Day: August 16, 2020

REVEALED: The best places in the UK to see August meteor showers

Scotland has the three best places to see the August meteor showers

Tomintoul and Glenlivet have the most viewing hours in the UK

Snowdonia is the most popular spot for campers with 115 sites to view from

Tomintoul and Glenlivet are the best places in the UK to visit to see the Perseid meteor showers in August, according to a new study.

The area in Cairngorms, Scotland, ranks as the best spot for astrologers to camp out and catch a glimpse of the annual showers, which are due to peak on August 12 but carry on to the 24th.

Camping and motorhome rental specialists, Camptoo, have studied the amount of peak viewing hours across the country and the popular camping areas that will give staycationing Brits the best opportunity to view the showers, which typically sees up to 100 meteors light up the sky per hour.

Camptoo recommend visiting these nine places to get the best experience of the Perseid meteor showers: 

Tomintoul and Glenlivet – Cairngorms

This remote area in the north of Scotland offers a secluded area to take in the dark skies and star gaze for the longest period of time in the UK. There are more than four (4 hours 50 mins) astronomical twilight hours (the time of night which the sky is darkest), with the peak times between 1:35am – 3:45am and 10:50pm – 0:00am on the nights of August 11th and 12th, and 25 different campsites to choose from for visitors looking to set up under the stars.

Coll

Another remote area of Scotland, Coll is an island off the west coast by the Isle of Mull. While there is less choice for visitors – there are just three campsites in the area – it ranks as the second best place in the UK to view the stars. At the peak of the meteor showers, the sun will set at 21:11, with an impressive 3:43 astronomical twilight hours in which to star gaze. The best times for visitors will be 2:11am – 04:01am and 10:58pm – 0:00am.

Northumberland National Park

A well-travelled place in the north east of England, Northumberland is a popular spot amongst walkers and campers, and is one of the best spots to set up and wait for the skies to go dark. There are 10 campsites to choose from around Northumberland National Park and almost three astronomical twilight hours, with peak times from 2:28am – 3:55am and 10:30pm – 11:53pm.

Galloway Forest

Another area of Scotland worth visiting is Galloway Forest, just west of Dumfries. It was the first area in the UK to be recognised as a Dark Sky Park, but it remains one of the less heralded places with only 14 campsites for people to visit. As we travel further south, the twilight hours begin to drop but you can still get 2 hrs 42 mins of perfect star-gazing conditions between 2:44am – 4:06am and 10:36pm – 11:56pm over 15 daylight hours on August 12 to enjoy some daytime activities in between star-gazing.

Snowdonia National Park

The national park around Wales’ largest mountain has the most campsites on our list, with 115 different sites to choose from for travellers. However, as well as being a hugely popular hiking and tourist destination, Snowdonia will also offer a great place to take in the meteor showers this week. Between 3:12am – 4:20am and 10:20pm – 11:27pm there will be 2 hrs 15 mins of twilight time in which to perfectly view the night sky, making it a hugely popular area to visit.

Other destinations that Camptoo would recommend travelling to for the best views of the Perseid meteor showers – which are due to peak on the nights of August 11/12 but will be active until August 24 – include Elan Valley, Exmoor National Park, Sark Island and Brecon Beacons – which has the fewest overall twilight hours but an impressive 44 campsites in the area. 

Camptoo offer the UK’s largest peer-to-peer motorhome and campervan rental selection direct from vehicle owners in the UK, with plenty of selection for people travelling up and down the country to enjoy Staycations and pursue the UK’s amazing landscapes and natural environment including the Perseid meteor showers.

The Perseid showers will not be the last chance to see meteors in the UK this year, with the Draconid (8-9) and Orionid (21-22) meteor showers due to peak in October at these same sites.

Cheap and easy bike maintenance to save time AND money

man riding bicycle on city street

With the country being urged to exercise more to prioritise their health and wellbeing, new cyclists have been offered seven beginner’s tips to maintain bikes and save hefty bills in the long run.

Penny pinching pros at personal finance comparison site TheMoneyPig.com have researched and revealed seven bike components to check regularly to save having to pay for expensive replacements as often.

