Cost of harsh winter - 'We can control our response to weather'

There is no way of avoiding problems like this when temperatures repeatedly plunge as low as minus 15. After all, this is Scotland's coldest winter for 100 years.

The exceptional weather has demanded an exceptional response from the Scottish Government, which has so far shared 15 million among the country's 32 local authorities to help patch up the roads.

We are never going to control the extremes of our climate - but we can control our response. And questions remain about the way the Capital handled the worst of the weather last month.

Yes, the council kept most of the main routes open through some of the worst winter weather for decades, and went further than many other areas by calling in the Army and offenders on community service to help clear the snow.

But could more have been done to stop side streets and pavements becoming impassable, especially in higher areas? Or to avoid the huge backlog in bin collections? Many people would say so, and they deserve fulsome answers.

One thing beyond question is that local authorities across the country had to spend a fortune trying to keep their communities moving and the vulnerable safe and well.

We now know it will cost Edinburgh 6.4m - a staggering 5m more than expected, and double last winter's overspend. And this is the second "big freeze" on council finances following the zero increase in council tax.

While that will ease the strain on household budgets, it leaves the city council with no option now other than to eat into its hard-fought-for reserves. And to hope the Scottish Government will once again do the right thing and help shoulder the cost of this exceptional winter.