April 2014 – Page 7 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Free swimming for kids at Ainslie Park

Yes, it’s the Easter holidays … no money for trips and kids bored already? Well, holiday activities needn’t be too expensive – and sometimes they’re even FREE!

There’s free swimming for Primary School children this Easter break (5 – 21 April) when Edinburgh Leisure are running free swimming sessions for primary school children at three Edinburgh Leisure swimming centres.

This month, Primary School children can swim for free during ANY listed Public Swim session at Ainslie Park, Dalry and Gracemount (Wester Hailes Education Centre is offering free swims too).

Remember the earlier you get there the more fun you can have so Edinburgh Leisure recommend arriving no later than half an hour before the Public Swim session’s finish time.

Telephone Ainslie Park Leisure Centre on 551 2400 for more information – see below for pool programme details

AinslieParkPoolProg_2014

Jobseekers must ‘hit the ground running’

New rules ‘treat people like adults’

Simply ‘signing-on’ for benefits will be a thing of the past under new rules coming into force at the end of this month which will mean jobseekers will have to do more to find work.

Employment Minister Esther McVey has hailed the new rules as a ‘fundamental shift in expectations’ which helps put to an end the one-way street to benefits where people start claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) by just signing-on without first taking steps to make themselves attractive to employers.

From the end of this month, jobseekers will be expected to take the first basic steps to make themselves employable before meeting with a Jobcentre Plus adviser. More regular meetings with their adviser – weekly instead of fortnightly – are also planned ‘so they get more support up front’.

Minister for Employment Esther McVey (pictured below) said: “With the economy growing, unemployment falling and record numbers of people in work, now is the time to start expecting more of people if they want to claim benefits. It’s only right that we should ask people to take the first basic steps to getting a job before they start claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance – it will show they are taking their search for work seriously.

This is about treating people like adults and setting out clearly what is expected of them so they can hit the ground running. In return, we will give people as much help and support as possible to move off benefits and into work because we know from employers that it’s the people who are prepared and enthusiastic who are most likely to get the job.”

To prepare for their first interview with a Jobcentre Plus adviser, jobseekers will be asked to do things like preparing a CV, setting up an email address and registering for the government’s new jobs website. This change will mean people start their JSA claim ready to look for work and will show they are serious about finding a job as quickly as possible.

People who need it will also have more regular meetings with their Jobcentre Plus adviser – weekly rather than fortnightly – to ensure they are doing everything they can to look for work and to quickly identify any gaps in their worksearch.

All new JSA claimants will also now have a quarterly review with their adviser where they will review their progress and job goals to identify what more they can do to move into work. This will mirror reviews that are carried out in the workplace to look at achievements and areas for development.

The Westminster government says that the employment picture is improving across the country. They say the new measures are being introduced as figures show the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell by over 363,000 on the year, the largest annual fall since 1998. The number of young people claiming JSA has been falling for the last 21 months.

Office for National Statistics figures also show that the employment rate has hit a 5-year high and a record 30.19 million people are now in jobs. Private sector employment has increased by 1.73 million since 2010, showing the government’s long-term economic plan is proving successful.

The latest figures also show the number of job vacancies increased in the last 3 months by 23,000 to 588,000.

The number of people who are unemployed fell by 63,000 in the last 3 months, with the number of people who have been unemployed for over a year falling by 38,000. The number of unemployed young people also fell by 29,000 and has been falling now for the last 6 months.

The government says it is committed to helping people off benefits and into work and the vast majority of people move off JSA quickly – over 75% of people end their JSA claim within 6 months.

Do you think the new rules help get more people into work? Let us know ..

Malcolm Chisholm to step down

Lesley Hinds to contest North and Leith

Popular Labour MSP and former health minister Malcolm Chisholm has confirmed that he will step down at the next Holyrood election. The member for North and Leith said that representing his local area for over twenty yeats has been the ‘greatest privilege of his life’.

It’s been known for some time that the former teacher – who has represented the constituency at both Holyrood and Westminster for over twenty years – has been planning to retire, and he’s now officially confirmed that he will not contest the next Holyrood election.

Macolm Chisholm said:: “”Politicians sometimes say they want to spend more time with their family, and in this case it is true, as I have young grandchildren who play a big part in my life.

“I have served as the MP and then MSP for our area for over 20 years, and we’ve seen huge progress in that time but there is still a great deal more to do.

“I can think of nobody who is better placed than Lesley Hinds to campaign on the issues that matter to local people and hopefully to represent the constituency in the Scottish Parliament in due course.”

