MacLaren warns of tough times ahead

8.08.01am GMT Thu 5th Nov 2009

Writing in the latest edition of the Council's Face Newsletter for Families and Children in Edinburgh (http://www.face-edinburgh.org.uk/?nID=16) Liberal Democrat Convenor of Children and Families has warned of real challenges as the council sets its budget for the next year.

Councillor MacLaren write: "When I became Convener of Education, Children and Families I always knew that difficult decisions would lie ahead. Over the coming months myself and my colleagues face real challenges as we aim to set our budgets for next year.

"The impact of the global financial crisis is really beginning to hit home in the public sector and over the next three years the council will need to make savings of £90 million. In Children and Families we are looking at savings of around £14 million this year alone.

"These savings are on an unprecedented scale, and many of the proposals put forward will not be popular. However, there is no escape from this situation and we will all need to make some difficult choices.

"My priority is to ensure the survival of good quality education and social work services for children and young people. There will be a lot of speculation and scaremongering in the media over the next few month, but the important thing to remember is that setting a budget takes months and no decisions will be made until after Christmas. In the meantime, we will work hard to try and find creative solutions that will support our school and social work services and continue to build on our achievements over the last few years."

Council Leaders will set their budget on 11 February 2010. Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling's 'efficiency' saving across public finances are having a very real effect at the local level. Council sources confirm that these 'across the Board' cuts will force Edinburgh to find £90m from local services over the next 3 years.

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Read the latest edition of FACE.