Lib Dems secure funding for school playgrounds, the third sector, and transport infrastructure

The Edinburgh Liberal Democrats today secured more funding for stronger local services, fair choices, and a greener future, as part of the 2026/27 Budget setting process.

This has included record sums for school playground upgrades, Edinburgh's third sector, and transport infrastructure.

It also includes an uplift to adoption allowance for adoptive parents, after years of the allowance being frozen.

With the following spending priorties, the Edinbrugh Liberal Democrat Council Group voted for a Budget which puts more money into tackling the housing emergency.

Meanwhile, the Council Tax increase is significantly smaller than Midlothian, West Lothian, and East Lothian.

After negotiations with the Council Administration at today's budget meeting, the Liberal Democrats sucsessfully secured more money for:

Infrastructure improvements

• 💡 £500,000 more for new park lighting.
• 🛣 £400,000 more for replacement pavements, and pothole repairs on roads.
• 🌱 £331,000 more for more chemical-free street weeding operators and equipment.
• 🛑 £178,000 more for white line refreshing (speed limits, junction arrows, parking bays, etc.).

Supporting communities

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 £900,000 to uplift adoption allowance.
• 🗣 £500,000 more for third sector support.
• 💷 £20,000 more for income maximisation and poverty prevention.
• ⛑ £50,000 to install bleed kits in Council properties.

Children and Education

• 🛝 £578,000 more for school playground assessments and repairs.
• 👨‍🏫 £15,000 more for equality diversity and inclusion/antisemitism education.

Climate, nature, and energy

• 🌳 £200,000 more more street trees in urban areas.
• ♨️ £100,000 more for shared heat networks.
• ☀ £100,000 for more solar panels.
• 🌊 £50,000 for ocean recovery & education efforts.

And more! The full budget motion can be read at edinburgh.gov.uk.

Councillor Lewis Younie said: “We've taken up the mantle of ensuring the third sector survives and thrives in Edinburgh and we can't walk away from that commitment now.

We have listened to our residents on their doorsteps, in our inboxes and on the phone, and have put their priorities first".

Councillor Sanne Dijkstra-Downie said: "School playgrounds are vital. This budget is about equity of play, not ability to pay.

This is one of many practical interventions in our budget proposals today".