Day: January 30, 2019

Community Council cancelled: activists speaking at tonight’s Localities meeting

Tonight’s Drylaw Telford Community Council meeting has been cancelled as all Inverleith councillors will be attending another meeting – North West Locality Committee is meeting tonight at 6.30pm in the Dean of Guilds Room at the City Chambers.

Two local activists representing Save Our Services North Edinburgh will be  speaking about the impact of the Health and Social Care cuts in a deputation to the Localities Committee.

The meeting is open to the public: go along and support local services if you can!

Schools Film Competiton: information session tomorrow

Hello, Edinburgh Teachers,

The Edinburgh and Lothians Film Competition is an opportunity for your students to showcase their talent at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2019!

Open to all City of Edinburgh council & Lothians schools, come along to the teachers’ information sessions tomorrow (Thursday 31st January) at the Filmhouse to find out more about the Edinburgh and Lothians Film Competition.

New report sets out lessons for a Scottish Basic Income pilot

“an unconditional, automatic and nonwithdrawable payment to each individual as a right of citizenship”

IS IT TIME FOR A BASIC INCOME?

A new report published today by the Carnegie UK Trust sets out the key questions to be addressed to pave the way for a successful basic income pilot in Scotland. Continue reading New report sets out lessons for a Scottish Basic Income pilot

Short Term Lets: Wightman questions legality of Key Boxes

Scottish Greens housing spokesperson Andy Wightman MSP, whose Homes First campaign aims to better regulate the short-term letting industry, is urging residents in affected areas to check the legality of key boxes that are spreading like wildfire. Continue reading Short Term Lets: Wightman questions legality of Key Boxes

Ofgem steps in as Our Power ceases trading

Our Power, the housing association-backed energy supplier, has ceased to trade. It’s understood Our Power has around 31,000 domestic customers.

Company directors blame volatile energy markets for the firms collapse, which will result in seventy job losses.

In a statement, Our Power directors said: “It is with heartfelt regret that Our Power board of directors has taken the decision to close by taking the company into administration.

“Directors had no choice but to reach this decision as the requirement to bring working capital into the business outpaced our ability to improve revenue collection and raise funds.

“The leadership team and directors have done their utmost to try to find a solution but have been unable to and reluctantly took the decision to close the business.”

Under Ofgem’s safety net, the energy supply of Our Power’s customers will continue and pre payment meters can be topped up as normal. The outstanding credit balances of domestic customers will be protected.

Ofgem will choose a new supplier to take on Our Power’s customers as quickly as possible. This supplier will contact these customers shortly after being appointed.

Ofgem’s advice to Our Power’s customers in the meantime is:

  • Do not switch to another energy supplier.
  • Take a meter reading ready for when your new supplier contacts you.

This will make the process of transferring customers over to the chosen supplier, and paying back their outstanding credit balances, as smooth as possible.

Philippa Pickford, Ofgem’s director for future retail markets, said: “Our message to energy customers with Our Power is there is no need to worry, as under our safety net we will make sure your energy supplies are secure and your credit balance is protected.”

“Ofgem will now choose a new supplier for you, ensuring you get the best deal possible. Whilst we’re doing this our advice is to ‘sit tight’ and don’t switch. You can rely on your energy supply as normal. We will update you when we have chosen a new supplier, who will then get in touch about your new tariff.”

“We have seen a number of supplier failures over the last year and our safety net procedures are working as they should to protect customers.”

Updates are available from our website or through our twitter feed @ofgem.

Customers who have questions should visit the FAQs on our website. Or if they need additional support, call Citizens Advice on 03454 04 05 06 or email them via their webform. Alternatively, get in touch through Ofgem’s facebook or twitter feed @ofgem.

Port of Leith Housing Association has issued this advice to their tenants:

Important notice for Our Power Energy customers

We have been informed that Our Power Energy Supply Ltd has gone into administration. The energy regulator Ofgem will select a new supplier to take over any customer accounts held by Our Power.

If you are a customer of Our Power your energy supply will continue as normal and any credit you have will be transferred to the new supplier. If you have a meter, you should continue to top it up as usual.

You should hear from your new supplier soon.

In the meantime, you can find guidance from the regulator here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/…/ofgem-safety-net-if-your-energy-…

Partial reinstatement of children’s services at St John’s

Paediatric inpatient services in St John’s Hospital will begin to be restored in March, it was announced yesterday. NHS Lothian will reinstate the service from Monday to Friday each week to provide 24-hour services to children in West Lothian. Continue reading Partial reinstatement of children’s services at St John’s

Tourist Tax takes a step closer

The City of Edinburgh Council has completed its work to develop and agree a Transient Visitor Levy (TVL) scheme for Edinburgh.
The Council will recommend its proposal to Ministers and MSPs for consideration, subject to approval from elected members at a meeting of the Full Council next week (Thursday 7 February).
The Scottish Capital would become the first Local Authority in the UK to introduce such a scheme, if the Council gets the power.
Shaped in response to public feedback, Edinburgh’s case for a TVL recommends:
A flat £2 per night room charge
Edinburgh’s TVL would be set as a flat rate. This is the most straightforward approach – easier to apply and communicate than a percentage charge – and, importantly, the preference of accommodation providers who will need to administer the charge.
An exemption for campsites
Edinburgh’s TVL would apply to all accommodation types within Council boundaries including short term lets but, in response to the consultation feedback, visitors staying in campsites would be exempt.
A cap of seven consecutive nights
Edinburgh’s TVL would be designed to protect seasonal and festival workers who stay in Edinburgh for extended periods of time.
Investing an estimated £14.6m every year
It is estimated that £14.6m would be raised annually through the introduction of a TVL and reinvested into providing sustainable investment in supporting and managing the impacts of tourism within the city. Further, detailed consideration on investment options is proposed to take place through a forum of key stakeholders.
Making the case for a TVL in Edinburgh, Council Leader Adam McVey, said: “Having listened carefully to all of the feedback we’ve received from industry partners and the citizens and businesses of Edinburgh, we’ve refined our proposals and are in a really strong position to take forward a TVL.
“The Capital’s population is increasing rapidly and visitor numbers continue to grow, due to Edinburgh being a fantastic place to live, work, visit and invest. Our economic strength has brought us a great deal of success as a city but the reality is, without an additional income stream, we will struggle to manage and support this success in future. Tourism and hospitality are key drivers of our economy and this levy provides us with a way to sustainably support its continued success and reduce impacts on residents all year round.
“That’s why a visitor levy is an obvious choice for Edinburgh. It will help us continue to invest in and manage the success of tourism on our city, making sure we continue to offer one of the most enviable and enjoyable visitor experiences in the world. Plus, all of the research points to visitors being happy to pay a modest sum – just £2 – to help us do just that. A TVL is an obvious solution for the Council, for our people and for the future of our city.”
Cammy Day, Depute Council Leader, added: “A TVL would be a fair and efficient mechanism to raise funds to reinvest in our beautiful, historic city. Being successful as a visitor destination comes at a cost. Why shouldn’t it come at a modest price to visitors, too?
“This isn’t just a case of the Council saying, ‘let’s introduce a visitor levy’, these proposals have the overwhelming backing of Edinburgh’s residents, businesses, attractions and even support from accommodation providers. I hope to see the Scottish Government look favourably upon what I believe to be a strong submission and completely reasonable request.”