Lesson One: Don't Fall Into the First 'Hit List' Trap Plans for Edinburgh School Closures Could Be Council Officials' Doomsday Scenario

Summary

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THERE are mysteries; then there are unfathomable mysteries; finally, there is local authority budgeting. As an Edinburgh councillor for 12 years, with a first-class honours degree in economics, I burned the midnight oil while wading through inch- thick budget documents trying to reconcile columns of figures - mostly to no avail.

So I have a soft spot for the hundreds of new councillors throughout Scotland as they try to come to terms with their local authority's financial structure. In particular, I am lighting a candle for the new Lib Dem-SNP administration in Edinburgh, which has been handed a proposal by council officials to close 13 primary schools, three secondaries, six nurseries and four community centres in an attempt to plug a projected GBP 25 million black hole in the accounts.

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Lesson One: Don't Fall Into the First 'Hit List' Trap Plans for Edinburgh School Closures Could Be Council Officials' Doomsday Scenario

The Labour opposition spokesperson on education, Andrew Burns, has denounced these cuts as "a dog's breakfast". Before we get to the school closure plan, let's just ask ourselves: how come Edinburgh has a GBP 25 million overspend? Read...

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