Scotland’s 29,000 taxi and private hire drivers need to complete HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) tax checks when renewing their operating licence, starting from today (2 October 2023).
The checks have been introduced to promote tax compliance within the industry and make it fairer for the vast majority of drivers who already pay their taxes correctly.
Councils will administer the process in Scotland, which involves making sure drivers have completed their tax check before their licence applications can be considered.
The checks will also be required for those in Scotland renewing their licence to operate a booking office or a scrap metal site, plus those who are metal dealers.
Marc Gill, Director of Individuals and Small Business Compliance, HMRC, said:“While most taxi drivers in Scotland pay their taxes accurately and on time, we want to level the playing field and tackle the small minority who don’t.
“The hidden economy is estimated to cost the UK Government £2 billion in unpaid taxes, which deprives funds for the vital public services we all rely on.
“By linking tax compliance to licence renewal, the government hopes to discourage participation in the hidden economy and encourage drivers to fulfil their tax obligations.”
The checks were rolled out in England and Wales in April 2022, where more than 120,000 people have already successfully gone through the process.
When renewing their licence, drivers will need to use a Government Gateway account to complete the tax check on GOV.UK, which is quick, simple and straightforward.
After answering a few questions about their tax registration, HMRC will provide applicants with a tax check code. This code must be given to the local council before they can proceed with the licence renewal application.
Ambitious plans to develop a mixed-use centre at the heart of East Lothian’s new town, Blindwells, including more affordable homes, have been submitted for approval.
The project proposals, led by regeneration and property development specialist Hargreaves Land, could see new shops, offices, restaurants, supermarket and business space all constructed on 5 acres at Blindwells.
Included in the plans are sixty affordable apartments overlooking the newly created Princes Loch. Also proposed are a new wellbeing centre, care home, gym and community space as part of ambitious plans to create a sustainable and pedestrian friendly town centre.
Extra bus stops, active travel paths and electrical vehicle (EV) charge points are also proposed, supporting the principles of a ‘20-minute neighbourhood’. This approach is based around creating communities to allow residents to meet their daily requirements within a few minutes’ walk of their front doors and includes access to sustainable modes of travel.
Hargreaves Land, which is working with planning and development consultants Turley and EMA architects to bring forward its plans, expects the move will create a ‘vibrant and bustling’ new centre at the heart of Blindwells, delivering a significant economic boost for the local area in the process.
This includes hundreds of jobs in the construction, supply chain, and local services sectors, which could all follow if the latest phase of development gets the green light from East Lothian Council which is anticipated early in the new year.
Onsite construction work could start as early as mid-2024.
Jonathan Graham, senior development surveyor at Hargreaves Land, said: “Our ambitious plans mark another exciting chapter in the Blindwells story. We are investing for the future, building a town centre that will create a new destination and an exciting sense of place for residents, adding to their overall wellbeing and living experience.
“We’re also working with our partners to deliver much needed affordable homes, ensuring schemes like this one are a welcome addition to local communities and contribute towards providing high quality housing for people in places where they want to live.”
Kate Donald, director at Turley, said: “We’re proud to provide ongoing support to Hargreaves Land to help them deliver exciting plans for Blindwells. This latest application will see the creation of a vibrant town centre which will provide key amenities to the wider new community that is being created.”
Hargreaves Land is the developer behind the regeneration of Blindwells, which lies between Tranent, Cockenzie and Port Seton and has been earmarked for new housing for more than a decade as part of the regeneration of one of Scotland’s former coalfields.
Over 150 new homes are already occupied with housebuilders Persimmon, Bellway and Ogilvie all currently active at Blindwells, with Hadden Homes and Avant Homes also proposing to commence onsite in the new year.
Edinburgh consumes nearly 250,000 litres of water from public Top Up Taps
THE BUSIEST and most-used taps across Scotland over the summer have been identified in the latest data revealed by Scottish Water.
The research paints a fascinating picture of exactly where thirsty drinkers have been using the national water provider’s network of Top up Taps from May to August.
Topping the chart, retaining its top position, was the Grassmarket Top up Tap which dispensed almost 35,000 litres. Seven of Edinburgh’s 10 taps featured in the top 10,
Impressively, the Top Up Taps initiative has inspired a 19% increase in people carrying a refillable bottle, and figures show that well-hydrated people across Edinburgh filled up almost 18,000 water bottles and consumed 236,353 litres of water across the area’s 11 taps.
Following the Grassmarket, the other most used taps in the region was in The Meadows Pavillion which served up 31,869 litres, and Portobello Promenade with 31,621 litres.
