green light additional funds to Edinburgh Council to offset the impact of a possible £50m cost-saving plan have been met with cross-party support.

Edinburgh Unison officials say the cuts, which could be carried out over the next 12 months, will put hundreds of jobs at risk and have a “disastrous” effect on key services.

The union, which represents a majority of the city’s council workers, claims cuts are a direct result of poor funding settlements from Holyrood and the soaring costs of the council’s Covid-19 response.

Cllr Rob Munn, the council’s Finance and Resources Convener said further funds would be needed to help alleviate “ongoing cost pressures”.

Gerry Stovin, Edinburgh Unison assistant branch secretary, has asked that the Scottish Government release additional funding to the council to cover the costs of Covid-19.

The call has received cross-party support with councillors claiming that local government has been “systematically strangled” by ‘savage’ funding cuts during the pandemic.

At 10 am today, the council’s Finance and Resources Committee will meet to discuss the updated budget shortfall of £12.2m and how best it can attempt to balance its books.

Ahead of the meeting committee member and Conservative councillor Graeme Bruce said that Unison is right to point the finger at the Scottish Government.

He said: “The SNP/Labour administration have an ongoing obsession with vanity projects to the detriment of frontline services and I share Unison’s concerns about the further impact we are now likely to see.

“It is time for the SNP administration at Holyrood to provide a fair funding settlement which recognises Edinburgh’s status as a capital city and the additional financial pressures this brings.”

Edinburgh Unison’s Gerry Stovin said: “With 12.2 million added, plus the proposed £25 million in cuts already approved for next year and this year’s cuts and savings not achieved, we could be facing a further £50 million of cuts over the next 12 months. This would have a disastrous effect on essential services.

“Unison is calling on the Scottish Government and COSLA to agree short term additional funding to cover the cost of Covid-19, financial flexibility and fundraising powers along with a fairer budget settlement for April 2021 for all Scottish councils.”

Cllr Rob Munn, the council’s Finance and Resources Convener, admitted that while the council has already received more than £23 million of funding from Holyrood, further funds would be needed to help alleviate “ongoing cost pressures”.

He said: “We have already received more than £23m of Scottish Government funding and have been holding positive discussions, through COSLA, to inform the design of an income loss compensation scheme from which we expect to receive further funding.

“While all of this financial support is very welcome, a significant gap will however remain, with on-going cost pressures also likely in future years.”

Green councillor Gavin Corbett, who also sits on the Finances and Resources Committee, said that greater national government support is needed if local services are to survive.

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