Price hike for city services to raise £3.8m

Published on Friday 12 February 2010 10:06

THE cost of more than 100 council services – from funerals to using a public toilet – is set to be hiked in a bid by city chiefs to bring in an extra £3.8million.

City leaders have approved a list of increases in charges that cut across almost every area of the council, with the price of many services – particularly care of the elderly – surging at well above inflation.

It is the latest attempt by the council to bring in extra revenue to help it plug an expected gap in its finances of more than 90m over the next three years.

However, city leaders – who yesterday widely trumpeted the third consecutive freeze on council tax as part of budget proposals – have been accused of secretly hitting residents in the pocket through the price increases.

Among the new measures is the introduction of a new 20 charge for applications by disabled drivers for a "blue badge".

Free special uplifts of unwanted goods – which have been gradually reduced in recent years – will now be scrapped, with each uplift now costing 19.99.

The cost of dying – already higher in Edinburgh than anywhere else in the UK – is set to surge, with burial fees for adults increasing by 5.1 per cent to 812. If additional funeral costs are factored in, the cost will rise by 100 to 2,023.

If someone wants to buy a memorial bench from the council, they will see the price nearly double to 2,750.

Even the cost of going to the toilet will surge at more than 20 times the rate of inflation, with the toilet in the bus station at St Andrew Square to increase from 20p a visit to 30p.

Councillor Andrew Burns, leader of the Labour group on the city council, said: "It is appalling that such high above-inflation increases have been forced on the citizens of Edinburgh without any prior consultation.

"I am particularly concerned about the charge for every uplift as it will undoubtedly lead to fly-tipping. It is a very short-sighted way of raising money.

"These charges have been approved by the Lib Dem/SNP administration and will have a direct impact on every taxpayer. It is a hidden set of charges that will impact the lives of everyone."

Calling on the services of the council's pest control teams will rise by an average of 5 per cent depending on the treatment.

The cost of getting a permit to put up scaffolding will now cost 90 for up to one week and 60 for each month after, drastically ahead of current rates of 50 for three months or 73 for six months.

Older people are among those to suffer the worst of the increases. The cost of day care, where older people go to day centres or care homes to take part in a range of activities or have a meal, is to nearly double to 5.50 a session, while home help costs will rise by 1 an hour – or 8.7 per cent – to 12.50.

A spokeswoman for Age Concern and Help The Aged in Scotland said: "We understand that local authorities are facing financial difficulties, but we would be disappointed if the solution to those difficulties were to be found at the expense of our most vulnerable older people. Even small increases in price can cause concern to those watching their budgets."

Referring to the increase in the price of day care, she said: "Services such as these are essential for maintaining social inclusion which is vital for a healthy later life."

However, the city's health leader, Paul Edie, pointed out that the average price of day care from voluntary organisations is currently about 12 for a half-day session.

"It is still remarkably good value compared to the voluntary sector," he said. "We have managed by and large to protect services for older people, but because of inflation and demographic changes there is much more demand."

It is not just residents that will be hit by the price increases. Applications for any council licence – from market stall licences to sex shop licences – will also rise, most by about 3 per cent.

The hire of town halls like Portobello's and Thomas Morton Hall will rise by about 5.3 per cent.

Trade waste charges have also been increased by about a tenth and uplift of a skip will now cost 7.50 more, at 65.

The revised charges will come into effect from the start of April.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, the city's finance leader, said: "We cannot go on running services at uneconomic levels.

"We argued long and hard about some of these and we tried to make sure any increases were as reasonable as possible."

• Online poll: Are you happy to pay more for services to help ease the council's financial woes?

Vote now

GREENS DEMAND REVIEW OF BUDGET 'WASTE'

CALLS were made today for a review of the city council's budget process which costs the taxpayer 1 million a year.

City council finance officials confirmed that their staff time costs 500,000 and they estimate that the same again is spent on staff time from other council departments.

Each opposition group is assigned finance staff to draw up their own budget proposals.

But the Liberal Democrat/SNP administration was yesterday able to push through all of its proposals.

Labour and Conservative councillors all voted for their own group proposals, but the Green councillors refused to get involved to save resources.

Green councillor Steve Burgess said: "Only the Lib Dem/SNP budget has the possibility of going through. Surely this process is a waste of money."

Your Say: Are you happy to pay more?

Ronald Aitken, 55, carer, Pirniefield Bank: "If they are looking to safeguard services for children and education then it seems reasonable."

Robert Fairbairn, 72, retired electrical design engineer, Clerwood Way: "It does seem a little unfair that charges will impact greatest on the elderly."

Jo Aylies, 34, translator, Leith: "It seems hard that the cost of a burial will be so high."