Edinburgh Council must rein in its spending ambitions and forget the council tax rise – Helen Martin

THIS winter could be dire with the second Covid wave rapidly followed by the no-deal Brexit. That could be followed by more job losses, possible lockdown again, poverty, food and medicine shortages with prices soaring, and rents and mortgages unaffordable.

Councils, plus charities, businesses, arts organisations and more, are hoping for supportive funding from our Scottish Government. It doesn’t have the borrowing rights of the UK, it’s already preparing for the second wave, and as SNP councillors are aware, it must hold its May election.

How much has road reform and the tram extension cost our council and how many other projects are they – and other councils across the country – planning for the year ahead?

Tory councillor John McLellan reminded us all in his recent column that the SNP-Labour coalition here has voted to raise council tax by 4.8 per cent. Some people can afford that, many cannot.

Dare I say this is not the time to spend money and charge citizens. It’s time to save spending and forget rising council tax.

Perhaps winter predictions are wrong, precautions are unnecessary and Edinburgh will thrive. Perhaps the future is worse than ever. But any decisions on projects, plans, extra spending and tax rises should surely be parked now until we know the 2021 outcome.

Am I mad thinking the priority should be focusing on essential council services, putting people first, social care, helping the poor perhaps even by suspending council tax, rather than building more debts and putting council “ambitions” above the electorate?

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