Lib Dems demand urgent council action after North Edinburgh Childcare collapses

Scottish Liberal Democrat councillors have brought an emergency motion calling on Edinburgh Council to take action after the unexpected collapse of North Edinburgh Childcare, which has thrown local families into crisis mode while its employees are left without work.

The motion calls on the council to explain what actions it will take to provide immediate help to those affected, as well as convening a public meeting with affected families to discuss what can be done to help them.

On the implications of the collapse, Edinburgh Northern MSP and Forth ward councillor Sanne Dijkstra-Downie said:

“Reliable childcare is a lifeline, not a luxury. Many parents who rely on North Edinburgh Childcare will struggle to find an alternative, and they were given almost no notice before this news broke.

“Nobody should have to negotiate emergency leave from work to ensure their children are looked after when they thought they had dependable childcare in place. If you’re working shifts, on a short-term contract or self-employed, taking time off to cover a sudden childcare gap can deliver a serious income shock – if it’s even an option.

“Among the council’s most important jobs is to ensure that all our constituents can count on our help when services they rely on disappear. Edinburgh Council must establish what happened at North Edinburgh Childcare and spell out exactly what action it can and will take to help those who will bear the brunt of this awful collapse.”

On the implications for NEC’s workforce, Councillor Louise Young said:

“The employees of North Edinburgh Childcare deserved better than this. They’ve provided a vital service that North Edinburgh communities depend on, and now their jobs have evaporated in front of them.

“The council needs to take action now. We cannot accept a precedent in which vital services close down in a matter of days without warning and leave our constituents hanging without any support on hand to help them figure out what to do next.”