Inverleith councillor and former city Lord Provost Lesley Hinds has been selected to contest the Holyrood seat for Labour in 2016.

She said: “Malcolm Chisholm has been an outstanding public servant for our area, both as our MP and MSP, and we wish him a long and happy retirement when he steps down in 2016. I know he will be working hard every single day until then.”

D Mains Park is 90!

Art exhibition kicks off birthday celebrations

A number of activities have been planned to celebrate Davidson Mains Park’s 90th birthday this year.

Getting the party started is an exhibition of art created by pupils from Davidson’s Mains Primary and the Royal High School. The exhibition can be viewed in Holy Cross Church Hall on Quality Street next week.

The exhibition opens on Thursday 10 April from 3-8pm (private view in the evening), Friday 11 April 3-8pm and on Saturday 12 April from 11-4 pm.

All welcome – don’t miss it!

Letter: Need before greed

Dear Editor

Particularly during and since the Thatcher times people have been encouraged to think only of themselves. It has the divisive effect – which was it’s intention – of tearing people away from their natural instinct of caring for others. The evidence that the policy of looking after number one is the wrong thing to do is all around us, those with the most wealth have the most power.

A divided people are easier to manipulate: those in work against the unemployed who have to exist on benefits, the disgusting campaign against the disabled living on benefits, pitting those who work in the private sector against those in the public sector, the disgraceful ‘bedroom tax’ action taken against tenants and the continuing privatisation of public property …

The situation is not unique to this country; exactly the same is happening in many parts of the world, demonstrating that the capitalist system under which we live cannot solve their problems. What can we do? We can make a start to change things by identifying essential needs everyone has in common, to maximise unity; these essential common needs will show that no individual or groups of individuals should have the power to restrict or withhold them in the pursuit of profit. The following is a most obvious list of common needs upon which that unity can be achieved and removing them from those who only see those needs as a source of private profit:

Heating and power: this basic necessity should be treated as such, not as a source of private profit
Water & sewerage services: As above, absolute health essential
Transport: Essential public service to enable easy access to and from work and social activities
National Health Service: To ensure treatment is a permanent public universal service paid for out of taxation.
Recreation and Learning facilities of all kinds: Work is not an end in itself but a means of developing an intelligent quality of living in whatever choice of interest.
Greenbelt and Open Spaces: Selling these off to developers to be stopped immediately and lawful public consultation on any building applications.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Recycling timetable goes digital

A Council spokesperson has informed us that collection dates for the kerbside recycling boxes, which are used for glass, plastic, paper, textiles and other dry recyclables, will no longer be posted door to door. Instead people are being directed to the Council’s web-site, where they will find relevant calendars (http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/redandblueboxdays)

Paper calendars will still be provided to those who receive assistance with collections and to people who ask specifically to receive one, so if you don’t have easy access to the internet, ask. These can be requested by email (waste@edinburgh.gov.uk) or by calling 0131 529 3030.

The decision to stop distributing the calendars recognises the fact that increasing numbers of people now have access to the internet, and aims to help drive down the costs involved in distributing more than 165,000 calendars each year.

Calendars for refuse, garden and food waste collections were also recently made available online rather than in paper form.

Service users can find a directory for red and blue boxes on the council website, where collection dates are listed along with a calendar which can be downloaded.

In addition, the website offers a link to Green Box Day, where residents can get reminders of their next collection for garden waste and red and blue boxes.

Carmichael welcomes income tax changes to help ‘hard working Scots’

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has welcomed changes to income tax that will see thousands of Scots workers taking more of their pay home. Mr Carmichael said Scotland is benefiting from being part of the ‘fastest growing economy on the world’.

From this weekend, 242,000 people in Scotland will be taken out of income tax altogether thanks to UK Government policy which sees the tax free personal allowance increase to £10,000 in 2014-15 – and that means that from overnight on Sunday an extra 19,000 Scots will no longer pay any income tax.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: “I am extremely proud to be part of a Government that has ensured that every hard working Scot will not pay any income tax on everything they earn up to £10,000. This is a key measure in our long term economic plan and one which every single Scot will be able to see and benefit from in their pay packet this month.

“Scotland is doing well because it’s part of the UK. We are benefiting from one of the fastest growing economies in the world which is creating jobs and ensuring certainty and security for families and individuals across the country.”

Over one million women in Scotland will directly benefit from this increase which comes as Scottish female employment levels reach near record highs.

This year’s Budget also confirmed that the personal allowance will increase again to £10,500 from next year helping even more Scottish families.

Across the UK, Government measures are cutting tax for over 26 million people. This includes taking over three million out of paying any income tax at all – 200,000 of these from this week.

