City of Edinburgh Council has a forum called the Joint Consultative Group. The purpose of this group is to allow the trade unions to discuss directly with Heads of Service and Councillors issues of importance. At the November meeting, UNISON emphasised that current budget pressures alongside the employers own future projections are likely to cause financial problems which they will be unable to prevent or sustain. This will have severe consequences for you and your colleagues and those who rely on the essential services you provide.
From this dialogue, UNISON asked is City of Edinburgh Council actively seeking additional funding from the Holyrood and Westminster Governments for essential council services, and if so, what responses have been given? Answers to this question were vague and noncommittal. As such, UNISON requested that City of Edinburgh Council make contact with the UK and Scottish Governments advising them of Edinburgh’s predicament and the need for much needed financial support.
As you can see from the above attachments every member of the Joint Consultative Group agreed with UNISON. We now wait with eager anticipation for the responses from the Prime Minister’s and Cabinet Secretary’s Offices.
Despite putting more money into the national coffers than any other local authority, Edinburgh remains one of the most poorly funded local councils in Scotland. This is unfair and this why UNISON will continue to apply pressure on both governments and City of Edinburgh Council to do the right thing. As soon as we have more information, we will contact you.
David Harrold
Branch Secretary