The government recently announced the Fix Your Bike Voucher Scheme as part of a £2 billion package to encourage walking and cycling.

The scheme allows British cyclists to claim a voucher worth up to £50 towards the cost of repairing a bike – but you will have to hurry as the first round of 50,000 vouchers went within hours.

For those unable to bag one of the 500,000 vouchers up for grabs, getting a bike back on the road can be costly.

But keeping on top of basic maintenance can dramatically prolong the life of bike components, which in turn will save cyclists money.

It can also greatly improve the general cycling experience, plus make it much safer.

activity bicycle bike biker
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

A spokesperson for The Money Pig said: “The benefits of cycling are seemingly endless. It improves mental wellbeing, promotes weight loss, builds muscle, and is a low impact form of cardio exercise.

“It can also be very enjoyable – there’s nothing like a relaxed bike ride around a country park at the weekend.

“But buying and maintaining a bicycle can be costly, so anything you can do to prevent having to shell out for expensive replacements often is a win.

“We’ve researched seven components to keep on top of and listed what to look out for, to save hefty repair bills.”

1. Drive train

If your bike is making the not-so-sweet sound of metal rubbing against metal, chances are all the appropriate lubrication has worn off. This can shorten the life expectancy of your chain and sprockets, which are not cheap to replace. Save yourself the unnecessary cost by regularly cleaning and lubricating the drive train. The more often you clean and lube, the less time it takes every time you do it.

2. Tyres

Tyres can make a huge difference in the quality of your bike ride. If the pressure is too low, you have to work a lot more to keep the same speed than with proper high pressure, and you will get flats more easily, especially when hitting a curb hard. Make sure you check your tyre pressure at least once every two weeks. Even if you’re not going to ride your bike for a significant period of time, try to remember to keep them inflated. If this isn’t possible, take the tyres off. This will prevent cracks developing on the sides.

3. Brakes

Ensuring your brakes work effectively won’t only save you from having to pay for expensive replacements, but it’s a matter of safety. If you have to pull the brake lever until it touches the handlebar, you should adjust the brake pads closer to the rim or disc. It’s also important to keep both the pads and the braking surface clean from dirt and oil. Dirty pads wear out themselves and the braking surface much quicker.

4. Nuts and bolts

Check regularly to ensure screws, bolts and nuts aren’t coming loose. If they need tightening, do so, but be careful not to overtighten them. With some newer bike models, the parts have the maximum torque limit written on them and you can buy tools that apply only a specified amount of torque.

5. Gears

After riding your bike for some time, you will probably realize that the gears don’t shift as smooth as when your bike was new. Provided the cables or derailleurs are not damaged, you can easily re-index the gears by yourself at home. There are tutorials online that you can follow.

6. Chain

Regularly cleaning the chain will allow you to squeeze more miles out of it before needing a replacement. You can easily check the chain wear using a chain checker. If the chain stretch is above 0.75% it’s time to get a new chain. A worn-out chain will quickly wear out the cassette and chainrings, which could lead to even costlier replacements.

7. Saddle

Quite often saddles will squeak, quite rhythmically, with each pedal stroke. To remedy this remove the saddle from the clamp, clean the rails then apply a couple of drops of light oil before wiping off. Then replace.

Great jobs that don’t require a degree

According to teen magazine Future-Mag, more than half (54 per cent) of graduates say they’d think again about choosing university as the best way to find a job. 

If you don’t fancy another three years of study, can’t face the debt, or didn’t get the results you were expecting, don’t worry. There are plenty of routes into careers that that don’t require you to have a degree.

These new opportunities are partly thanks to a rise in apprenticeships since the government has invested more in professional training. 

Here’s a line-up of some top jobs you can do without a degree:

1.       Nurse

The Lowdown

If you’ve been thinking of becoming a nurse but don’t want to go to university full-time this could be for you. The government has just announced a massive £172m investment into nursing, the money is to allow healthcare employers to take on up to 2,000 nursing degree apprentices every year over the next four years.

