COUNCILLORS in Midlothian have dropped plans to scrap music tuition in schools.
The Labour-led administration had been under pressure in recent weeks after proposing to fill a predicted £9.7 million shortfall by cutting musical instrument tuition in schools, apart from those studying for Advanced Higher, Higher or National Five exams.
More than 12,000 people had signed a petition against ending musical tuition. Midlothian would have become the first authority in the country to have taken the step.
Yesterday as the council met, hundreds of parents, pupils, musicians and campaigners gathered outside, forming orchestras bands, and choirs, and urging councillors to think again.
The local authority had proposed balancing its books by cutting music tuition, and the council’s creative arts service.
Also set for the chop were Midlothian’s lollipop men and woman, three libraries and three sports centres, public toilets, a recycling centre, and roads maintenance and supported bus travel.
Instead, councillors have “approved a series of other savings measures and utilised additional Scottish Government funding, as well as approving a council tax rise of 4.79%.”
Labour council leader Derek Milligan said: “We have heard loud and clear from youngsters the value they place on this.”
He said it was now imperative that all Midlothian councillors lobby the Scottish Government for more money.
Local SNP MSP Christine Grahame, above, welcomed the decision. She said: “I’m delighted these cuts have now been ruled out, although I share my constituents’ anger that they were proposed in the first place.
“As I have always maintained, there is no valid reason for the swingeing cuts that were proposed other than the Labour-led administration trying to score political points against the Scottish Government.
“By this welcome reversal it is clear that these were not necessary in the first place but have caused a great deal of distress.
“Music tuition, sports programmes, libraries and leisure centres are not “add-ons” to the service provided in Midlothian, they are a vital part of our communities that make a real difference to people’s quality of life.”
Speaking generally about cuts being made by councils across the country, Scottish Labour’s finance spokesman James Kelly said the SNP needed to put up more money.
He said: “The SNP-Green Budget is set to cut funding for councils by £230m – that will put services like schools and social care at risk.
“The SNP government in Edinburgh cannot claim education is its top priority while councils are forced to slash local schools’ budgets.
“It’s disgraceful that the Budget leaves chief executives and Scottish ministers paying less tax while vital services face the axe.
“There’s still time to change course. We could have a more progressive tax system, including a 50p top rate, and invest in our services instead.”
EIS teaching union general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The high number of parents and pupils who turned out in support of the demonstration today shows the strength of feeling in the Midlothian community, and its belief that all children should have access to music tuition.
“Learning music benefits young people in terms of their self-confidence and in their ability to work both independently or as part of a larger group.
Meanwhile, Highland Council has unveiled plans to save almost £6m over the course of the next three years, by “transforming” support for children with additional needs. Plans include cutting the number of specialist teachers.
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