Granton Community Council is holding a hustings event on Tuesday 18 April at 6pm in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. All welcome.
Day: April 5, 2017
Free community football at Millennium Park
Starts tomorrow evening in Muirhouse
Have your say on Police Scotland’s ‘Policing 2026’ programme
WHAT IS POLICING 2026?
‘Policing 2026’ is a collaborative and strategic programme, led jointly by the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland, to transform policing in Scotland over the next 10 years
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
Scottish policing has undergone major change and despite the challenges we face our communities have seen consistent and excellent local and specialist operational policing.
However, Scotland’s communities are growing and continuing to diversify. Demands on policing are increasingly focused towards addressing vulnerability and the consequences of inequalities. Policing must evolve and we must continue to design our services around citizen and community needs. We need to focus on ensuring that we have the skills, tools and capacity to address future needs, rather than focusing on the size or structure of our organisation.
HOW WILL WE DO THIS?
Developing our approach in five key areas of activity will drive the transformation:
- Prevention – tackling crime, inequality and critical problems facing communities
- Protection – based on threat, risk and harm
- Communities – focused on localism, diversity and the virtual world
- Knowledge – informing the development of better services
- Innovation – becoming a dynamic, adaptable and sustainable service.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The strategy is now published in draft form to allow the public and stakeholders to offer their views and feedback over a 10 week period before a final strategy is approved and published before the summer.
Have your say – click the link
Medieval stones stolen from city hospital
The City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian have appealed for help following the theft of late-medieval masonry from the Grange area. A pair of 600-year-old architectural carved bosses – thought to have adorned the original Trinity Collegiate Church – have been stolen from the grounds of Astley Ainslie Hospital. Continue reading Medieval stones stolen from city hospital
City Council elections: SNP bids to become Edinburgh’s largest party
Edinburgh SNP has launched its campaign to elect 27 Councillors in the Capital and be the largest party in City Chambers for the first time. The SNP in the Capital are fielding their largest ever number of candidates in an STV Council election with the most diverse group of candidates yet.
There are ten women among the 27 candidates and the group includes EU nationals, BME, LGBTI and disabled candidates all proud to be standing for the SNP.
SNP Council Group leader Frank Ross said: ““In standing 27 candidates in Edinburgh for the upcoming Council elections, the SNP are showing more ambition than any other political grouping.
“We have assembled a group of exceptionally talented individuals which blends the experience of sitting councillors and the fresh talents of our new candidates.
“In 2012 the SNP were the only party to have representation in each of the 17 wards across the city and we want to build on that success to win the Council election in Edinburgh on May 4th.”
Among the new faces is Kate Campbell, who is running for Portobello/Craigmillar. Ms Campbell, who’s priority is to improve housing across the city, said: “As a first time candidate I feel incredibly excited about what we can achieve. Housing is one of the areas where I want to make a big difference.
“This city desperately needs a dramatic increase of affordable homes.
“Sadly, we have too many people in temporary housing and too many in insecure tenancies that they are struggling to afford. An SNP-led administration will address this and I hope that I will be able to play my part in driving this forward.”
Another prominent candidate is Pentlands candidate Ernesta Noreikienek. Ms Noreikienek, who was born in Lithuania, said: “As an EU national in Edinburgh I know that many people are concerned with the direction the Tories are taking our City and our country. Edinburgh Council has a strong role to play in standing up for all its citizens, regardless of where they come from. I would love to have the opportunity to be part of that effort.”
SNP candidate for Liberton and Gilmerton, Derek Howie, is registered blind and he has spoken out about how he believes his experiences will add to the team: ““I have a lifetime of experience that I’m hoping to make use of if elected to the Council. During the campaign I’ve been speaking to hundreds of voters in Liberton and Gilmerton and I’d relish the chance to represent my community. It’s important that the voice of people with disabilities is heard loudly and I’ll be a strong voice ensuring that our city is accessible for everyone.”
Small business owner Simon Hayter is an SNP candidate in Sighthill/Gorgie. He said: “I’ve been proud of the SNP’s achievements on the council in the last 2 administrations. I’m hoping to be elected to represent the people of Sighthill/Gorgie and bring my experience to help find additional ways the Council can support small businesses which provide the backbone of our city’s economy.”
At the last council elections in May 2012 Labour was returned the biggest party with twenty seats, narrowly holding off a strong SNP challenge – the SNP returned 18 councillors. Both parties gained five seats and the Greens doubled their representation from three to six councillors. The big losers at the last election were the Lib Dems, whose fall from grace was quite remarkable. The Lib Dems, who had led the administration in partnership with the SNP, crashed from 16 seats to just three.
The turnout in 2012 was 42.6%. It will be interesting to see if those heady heights can be reached again next month.