Getting There

Nursing apprenticeships offer an alternative to full-time university courses, allowing people to earn a salary while their tuition costs are paid.  At the end of the apprenticeship – which usually takes four years – apprentices are able to qualify as fully registered nurses.

You’ll usually need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship. Pay: £24,907 to £37,890

2.       Air Traffic Controller

The lowdown

24 hours a day, they help to keep some of the busiest airspace in the world moving. The work is challenging and demanding, but it’s immensely rewarding too. Air traffic controllers give information and advice to airline pilots to help them take off and land safely and on time.

Getting There

You have to be over 18 and have at least five GCSEs or equivalent at Grade 4 or above (previously A-C) or Scottish Nationals 5 Grade A-C or equivalent, including English and maths. As well as having a good level of physical and mental fitness, you must satisfy the basic medical requirements set down by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The National Air Traffic Control Service (NATS) has developed a series of games to help gauge whether you’re right for this career. Pay: £17,000 to £50,000

3         Solicitor 

The lowdown
It’s not quite ‘Better Ask Saul’… in reality Solicitors advise clients about the law and act on their behalf in legal matters, and can specialise in a host of areas, including contract, criminal, commercial and family law, and much more. 

Getting there

You can now become a solicitor by training on the job since new solicitor apprenticeships (level 7) which were approved in 2015. This isn’t an easy route – you’ll need to pass a series of tough exams. You’ll need good A levels and it can take five to six years to complete. Pay £25,000 to £100,000

4         Visual Effects Artist

The lowdown

They help artists produce all the whizzy visual effects (VFX). They assist senior VFX artists and prepare the elements required for the final shots. Eventually they’ll be employed by post production companies working on commercials, television series and feature films.

Getting there

You could do a practical short course at London’s MetFilm School  (Ealing Studios) and try to get into the industry that way, or do an apprenticeship via Next Gen

Pay from £18,000 to £50,000 once qualified

5         Computer forensic analyst (cyber security)

What do they do?

Investigate and thwart cyber crime. They might work for the police or security services, or for computer security specialists and in house teams. They’ll follow and analyse electronic data, ultimately to help uncover cyber crime such as commercial espionage, theft, fraud or terrorism.

Getting there

Cyber security professionals are in high demand in both the public and private sector in the wake of high level breaches and perceived terrorism threats. And there’s a severe shortage of qualified professionals. Cyber security higher apprenticeships (level 4) are offered by major infrastructure and energy companies and – excitingly – the security services. Pay £20,000 to £60,000

6         Estate Agent

The Lowdown
An estate agent’s lot isn’t quite as chaotic as the comedy ‘Stath Lets Flats’, might lead you to believe, in reality, estate agents sell and rent out commercial and residential property, acting as negotiators between buyers and sellers.

Getting there
Some estate agents offer an intermediate apprenticeship as a junior estate agent, or you may be able to start as a trainee sales negotiator and learn on the job.

Pay: Estate agents often work on commission which means that you have a basic salary and also earn a percentage of the sale or rental price of any property you sell or rent. £15,000 to £40,000

7         Police Officer

The lowdown
This is another profession where the Government has pumped in large amounts of cash to help recruit new coppers. If you’ve been considering this as a career, now could be the right time to apply. Police officers keep law and order, investigate crime, and support crime prevention.

Getting there
There is no formal educational requirement, for direct application but you will have to be physically fit and pass written tests. Or, you could start by doing a police constable degree apprenticeship. You’ll usually need: 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and college qualifications like A levels for a degree apprenticeship.

You can get a taste of what it’s like to work with the police by volunteering as a special constable.

You could also get paid work as a police community support officer (PCSO) before applying for police officer training. Pay £20,000 to £60,000

8         Computer forensic analyst (cyber security)

What do they do?

Investigate and thwart cyber crime. They might work for the police or security services, or for computer security specialists and in house teams. They’ll follow and analyse electronic data, ultimately to help uncover cyber crime such as commercial espionage, theft, fraud or terrorism.

