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Glasgow and Edinburgh council tax bills to increase by nearly 5% | |
(30 minutes later) | |
Scotland's two biggest councils have voted to increase domestic rates by nearly 5%. | |
In Glasgow, the SNP-administration set the rise at 4.64% while Edinburgh's SNP-Labour coalition agreed 4.79%. | |
Councils across Scotland have the power to raise council tax by up to 4.8% this year. | |
In the coming weeks, the country's 32 local authorities will be agreeing their budgets ahead of the new financial year on 1 April. | |
Glasgow's budget was passed after an amendment from the Scottish Greens was accepted. | |
The deal agreed includes proposed revenue savings of £26.5m, including the introduction of a charge for bulk waste collection. | |
The council has also proposed closing Blairvadach outdoor centre in Argyll and Bute and making the staff redundant. | |
Education centre to close | |
A number of venues and outdoor spaces operated by Glasgow Life - a charity that delivers activities on behalf of the council - would also be transferred to "local community management" under the proposals, saving £600,000. | A number of venues and outdoor spaces operated by Glasgow Life - a charity that delivers activities on behalf of the council - would also be transferred to "local community management" under the proposals, saving £600,000. |
Potential savings of £7.6m have been identified for social work services and £3m to waste collection in the city. | Potential savings of £7.6m have been identified for social work services and £3m to waste collection in the city. |
SNP councillors said it was a budget that protected teacher numbers and provided an extra £1m for climate emergency action. But opposition parties have criticised the bulk waste collection charge and "cuts" to street sweeping. | |
The Labour group also said it would have wanted the "much-loved" Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre to have remained open. | |
The centre, which is run for Glasgow school children, is one of the largest residential outdoor education centres in Scotland and has been operating for more than 45 years. | The centre, which is run for Glasgow school children, is one of the largest residential outdoor education centres in Scotland and has been operating for more than 45 years. |
According to the budget proposal, closure of the centre would save £218,000. | According to the budget proposal, closure of the centre would save £218,000. |
In the capital, councillors were faced with the need to save £87m over the next three years. | |
The local authority said it would use the money from the council tax rise to invest in "key priorities" such as new schools. |