Month: November 2015

Home truths: council acts to address housing crisis

Council plans to build an additional 5000 homes

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The City of Edinburgh Council has set out plans to build 8,000 homes in an attempt to address the shortage of affordable housing and tackle the impact of soaring housing costs in the private sector.

A report to Tuesday’s Health, Social Care and Housing Committee will outline proposals to increase the Council’s house-building programme from 3,000 to 8,000 over the next decade.

The report represents a major change in the Council’s bid to meet growing demand for new affordable homes. Almost 150 households bid for every Council and housing association home available to let in Edinburgh, and the city’s population is set to grow by up to 30% over the next 20 years.

The Council has already committed to funding the construction of almost 3,000 new homes through the award-winning 21st Century Homes and working in partnership with the National Housing Trust. The proposals are part of the Council’s ongoing budget consultation details, of which can be accessed here.

Councillor Cammy Day, Housing Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Expanding the Council’s award-winning house-building programme would be a bold and strategic response to the acute shortage of homes in Edinburgh. High quality, low cost, energy efficient housing is simply out of reach for far too many people in the city. We are determined to address that.”

Room for optimism? Reported crime down in North Edinburgh

‘I’m fortunate to have a team brimming with talent and enthusiasm, making North Edinburgh a safer place to live, work and visit’ – Chief Inspector Richard Horan Continue reading Room for optimism? Reported crime down in North Edinburgh

Letters: Saving our public services

Dear Editor

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Local authorities are elected to operate a wide variety of services in their areas, services that keep the community functioning. The trend now is to cut back on what is thought not to be necessary, to offload some to private contractors or to get the community itself to be the provider. Continue reading Letters: Saving our public services

Edinburgh Tenants Federation celebrates 25 years

Holyrood reception marks ETF’s special year 

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Edinburgh Tenants Federation (ETF) celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a Parliamentary Reception hosted by MSP Sarah Boyack on Wednesday evening.

Edinburgh Tenants Federation, which has a membership of over 40 tenants and residents groups across the city, was congratulated on its 25th Anniversary by the MSP.

ETF members old and new joined in the celebrations along with representatives from the Tenants Information Service, Blackwood Homes and Care, the International Association for Community Development (IACD), Shakti Women’s Aid and Inverkeithing Community Initiative.  MSPs Gordon MacDonald and Alison Johnstone also joined the celebrations.

The event featured contributions from Sarah Boyack MSP, Convenor Betty Stevenson and Vice Convenor Maud Wylie, who said that the success of ETF could not have been achieved without the determination and commitment of the tenant volunteers.  Councillor Cammy Day talked of the work that Edinburgh City Council and ETF have collaborated on over the years, in particular the successful tenant-led inspections.

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Sarah Boyack MSP said: “The work of the Federation over the years has been fantastic.  It has been great to see the work that has been done supporting tenants with mental ill health and campaigning for fairer rents.  I was very encouraged to hear that the Federation are already working with the Syrian community in helping the refugees coming to settle in to the city.”

ETF Convener Betty Stevenson said: “Thanks to Sarah for hosting this event for us; it was wonderful to see so many people supporting the work of the Federation.  Thanks to all those who have been involved over the years, here’s to the next 25!”

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Thursday was the final day of ETF’s Parliamentary Exhibition and Housing Minister Margaret Burgess (above) was among the MSPs and staff to view photos and news stories dating back to the 1980’s and the Federation’s formation in October 1990.

Millie books her tea at St Nicholas Court!

St Nicholas Court residents’ book is teatime reading

St Nicholas Court residents help launch new book.

A book comprising a commemorative tea set designed by Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) St Nicholas Court residents was launched this week by Edinburgh-based best-selling author Millie Gray. Continue reading Millie books her tea at St Nicholas Court!

Madness: fire crews attacked while protecting communities

Wet weather plays a part in ‘quieter than usual’ 5 November

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People who chose to attend organized Bonfire Night events helped to protect their communities by ensuring firefighters were able to quickly get to real emergencies on Guy Fawkes Night. No major incidents were reported in Edinburgh, but sadly crews in Larbert, Govanhill and New Cumnock were threatened and attacked while trying to keep the public safe. Continue reading Madness: fire crews attacked while protecting communities

Fare play to Spartans Connections!

Central Taxis to sponsor Spartans Connections

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Taxi for Spartans! Edinburgh’s Central Taxis are to sponsor local community club Spartans Connections. The Connections squad are delighted with the sponsorship deal and the new partnership is a great result for the Ainslie Park footballers.  Continue reading Fare play to Spartans Connections!