Lothian Tory MSP Sue Webber calls in Scottish Parliament for urgent review of funding formula for housing funding to ensure Edinburgh receives its fair share
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00:00Last week at Edinburgh's Housing Committee, housing allocations were frozen and only those with gold priority will be considered for a new council home.
00:08All others looking to move home within the city will need to wait even longer.
00:12Edinburgh receives around a 6% share of the affordable housing budget using a COSLA-based formula that disadvantages the capital.
00:21Meanwhile, the acquisitions budget is allocated based on need, meaning Edinburgh receives over a third.
00:27Will the Cabinet Secretary urgently review the funding formula to ensure Edinburgh gets its fair and needed share of monies?
00:35Cabinet Secretary.
00:36Well, first of all, let me say that, of course, the City of Edinburgh has, as other local authorities, have received extra funding,
00:44so an extra £60 million or an additional 5.9% compared to 2024-25.
00:50And, of course, in capital funding, they'll receive an extra £73.9 million, an extra £8.1 million.
00:59Now, Sue Webber in many ways answered the question herself because she described it as a COSLA-based funding formula.
01:05That funding formula is a needs-based formula agreed with COSLA on behalf of 32 local authorities each year.
01:13I think if I was to step in and disregard the COSLA agreement on behalf of 32 local authorities,
01:20we would have people popping up across this chamber to criticise me for doing so.
01:25And I would just point out to Sue Webber that she cannot support a billion pounds of unfunded tax cuts
01:32at the same time as calling for more money for Edinburgh Council or anyone else.