Getting there

Cyber security professionals are in high demand in both the public and private sector in the wake of high level breaches and perceived terrorism threats. And there’s a severe shortage of qualified professionals. Cyber security higher apprenticeships (level 4) are offered by major infrastructure and energy companies and – excitingly – the security services. Pay £20,000 to £60,000

9         Public Relations officer

The Lowdown
Public relations (PR) officers manage an organisation’s public image and reputation. You migh get involved in planning PR campaigns, monitoring and reacting to the public and media, writing and editing press releases, speeches, newsletters, leaflets, brochures and websites, creating content on social media much more.

Getting there
There is no set entry route to become a public relations officer but it may be useful to do a relevant subject at college, like a Foundation Certificate in Marketing.
You can work towards this role by doing a public relations assistant higher apprenticeship.

Entry requirements
You’ll usually need: 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship. Pay £18,000 to £90,000

10     Youth worker

What do they do?

Work with young people and help them develop personally and socially. They might work with local services, youth offending teams or voluntary organisations and community groups. They might help organise sports and other activities, or be involved on counselling and mentoring, or liaising with authorities.

Getting there

Many enter youth work as a volunteer or paid worker, but you can now qualify via a youth work apprenticeship. Pay £23,250 to £37,500

11     Army officer 

The Lowdown
Undergo leadership training before choosing from a wide range of specialisms, including; platoon commander, helicopter pilot, intelligence, logistics… even work in military medicine and healthcare.

How do you get there?

You’ll typically need 5 GCSEs at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) or above and 2 A levels. You’ll have to take aptitude and ability tests, pass a fitness test and interview before a more rigorous assessment to see if you’re capable mentally and physically.
Pay £27,273 to £42,009.

Lesley traced safe and well

UPDATE: Police Scotland have confirmed that Leslie Adam, 60, who had been reported missing from Edinburgh, has been traced SAFE AND WELL.

Thank you to everyone who shared our appeals and assisted in our enquiries.

Police are appealing for information to help trace a woman reported missing from Corstoprhine.

Leslie Adam, (60) was last seen at her home address in the Bughtlin area around 2am on Sunday, 16 August. She is believed to have left around 9am on the same date on foot and has not been seen or heard from since. There is growing concern for her welfare.

She is described as being 5ft 5ins tall and of a heavy build. Leslie is thought to have recently cut her white hair which is described as being a very short, shaved cut. At the time she went missing she is believed to have been wearing a dark bomber style jacket.

Inspector Keith Forrester from Corstorphine police station said: “Along with her family, we are becoming increasingly concerned for Leslie’s welfare and are keen to locate her as soon as possible.

“It is very out of character for Leslie to not keep in contact with her family, she left on foot but has limited mobility so we believe she may have used a bus or taxi to travel.

“I would urge anyone who may have seen her to contact us as soon as possible. Similarly, if Leslie is reading this, let us know you are safe and well.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 1543 of Sunday, 16 August 2020.

CCTV appeal following attempted robbery in Dalry

Police have issued CCTV images of a man they wish to trace in connection with an attempted robbery which occurred in the Dalry area in April.

The incident happened on Orwell Terrace at around 9.35pm on Wednesday, 1 April 2020.

A 25-year-old man was on Orwell Terrace, when he was assaulted by an unknown man who then attempted to rob him.

It is believed the man pictured may be able to assist the investigation.

Detective Constable Peter Lyons from Corstorphine CID said: “The victim was understandably very shaken as a result of this attack.

“We are appealing for anyone who can help identify this male as he may be able to assist the officers with their enquiries.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3529 of 1st April 2020, or make an anonymous report through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Interactive online quiz launched to help keep Scottish homes safe from fire

A new online fire safety quiz has been launched by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to support people to stay safe at home – and potentially save lives.

The ‘Fire Safety in the Home – Self Assessment’ survey asks a series of simple questions and then automatically generates a home fire safety report for them.

People are also encouraged to sign up for a free Home Fire Safety Visit from firefighters who can provide further safety advice, check smoke detectors and fire evacuation plans. These visits would be conducted in line with present social distancing and safety restrictions.

The quiz could help to save lives and property, says the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s head of prevention and protection, Alasdair Perry.

