Edinburgh councillors passed a new budget. It includes an 8% tax increase and some council service charge adjustments.
This budget includes money for road safety and avoids cutting transition teacher positions. The deal happened after some last-minute talks where Labour, Conservatives, and Lib Dems all agreed.
Mandy Watt, a Labour councillor, said the budget balances resident priorities and commits to fighting poverty and climate change. Labour secured funding for schools and protected temporary housing investments through the budget compromise.
Liberal Democrats got £1.6 million for road safety and stopped cuts to vital school staff, including transition teachers and support staff. Conservatives secured reforms for health funding, receiving £1 million affecting the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board.
They also obtained data analytics funding of £0.5 million, with another £0.5 million boosting council enforcement and an additional £0.5 million for educational support. Holiday hubs, which offer support for pupils with extra needs, did not receive major new funds.
A parent noted that hub time dropped from six weeks to only two weeks since 2018, causing some concern.
Cammy Day, a former leader of the council, supported the agreed budget. Ross McKenzie voted for the Green budget instead; he used to be in the Labour group and is now an independent politician.