AND NO, IT’S NOT AN APRIL FOOL JOKE!
We’ve raised some of our fees and charges in order to prioritise support for our most vulnerable residents, says the City of Edinburgh Council.
COUNCIL STATEMENT:
On 1 April, we will raise on-street parking charges by 20% for all levels except resident permits and town centres. This will raise around £800,000 which will help us to improve roads and transport while keeping costs down for other fees – particularly those which impact older people and those on low incomes.
For instance, we will freeze the cost of day care services and Garden Aid for the elderly and adults with disabilities. We will also keep the costs of burial fees, community alarms and telecare services at their current levels.
The increase in parking charges will also allow us to create a £100,000 fund for community-led cultural projects.
Meanwhile, a ‘Library Fine Amnesty’ period will be put in place to prevent potential barriers to our services. Audiobook and movie rentals plus photocopying costs will be frozen at libraries too.
This will all be possible thanks to the rise in parking fees. A full and accessible list of the new charges will be published soon, or you can view the proposals on pages 24 to 47 of this report agreed by members of the council’s Finance and Resources Committee yesterday (Thursday 30 March).