He commented: “This is a fantastic resource that can help people stay safe in their own homes – and they can even take the quiz on behalf of a relative or neighbour to help keep them safe too.

“The questions and the advice are simple and straightforward – but heeding that advice could help save a life, or prevent an emergency from occurring in the first place.

“We would encourage as many people as possible who have access to the internet to take the quiz, for your own home and for any others you may know who would benefit.”

The quiz goes through topics such as heat and smoke detectors, electrical sockets and smoking in bed, with potentially life-saving advice appearing on screen where needed and depending on the answers given by the user.

The tool also encourages users to sign up for a Home Fire Safety Visit – limited numbers of which are currently being carried out to those who are at highest risk of fire in the home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The senior officer continued: “While this tool is incredibly useful, it does not replace our free Home Fire Safety Visit service, and we remain committed to reaching the most vulnerable people in our communities to help them stay safe.

“That is why we are encouraging people to get in touch with us if they believe someone they know is at risk, or if they are over 50, smoke and also either live alone, use medical oxygen or have mobility issues.

“If you do not fall into a high risk category, you will still be placed on the waiting list for a visit from our highly trained crews, to be carried out when it is safe to do so.

“By working together with our communities, we can continue to drive down the number of completely unavoidable fires we see in Scotland’s homes, and the number of avoidable injuries we see as a result.”

To use the interactive tool, visit: 

https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/online-hfsv-checker.aspx

For more information on free Home Fire Safety Visits, go to:

 https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/for-householders/home-fire-safety-visit.aspx

2019 Mental Health Officers’ Report published


A new report published by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) today, reveals that 94 staff left the mental health officer (MHO) workforce between December 2018 and 2019.

The report also shows that although the number of local authorities reporting an MHO shortfall increased to 27, the number of full time MHOs needed to address the shortfall decreased to 49.
MHOs carry out statutory duties in relation to mental health legislation and shortfalls in staffing could result in delays to people accessing services, appropriate treatment and care and hospital discharges.

Phillip Gillespie, SSSC Director of Innovation and Development said: ‘It’s encouraging to see the shortfall of MHOs decrease in 2019, with the equivalent of 49 full time MHOs needed to meet that shortfall.

“With 56 social workers starting their MHO training in 2019 and funding announced by the Scottish Government in 2019 to support additional MHO capacity in local authorities there are positive moves to help in future.

‘The report also shows the proportion of under 45s has increased from 24.1% in 2015 to 29.9% in 2019 which will help with succession planning in the workforce.

‘Our MHO report contains key data about the workforce in Scotland to help local authorities, Scottish Government and others plan the future workforce. I’m pleased that data from our workforce intelligence team makes a considerable contribution to this work.’

Key points from this year’s MHO report

There were 703 filled MHO posts in 2019.

There were 27 fewer filled MHO posts in 2019 than in 2018, which is equivalent to a drop of 3.7%.

The percentage drop in estimated MHO hours worked was 2.3%.

Exclusive MHOs fell by 2.2 %, non-exclusive MHOs fell by 2.1% and cover MHOs by 18.3%.

The number of exclusive MHOs unavailable for work increased from 18 to 30.

The fall from 2016 in the estimated amount of time spent by MHOs on MHO work in Scotland is more than 9%.

The estimated amount of MHO hours worked per 10,000 head of population in Scotland has decreased from 22.9 in 2016 to 20.5 in 2019.

Between December 2018 and December 2019 staff left 94 MHO posts, this is more than the 87 in 2018. Over the last two years there has been the highest number of leavers since we started recording leavers in 2012. The next highest was 62 in 2014.

Our role supporting MHOs

We approve and quality assure the three university MHO programmes in Scotland, which includes feedback from people who use mental health services to inform improvements in the delivery of MHO education and practice.

We also work in partnership with the national MHO forum, Social Work Scotland and the Scottish Association of Social Workers to develop resources to support practice including learning in relation to new mental health legislation and the annual MHO study day.

You can download the 2019 Mental Health Officers Report here.

Government steps in to support National Trust for Scotland

Funding to protect jobs and assist the re-opening of iconic heritage sites closed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been announced by the Scottish Government.

