Day: June 14, 2023

Edinburgh 2050: Thriving, Welcoming, Fair and Pioneering?

LORD PROVOST RELAUNCHES EDINBURGH CITY VISION 2050

Edinburgh pupils and local business representatives came together to share their vision of what the capital city should look like in 2050.

Earlier this month, pupils from Granton, St David`s, Pirniehall, Forthview and Craigroyston Primary Schools joined pupils from Craigroyston, Broughton and Trinity Secondary Schools and representatives from Edinburgh businesses to share their ideas of what they expect and what needs to be done to make it happen before 2050. 

2050 Edinburgh City Vision is a city-wide campaign beginning in 2016 and has heard from thousands of people. In 2020, the city developed four Vision Principles, shaped by over 22,000 responses to the public consultation – the largest such exercise ever undertaken by the Council.

The four 2050 Edinburgh City Vision principles are:

Fair: creating a more inclusive, affordable and connected city where opportunities are available to all and support is given to those who need it most

Pioneering: helping the local economy and society to prosper, leading the way in culture, data and business

Welcoming: striving to ensure Edinburgh’s citizens are happy, safe and healthy and that Edinburgh is a place where citizens belong and visitors are welcome; and

Thriving: delivering a low carbon, clean, green and sustainable city

While work continued to build on the campaign during covid, the event marked the beginning of fresh discussions across the city, with more events being planned.

Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said: “It was my pleasure to attend this celebratory event to remind us all about our shared Vision for Edinburgh. 

“I was delighted to see so many people, particularly the number of young people, from our local schools, from Edinburgh College and our other universities, Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament alongside others who have played a part in making our 2050 Edinburgh City Vision a reality. 

“Our 2050 City Vision builds from a position of strength.  Edinburgh is a world-class city of international significance and can more than hold its own among the capitals of the world. It is, however, important that the benefits of that success are available to all of our citizens. A great city is one which commits to sharing success and improving the wellbeing and life experience of all its citizens.

“By 2050, our citizens want Edinburgh to be a city without barriers to achievement, where poverty has been eradicated and a good quality of life is a basic requirement enjoyed by all. 

“Edinburgh should be Fair, and by that citizens told us that they wanted the city to be affordable, connected and inclusive. Edinburgh should be Thriving – green, sustainable, litter free.  Citizens told us that they wish Edinburgh to be Pioneering with our local economy leading the way in culture, data and business. 

“There was also a proud recognition that Edinburgh is a fantastic place in which to live, work, invest, study or to visit and that that Welcoming approach should be extended to ensure that all who live here are happy, safe and healthy. 

“Whilst the pandemic prevented us from convening sooner, these values and principles are central to how we have acted as a city since the Vision was agreed.

“I look forward to more of these types of events speaking to the people of Edinburgh in the future. “

Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive of EVOC, said: “I was delighted to see so many children and young people, from local schools, from Edinburgh College and Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, alongside many others who have played a part in making the 2050 Edinburgh City Vision a reality, at the Granton site of the College.

“We asked the children & young folk, and the adults present, to bring their imagination to bear, to help the public partners hear had what needs to be done to make the city vision happen before 2050.  

“With their brilliant imagination in gear, the young people came up with the most fantastic ideas to present, and had no fear in raising their hands to speak to the Chief Executive of Edinburgh City Council about them.

“There was energy, optimism, and great practical and visionary ideas in the room, and huge talent – potential future employees of all the partners and young entrepreneurs!”

It is still possible for any Edinburgh bodies get to sign up to the 2050 Edinburgh Charter which will help keep the priorities of the City Vision firmly in view when making any decisions about future plans.

Progress in tackling child poverty

Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan report published

It is estimated that 90,000 fewer children will live in relative and absolute poverty this year as a result of Scottish Government policies.

The Scottish Government analysis is published alongside the first annual report on its Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan ‘Best Start, Bright Futures’.

The report sets out progress made on the four year plan, including that an estimated £3.03 billion was invested across a range of programmes targeted at low income households in 2022-23, with £1.25 billion directly benefiting children.

These figures represent an increase of £430 million and £150 million respectively, compared with 2021-22. As a result of that spending, poverty levels this year will be nine percentage points lower than they would have otherwise been.

The report also details key actions to help households and address the three main drivers of poverty – income from employment, cost of living and income from social security and benefits.

These include almost £83 million to help deliver employability support, introducing a rent cap to help protect tenants during the cost of living crisis and providing over £84 million to support housing costs, while increasing the Scottish Child Payment by 150% and expanding it to all eligible children under 16.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The report demonstrates that we are preventing children falling into poverty and lifting people out of it. This year, 90,000 fewer children will live in poverty as a result of the concerted actions and focus we are providing, including lifting an estimated 50,000 children lifted out of hardship through the Scottish Child Payment.

“We are focused on driving forward action at the pace and scale required and the investment of around £3 billion in a range of programmes, with £1.25 billion directly benefiting children, demonstrates our commitment to taking action.

“By March this year, 303,000 children were receiving the Scottish Child Payment. Having increased the payment by 150% and by extending it to eligible children under 16, we are providing vital financial support to families worth £1300 a year.

“At the First Minister’s Anti-Poverty Summit in May our stakeholders, partners and people who have experienced poverty backed the approach we are taking. We will continue to do everything we can within the scope of our limited powers and fixed budget to help give more children the start in life they deserve.

“But it is only with the full economic and fiscal powers of an independent nation that Ministers can use all levers other governments have to tackle poverty and inequalities.”  

Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan – Annual Report