The Sunday 6 April changes also mean that:

Someone working full-time on the October 2014 minimum wage (£6.50/h at 35hrs a week) will pay over 50 per cent less income tax in 2014-15 than a than someone on the national minimum wage in 2010.
Someone working for just under 30 hours a week on the October 2014 minimum wage will not pay any income tax at all.

Three sought following Glenogle knifepoint robbery

Police appealing for witnesses after a 15 year old boy was robbed at knifepoint on Glenogle Road on Monday afternoon.

The incident took place around 4.45pm when the victim was walking along Glenogle Road towards Stockbridge. As he walked past Glenogle Swim Centre, he was approached by three men.

The first man presented a knife and demanded he hand over his belongings, the victim complied and handed over a quantity of money. The second suspect then lifted a pair of blue and orange Adidas trainers from the victim’s sports bag and the three men then made off towards Brandon Terrace while the victim continued on to Stockbridge.

The first suspect is white, 5ft 10in 5ft 11in, early 20s, skinny, brown shaved hair, clean shaven, black Reebok jogging bottoms, grey canvas shoes.

The second suspect is white, 5ft 9in, skinny, early 20s, black not quite shoulder length hair, acne, clean shaven, dark blue or navy Kappa tracksuit.

The third suspect is white, male, 6ft 2in, heavy build, early 20s, black neat reasonably short hair, stubble, left ear pierced without an earring, and black hoody and tracksuit bottoms.

Detective Sergeant Lynsey Thomson said: “This was an alarming incident for the victim and we are keen to trace anyone who was in the area at the time or recognises the description of the suspects.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

1 April was ‘devolution landmark’

1 April marked a major milestone in the continuing road of Scottish devolution, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said yesterday. He said that as part of the United Kingdom, Scotland has ‘the best of both worlds’

Major financial changes introduced as part the Scotland Act 2012 will begin to take effect on 1 April next year, increasing the accountability of the Scottish Parliament to the voters who elected it for raising revenue, and making decisions about how it is spent. These changes will mean that the Scottish Parliament will be responsible for funding around a third of devolved spending – roughly double the amount it currently funds.

Mr Carmichael said: “The Scotland Act provides the largest transfer of financial powers to Scotland in over 300 years. The Act received the unanimous support of both the UK and Scottish Parliament building on and strengthening the great success that is devolution.

“The Scotland Act devolves significant tax powers including the ability to set a new Scottish rate of income tax and gives the Scottish Government access to substantial borrowing powers. New powers bring new accountability and new responsibilities. To the people of our country, Holyrood will be more responsible and more accountable than ever before for the money it raises and for the money it spends.

“Today marks a major milestone in the continuing road of devolution. As part of the United Kingdom, Scotland has got the best of both worlds: a strong Scottish Parliament with financial powers that can take decisions on those things that affect our everyday lives, like our schools and hospitals and we can pool our resources ensuring we benefit from a strong UK economy that is growing and creating jobs.”

The powers which come into effect on April 2015 are:

The full devolution of stamp duty land tax and landfil tax from April 2015. The Scottish Government has taken forward legislation to replace these taxes in Scotland with the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Scottish Landfill Tax. It is also taking forward legislation to establish Revenue Scotland as the tax administration responsible for the collection of the new taxes.
Extended current borrowing powers of up to £500m and creation of a new Scottish cash reserve to help manage the new tax receipts.
A new £2.2bn capital borrowing power for the Scottish Parliament, with a limited version of the power in place from April 2013 to enable the Scottish Government to fund £100m of pre-payments for the Forth Road Crossing.

The powers which come into effect from April 2016 are:

A new Scottish rate of income tax. The basic, higher and additional rates of UK income tax will be reduced by 10 pence in the pound for Scottish taxpayers. The Scottish Parliament will set a new Scottish rate – with no upper or lower limit – which will apply equally to all of the reduced main UK income tax rates.
For example, a UK basic rate at 20 pence would be reduced down to 10 pence, and a Scottish rate of 9 pence would see Scottish taxpayers instead paying 19 pence per pound at basic rate.
The block grant to Scotland will be reduced by an amount corresponding to the 10 pence in the pound reduction on the UK rate of basic, higher and additional tax. This will mean that a Scottish rate of 9 pence would see a reduction in income for the Scottish Government, while a rate of 11 pence would see an increase as compared with current arrangements.
The Act also introduced a power to create new devolved taxes, by a process of agreement between the two governments. This power has been in force since May 2012. The Scottish Government has not yet made any proposals to create new devolved taxes using this power.