A support package worth £3.8 million is to be made available to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) to aid the heritage organisation’s recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. The funding will secure nearly 200 critical jobs and will allow NTS to retain a broad range of expertise in countryside and ranger services in addition to curation and education.

The package will also support the reopening of 33 heritage sites this month, rather than the 27 the Trust originally planned.

The funding comes with the condition that NTS works with the Scottish Government to consider the long-term sustainability of its operations and review its business model for future challenges.

The NTS has been badly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and was forced to close properties which has resulted in a lack of income from membership, investments and fundraising.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This has been a deeply difficult time for staff at National Trust for Scotland. Since the difficulties at the Trust emerged, I was absolutely clear that any support from Government would be to support jobs.

“The severe impact of the pandemic means that unfortunately not all jobs can be saved but this funding will go far to protect as many critical roles across the National Trust for Scotland estate as we can.

“The funding will also ensure that some sites proposed for long-term closure by National Trust for Scotland can instead be reopened, and enjoyed once again by communities.

“The NTS is responsible for promoting and protecting many of Scotland’s most important natural and built sites, which are crucial to our heritage and tourism sectors. Many issues remain, however I am committed to working with the new leadership to ensure the Trust is in a better position to continue this vital work in Scotland.”

Approximately 188 compulsory redundancies, in addition to 44 voluntary redundancies, are still expected to be made by NTS as a result of the severe impacts of COVID-19.

National Trust for Scotland Chief Executive Phil Long said: “I want to offer my profound thanks to the Scottish Government and particularly to Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop. The Trust has faced the worst crisis in its 90-year history.

“The Cabinet Secretary’s task group with Scottish Enterprise enabled us to produce a plan that showed, with help, that the Trust could endure as a charity, continuing to care for Scotland’s heritage and contributing to our society and economy.

“My joy at this announcement is tempered by the fact that the devastating effects of COVID-19 mean we still must say goodbye to friends and colleagues.  I wish it were not so, but redundancies are unavoidable, although this support helps keep them to the absolute minimum. 

“Through consultation on emergency measures we received invaluable advice from staff and others on functional expertise we must retain.  Consequently, we’ve come up with a resilient operating model to weather continuing uncertainty and, through support from government and many individuals, enable us to look forward.”

Prospect National Secretary for Scotland and Ireland Richard Hardy said: “Prospect very much welcomes the Scottish Government’s £3.8m support package. As a Union we have campaigned hard for such an intervention, and we pay tribute to our reps, members and the public who have kept the situation at the Trust very much at the forefront of the news.

“We welcome the Government and Trusts decision to use the money to support earlier re-opening of properties, and the saving of jobs that will ensue. At the end of the day however, we cannot and should not lose sight of the fact that over 200 people are still losing their jobs and this is bad news for the economy, for heritage and for Scotland.”

The NTS manages a range of built and natural heritage sites including one UNESCO world heritage site at St Kilda. It makes a critical contribution to tourism and to local economies and communities, particularly in many rural areas.

The funding support and consultation outcomes will enable NTS to open or partially open more properties than originally hoped, with some welcoming back visitors in a matter of weeks.  Following staff consultation, the NTS will confirm details of those properties soon.

The funding comes as part of the £97 million in UK Government consequentials for the culture and heritage sector.

Council has made ‘a huge amount of progress’, say Council leaders

The City of Edinburgh Council has delivered sustained improvements over the last 12 months and is continuing to fulfil its longer-term commitments, according to new bench-marking reports.

Demonstrating the Council’s continued focus on investing, delivering and improving the services that matter most to residents, the city’s annual performance report reveals good progress in a number of key areas while also recognising there is room for improvement still to be made.

The findings will be considered alongside the latest Local Government Benchmarking Framework and an update on the Capital’s Coalition Commitments.

Elected members will discuss achievements to date – including improvements in road and waste services, reducing carbon emissions and increasing educational attainment – and how we are working to improve more areas at a meeting of the Policy and Sustainability Committee on Thursday (20 August).

