Opinion: Glasgow’s budget for 2025 sounds promising, but can it deliver?
Glasgow's 2025/26 Budget brings promises of cleaner streets, more affordable school meals, and a push for green energy. But, with a 7.5% Council Tax hike, will the improvements make it worth the cost? Louise Devlin shares her take.
Photo of Glasgow City, by Lison Zhou
By Louise Devlin | Photo by Lison Zhao
Thursday 20 February saw the announcement of the 2025/26 Budget from Glasgow City Council (GCC). The SNP and Greens came together to produce a budget focused on improving Glasgow’s environment. Here’s what I thought were the key announcements.
Education
Prior to the budget reveal, rumours spread online about the potential loss of teachers and associated school staff. Thankfully this did not materialise and no school resources were reduced. Instead, GCC have pledged to invest £3million towards providing school meals for children which will be beneficial for all children, particularly those families severely affected by the cost of living crisis.
Council Tax
The key negative aspect of this year’s budget is that Council Tax payments will rise by 7.5 percent. For example, if you live in a Band B property, last year you would have paid £1165.89 which would equate to £116.59 per month. The 7.5 percent increase on this would increase the yearly cost by £87.44, bringing the total to £1253.33 and subsequently you would pay £125.33 per month. The average Council Tax Bands for Govanhill are B – D, and so residents should expect to pay roughly between £7-£10 extra per month compared to 24/25.
Environmental Services
The extra finance from the Council Tax increase will be used to provide much needed investment to environmental and cleansing services.
Funding of £6.75million will be used to increase staffing and to repair/ maintain roads, pavements and parks. Each neighbourhood will be provided with a ‘Clean Team’ to provide an urgent fly tipping removal service. This will cost £2.3million and aims to combat the ongoing issues in the city with discarded refuse and associated pests such as rats. Recruitment for ‘Street Scene’ cleaning staff will increase with £1.5 million set aside for this.
All of these services will be greatly welcomed in Govanhill. Fly tipping, pest issues and refuse issues have become problematic in recent years. Although various organisations have implemented their own services, it has not been enough to completely eradicate the issues. The introduction of these ‘teams’ will seek to enforce a prevention based solution instead of the focus being on the reactive aspect due to the extent as the issues. Eventually the teams should be able to sustain the neighbourhood in a reasonable condition instead of only managing to react to reports.
Read more: £6.5M boost for Glasgow cleansing services: 200 new jobs announced
Housing
With regards to the housing crisis, an investment of £9.5million will be used to combat the thousands of empty homes in Glasgow. With Housing demand increasing every day and the supply failing to equate to this, this investment will be very beneficial for the city. The budget seeks to acquire and refurbish many of these homes to provide much needed shelter to residents across the city.
Over the past decade, Govanhill has already seen many homes purchased and refurbished using GCC and Scottish Government funding. This was a successful project in that it produced hundreds of improved homes for individuals and families that was very much needed in the area. Further improved homes like this are very much welcomed in Govanhill.
Energy
Climate change was also a feature of this year’s budget with funding of £8million allocated to tackle various aspects of the climate emergency, including the increase in the provision of clean, renewable energy and direct flooding prevention. Clean & renewable energy could include improved heating systems such as heat pumps. Introducing this into tenement properties in particular along with insulation would be so beneficial in reducing the ever increasing utility bills.
Read more: How can tenement flat owners take on retrofitting their homes?
Transport
A pilot project offering free public transport to Glaswegians between 22 and 59 is also due to be implemented, however the final details have yet to be revealed.
Outlook
Overall, this year’s budget looks promising with lots of welcomed investments aiming to improve Glasgow. Govanhill is anticipated to improve substantially in particular. Many aspects of the neighbourhood seek to benefit from the environmental and housing funding. The increase in council tax will no doubt be a struggle for many. However, if Glasgow City Council deliver with their aims and targets as promised, then the benefits should outweigh the costs.
Read more: Govanhill selected as Glasgow’s first Net Zero Neighbourhood