Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Midlothian Council leader Kelly Parry today said it was too early to tell what impact lifting a council tax freeze will have on residents in the coming year.
Speaking as the Scottish Government lifted the freeze while promising a record funding increase for local authorities Councillor Parry, SNP, welcomed the ‘flexibility’ it will give moving forward.
But she said time will be needed to establish the impact of additional funds on the cash strapped council which is facing a budget gap of £9.4 million next year.
The council last month held a consultation with residents over its priorities for the year ahead in which it said every one per cent rise in council tax could generate £670,000 extra a year for council services and cost the average Band D Council Tax payer £9 a month more.
This would mean meeting the deficit through council tax alone would require raising it by 15 per cent.
Councillor Parry said it was too early to say what the additional funding promised in the budget would mean for Midlothian residents.
She said: “I am delighted that John Swinney’s first budget has delivered so strongly for local government – investing in the key services that people in our communities rely on and delivering the largest uplift in funding in recent times.
“Whilst it will take some time to work through what the detail means for Midlothian Council specifically, the flexibility of funding will allow us to make real progress in delivering on people’s priorities in Midlothian.”
Her comments came as the independent body Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) Scotland described the Scottish Government’s view giving more cash to council’s would mean they do not need to increase the tax as ‘too complacent’.
LGIU Scotland chief executive Jonathan Carr-West said: “We know from our annual survey that local government finances in Scotland are hanging by a thread. This budget does not engage with the scale of this challenge.
“There is an increase in core funding in the budget but it doesn’t cover the ever growing costs of core statutory services.
“The Scottish Government has responded to the concerns of councils and has removed the freeze on council tax rises, but the cabinet secretary’s expectation that record funding levels should mean councils do not need to put up council tax is too complacent.
“The truth is that even with the additional funding announced today, local authorities will still need to raise council tax and make cuts to services and will still edge closer to being unable to balance their books.”
From left to right in the picture are: P7 pupil Ava Bryson, Rogan Collins, who is in P1, Special Plant Operative Stevie Davie, P1 pupil Lily Walsh, P7 pupil Jack Fraser and Driver Graeme Barton.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Pupils at Gorebridge Primary School climbed aboard Midlothian Council’s new gritter this week to help launch a competition to give it a ‘thawsome’ name.
P7 pupil Ava Bryson thought the Snow Queen might be a contender while Rogan Collins from P1 was not convinced by Gritty Gritty Bang Bang.
Midlothian Council Leader Councillor Kelly Parry said:
“We’re obviously struggling and need the public’s help.
“The gritter is one of two new vehicles to add to our fleet. We’ve now got 42 machines, from snow ploughs to JCBs, helping keep Midlothian moving when temperatures plummet.
“The competition, to name this newest addition to our arsenal, is a great way to raise awareness of road safety during the winter while injecting a bit of fun into this cold December.”
The closing date for entries is Wednesday 18 December and the winner will be announced on Monday 23 December. They will not only see their winning entry emblazoned across the new gritter, but they will also get a family trip for two adults and up to three children on our new Alpine Coaster.
Cllr Parry added: “After the success of our JCB Pothole Pro competition, when the Tarminator took the top prize, we’re really looking forward to hearing what our quick-witted Midlothian residents come up with this time.
“While they get creative, with 3,000 tons of grit and around 750 grit bins filled, our roads crews are ready to keep the 380 kilometres of priority routes open.”
To enter email communications@midlothian.gov.uk with your family-friendly gritter name and include a mobile number.
For more information on the council’s severe-weather response and which routes we grit first visit www.midlothian.gov.uk/severe-weather
The 11-hectare site proposed for New Pentland was refused permission because two-thirds of it was classed as countryside in the Local Development Plan.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
The company behind plans for a £22.4million housing project near Straiton have said they are ‘disappointed’ after it was rejected by Scottish Ministers.
Pentland Park Marine Ltd had appealed after Midlothian Council refused permission for a care home and housing alongside a mixed use development on land it said had been designated as countryside.
The firm had argued that the land was ‘disused’ and had lain fallow and unused for 50 years and they pointed to the approval of an Aldi store on the site by the council just months earlier.
However the Scottish Government Reporter has now rejected their appeal after ruling there is sufficient housing land available in Midlothian and that while the project would make a “small, but valuable contribution to the supply” with an estimated 10 affordable houses included it was not enough to outweigh concerns about losing public space to the site.
The decision brings to an end a two year fight to have the decision by Midlothian Council overturned.
The Reporter said she had visited the site and considered points raised by local community councils who objected to the use of the land for the project as well as other development both in place and proposed on the site and adjoining area.
She added: “I have considered the economic benefits of the scheme. However, I am not persuaded that these benefits are sufficient reason to consent commercial development on an unallocated site.”
Pentland Park Marine Ltd had said the project would create 172 jobs during the construction phase, 133 new direct jobs and 33 indirect jobs on completion.
A spokesman for the applicants said: “We believed this was a fantastic opportunity to enhance the local amenities with community-focused plans, so we are naturally disappointed in the decision to reject what we feel was an excellent opportunity for the Council.”