Council Leader Adam McVey said: We’ve made a huge amount of progress over the last 12 months and the results of many of the changes we’ve introduced are clear to see.

“Thousands of new homes are being built, our road condition is getting better and educational attainment across our communities is improving. We’ve seen another significant drop in waste complaints and carbon emissions showing we can continue to improve our basic services while working towards our long term ambitions for Edinburgh. These figures show we’re recording better performance in many areas we know are important to residents.

“We’ll continue to work hard for our citizens and prioritise the issues that matter to them. We face a number of challenges which weren’t foreseen and our plans on how the City adapts to COVID will help us sustain progress, prioritise investment to drive down carbon emissions further and support those residents most in need.

“Despite the challenges which still lie ahead, we remain committed to building on all of the achievements we’ve made to date. With nearly two years until the next Council election we’re well on our way to achieving 48 of our 52 Coalition Commitments, having delivered plans for more classroom assistants and smashed our target for new trees with a net increase of more than 12,000 delivered so far.

“Major infrastructure improvements like the new Meadowbank Sports Centre and Tram to Newhaven are crucial to our City’s wellbeing and sustainable future as are the thousands of new low-carbon homes being built. COVID has shown us how fragile progress can be but it’s also shown us how much we can do with the will to do it.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “We deliver over 700 services every year for residents and visitors, from Council housing and care homes to making sure children receive the right start in life and the education they deserve.

“As we provide these services, our priority is to support our most vulnerable residents, focus on sustainable growth and address poverty – so I’m pleased to see a lot of improvements made in areas like health, the environment and education.

“While a great amount of progress has been made, there are still areas for improvement and we’re working to address these. The inequality gap still exists and we will continue to do all we can to make Edinburgh a more inclusive city, particularly as we recover from the COVID pandemic.

Alongside annual progress, we also need to look to the future. Our Coalition Commitments will put measures in place to make Edinburgh the fairer, greener City we are aspiring to.

The latest performance updates emerge from work the Council has carried out to focus improvements in line with the Council’s Change Strategy, Coalition Commitments and the results of the Edinburgh 2050 City Vision.

Amongst the highlights, the set of reports record:

ROADS AND WASTE
• A drop in domestic missed bin collection requests, down >5,000 in just two years (17,690 vs 22,853 in 2017/18)
• Almost all emergency road defects made safe within 24 hours (98% vs 95% in 2018/19)
• Almost all priority road defects repaired within five days (94% vs 81% in 2018/19)

CARBON EMISSIONS
• A reduction in Council and Edinburgh Leisure emissions (37% reduction to 2005 baseline)

SCHOOLS
• More pupils achieving early level reading (84%) and school leaver literacy and numeracy (67.1%) targets
• More school leavers heading into an initial positive destination (95.1%)

HOMES
• A rise in new homes being built (3,006 projected for this year vs 1,832 in 2017/18)
• A rise in new homes being approved (1,930 which is 230 above target vs 1,475 in 2017/18)
• A decrease in repeat presentations of homelessness (5.5% vs 7.9% in 2017/18)

HEALTH
• A downward trend in people delayed awaiting discharge from hospital (156 vs 267 in 2017/18)
• A downward trend in the number of people waiting for a package of care in hospital (48 vs 151 in 2017/18)

CUSTOMER CARE
• Increased customer satisfaction with the Council’s contact centre (76%)
• Quicker processing of claims and grants, including half the time taken for benefit claims (16.75 days vs 30.9 in 2017/18)

COUNCIL COMMITMENTS
Progress delivering Coalition Commitments (48 out of 52 fully or partially achieved), including successfully:
• Increasing the number of classroom assistants and support staff for children with additional needs to improve attainment and wellbeing
• Increasing allotment provision and support and expanding the network and the number of community gardens and food growing initiatives
• Upgrading parks and planting an additional 1,000 trees in communities
• Protecting Edinburgh World Heritage Status
• Exploring the introduction of fair rent zones, a workplace parking levy and transient visitor levy (TVL)
• Retaining Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Tram in public ownership
• Continuing the Council’s policy of no compulsory redundancies.