Edinburgh Council plans fundraising team for city projects

Edinburgh City Council has agreed to explore the creation of a fundraising team to encourage wealthy residents to contribute more towards city improvement projects, following a proposal by Liberal Democrat councillor Lewis Younie. The initiative aims to address delays and cancellations of major projects due to insufficient funding by tapping into the city's tradition of philanthropy. Supporters argue this could provide a structured way for community members to collectively fund enhancements, rather than relying solely on large individual donations. However, critics, including Conservative councillor Phil Doggart, contend this move may be an attempt to avoid making tough budget decisions and question the efficiency of channeling philanthropic donations through the council. Some also argued that philanthropists might prefer to donate directly to specific causes rather than through council-run initiatives. The council has tasked officials with reporting on how such a fundraising team could function, and the motion passed despite notable opposition.