Download (on behalf of Edinburgh`s Third Sector) to the CEC Budget

Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council
14 Ashley Place
Edinburgh
EH6 5PX
Phone: 0131 555 9100
Fax: 0131 555 9101
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.evoc.org.uk
19 December 2014
Dear Councillors,
EDINBURGH VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS COUNCIL (EVOC)
RESPONSE – CEC BUDGET 2015/16
EVOC has gathered intelligence and views through focus groups, discussions
and a wider participatory event held in November. Two years on from first
publishing ‘Courage to Collaborate’ it appears that we are still addressing the
same issues two years on. Therefore, please find attached a re-issue of the
2012 Report ‘Courage to Collaborate’.
In addition, we would highlight the following as core themes and principles to
be taken into the wider conversation about budget reductions:

City of Edinburgh Council Third Sector spend accounts for 8% of the
city’s budget, while around 15% of the potential savings are against
Third Sector investment. EVOC wishes to see a fairer proportionate
distribution of the ‘pain’.

Concerns exist with the Third Sector that the Council’s no redundancy
policy, whilst honourable, appears to many to be protectionist, placing
the burden of redundancy and cuts on the Sector. Indeed, there are
examples of Departments taking activity back in-house without full
evaluation of the wider issues of value for money, community in-reach
and skills and expertise of the Third Sector. You simply require more
activity for spare hands?

As consistently acknowledged by the Council in many forums, the
financial and social returns on investments in the Third Sector are
significant.
It is particularly concerning that the proposals for
disproportionate cuts to the Third Sector appear not to recognise this
commitment to the health and wellbeing of our city. Furthermore, the
leverage of every pound spent by the Council in the Third Sector is well
documented. If the city’s Festivals are protected because of their
economic value – surely the consistent application of this argument
would see similar protection for wider Third Sector investments.
Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council is a company limited by guarantee No. SC173582 and is a registered
Scottish Charity No. SC009944.
Director: Ella Simpson

As well as the economic benefit the Third Sector brings to the city – jobs,
turnover, inward investment etc, the sheer range of voluntary activity in
the city suggests something going on above and beyond an economic
return.

It appears to many Third Sector organisations that difficult political
decisions to potentially increase revenue appear to be off the table for
discussion, e.g. small contributions such as charging for stair lighting to
big ticket items such as a hotel bedroom levy.

With the best will in the world, it is the City’s vulnerable people who are
most likely to be hit hard by cuts to Third Sector – everyone appears to
agree in the abstract that more needs to be invested in prevention, early
intervention and achieving better outcomes, yet many argue the
proposals once again are salami-slicing budgets.

We would remind Council that decisions taken this year will affect
everyone’s ability to think and deliver creatively next year and the year
after.
Finally, we would remind Council that Edinburgh’s Third Sector is:
Essential to citizens’ Health and Well-Being
Driven by the desire to co-create a Just Society
Rooted in communities and Responsive to Need
Expert in Prevention, Early Intervention and Innovation
A Voice for people and communities which are least heard
Vital to the city’s Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability
We look forward to continuing to work with you in these difficult times,
Ella Simpson
Director
Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council is a company limited by guarantee No. SC173582 and is a registered
Scottish Charity No. SC009944.
Director: Ella Simpson