An "anti-democratic" process which could have seen two councillors and the chief executive of Edinburgh Council get the final say on how £13 million should be spent has been blocked following a move by the SNP group.
The City of Edinburgh Council's housing, homelessness and fair work committee met on Thursday, June 23, to discuss the UK Government's new 'Shared Prosperity Fund', which is replacing funding streams for local authorities which previously came from the EU. Executive director of Place, Paul Lawrence, told members an investment plan detailing which local charities and organisations would benefit from the £12,398,092 being made available over the next three years needs to be submitted to the Government by August 1.
Due to the council's summer recess however, the next housing committee, where members would be asked to approve the investment plan, is not scheduled until three days after the deadline on August 4. Mr Lawrence said there could be "some wiggle room" and a report to councillors stated officers have enquired about getting an extension.
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He stressed he didn't want Edinburgh to be "the only local authority in Scotland" not meeting the deadline, adding: "I don't think that's a great place to be."
The report recommended that in the "unlikely event" an extension is not granted by the Government and a decision has to be made prior to the next meeting, the council's chief executive Andrew Kerr, council leader Cammy Day and housing convener Jane Meagher should be handed the powers to approve the plan for nearly £13m investment.
Cllr Kate Campbell, SNP spokesperson for housing, homelessness and fair work, said: “I was shocked by the suggestion that this decision could be delegated just to the convener and council leader. Labour represent about 20 per cent of the council and so to have such an important decision, about millions of pounds of spending, just sitting with two Labour councillors feels extremely anti-democratic."
She tabled an amendment calling for an emergency committee to be held if the extension is not given "so all councillors can scrutinise the plans".
Cllr Campbell said: "It just feels like an awful lot of money over quite a long time to risk two councillors making the final decision on the investment plan so we felt it was important and I hope that other councillors on the committee would agree that for this much funding it is worth us having an emergency meeting if needed towards the end of recess to make sure we are properly in public scrutinising the recommendations."
Convener Jane Magher, Labour, accepted the amendment and said: "I've been assured by officers that we're 99 per cent certain that there will be an extension agreed. I understand the need for scrutiny but I'm also comforted by the assurance that the extension is highly likely to be granted."
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