Public consultation on city budget is branded a sham

Published on Wednesday 15 September 2010 21:48

A COUNCIL-RUN "budget summit" to discuss looming cuts with the voters has been branded a "sham" by those at the meeting.

A straw poll taken at the end of the two-hour public consultation showed 90 per cent of attendees were "dissatisfied" with the process following sustained criticism of the questions on which they were asked to vote.

Eight questions were posed throughout, ranging from savings and efficiencies to council tax, all seeking a yes or no response from the 40-strong audience made up of local residents, community leaders, council workers and union representatives. The audience were given electronic keypads to cast their votes.

A series of six summits has been planned for taxpayers to have their say on which council services should be slashed to make 90 million of savings over the next three years.

Among the biggest complaints from the floor was the simplicity and scope of the questions, which many thought were too narrow to accurately reflect opinion.

One example was: "Do you think the council is right to focus savings on back office costs - wherever possible - before frontline services?"

Raymond Watt, secretary of Edinburgh Right to Work campaign, said the motions the public had to vote on were "ridiculous".

"It appears the council want the limited number of people in this room to give it a rubber stamp (to make these cuts]. If (others here] think this is a stitch-up and a sham I would invite you not to vote.

Another resident said: "Every one of these questions is beautifully crafted to elicit just one answer."

Despite an audience of around 40 people, on average only 25 people voted on each question.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, who opened the meeting, said "lessons had been learned" and vowed to discuss changing the format in light of the public grievances.

"We were trying it out and some bits didn't work as well as we would have liked. Rest assured lessons have been learned and we will try to do it better next time."

Council chiefs had described the summits as an "unprecedented engagement programme" and a spokesperson has now said future summits may concentrate more fully on debates with the public than the electronic vote.

Further summits are planned for Davidson's Mains Parish Church on September 22, Southside Community Centre on September 23, Royal High Primary School on September 29, Drylaw Church on October 5 and Drummond Community High School on October 6.

A city-wide summit is to be held at the Scotsman Publications on Holyrood Road on October 15.

Taking steps to fight bus pass cuts

Pupils, parents and Labour politicians walked the route between the Inch and Holy Rood High School yesterday to protest against the withdrawal of free school bus passes. Parents say the cuts mean their children have to take an unsafe route to school.