The Botanics West tap was the least used in Edinburgh with 2,780 litres dispensed. Meanwhile the tap in Rutland Place clocked in with a total tap usage of 15,092 litres and Leith Links at 18,259.
Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs at Scottish Water, said: “It’s brilliant that so many locals and visitors alike are using our Top Up Taps in such numbers.
“But nothing would make us happier than seeing them used even more! There couldn’t be many better reasons for carrying a refillable water bottle and topping up when you’re out and about – it’s good for your health, good for your pocket and good for the planet.”
Publicly funded Scottish Water recently installed its landmark 100th Top Up Tap in the shadow of the Kelpies in Falkirk. Since launching the initiative in 2018, the 100 taps collectively have topped up the equivalent of nearly 6 million single use plastic bottles.
The aim was to put the distinctive blue Top Up Taps in key locations all over the country – and they now stretch from Arran to Arbroath and from Shetland to Stranraer.
It couldn’t be easier to see where your communities tap is – just visit
and search by putting in any postcode or viewing a complete list of the Top Up Taps across Scotland.
Brian Lironi, added: “Water is our most precious natural resource, and we want the people of Scotland and visitors to have access whenever they need it.”
Campaigners have written to the Scottish Government urging them to use their powers to stop the development of three incinerators that otherwise will be built, despite Ministers banning new incinerators in 2022.
Local community groups and environmental campaigners have written to Lorna Slater, Minister for the Circular Economy, calling for the Scottish Government to “close this gaping loophole” and immediately stop plans for unnecessary incinerators being built in Scotland.
In 2022, the Scottish Government banned plans for new incinerators after an independent review found that Scotland will have more capacity to manage waste than there is waste to burn by 2027. However, incinerators that had planning approval before the ban came into force were not included in the ban.
There are at least three incinerators (Avondale Energy from Waste in Falkirk; Inverurie in Aberdeenshire; and Levenseat 2 in South Lanarkshire) that have planning permission but have not yet entered construction. If they were built they will create unnecessary and harmful emissions which will put the Scottish Government’s climate and recycling agendas at risk.
The letter asks the Scottish Government to use its powers under the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Regulations to direct the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to refuse to award permits to new incinerators. Without these permits, the incinerators are not allowed to operate.
As well as burning valuable resources, incinerators contribute to climate breakdown by emitting greenhouse gases from the waste they burn. On average, burning one tonne of waste emits one tonne of CO2 directly into the atmosphere.
John Young from the Dovesdale Action Group, who successfully campaigned against incineration plans in South Lanarkshire, said: “Whilst we endure a climate emergency, nationally we are not on target to meet our commitments to reduce emissions or increase household recycling.
“Plans for new incinerators hinder our ability to meet these targets. Burning our resources does not support the national agenda for a circular economy, nor does it recognise the impact on communities and the environment. If we are to reduce the impact of waste, we need to stop polluting our air with greenhouse gases and transform the waste industry for the benefit of the people, not shareholders.”
Dr Ronald Parr, local activist concerned about the planned incinerator in Inverurie, said: “The Inverurie incinerator is redundant before it even opens. If it is built, the North East of Scotland will struggle with two large incinerators just 15 miles apart.”
Kim Pratt, circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “If all the incinerators that have planning permission were built, Scotland would have more capacity than there is waste to burn in four years time.
“Plans to build unnecessary incinerators must be rapidly reversed. The Scottish Government has the power to do this by directing SEPA to refuse permits, and they must use it.
“Incinerators are a terrible way of getting rid of waste – burning resources means we can’t reuse them and burning plastic releases carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate breakdown.”
Shlomo Dowen, National Coordinator of UKWIN, said: “Scotland has a great vision to move towards a more circular economy, and that means less incineration and more reduction, reuse and recycling of waste.
“However, this greener future is put at risk by incineration overcapacity because once built these burners will need to be provided with a constant supply of waste. The Scottish Government needs to act urgently to close this gaping loophole in their incineration moratorium before it is too late.”
The three incinerator plants which have obtained planning permission prior to the ban but have not yet begun construction or obtained a permit are: Avondale Energy from Waste in Falkirk; Inverurie in Aberdeen; and Levenseat 2 in South Lanarkshire. The Glenfarg incinerator in Perthshire and Oldhall incinerator in North Ayrshire are believed to be in the early construction stages and do not have permits.
The local community groups and environmental groups who have written the joint letter to the Scottish Government are:
Community Groups and individuals:
Ayrshire Against Incineration Group Badenoch & Strathspey Conservation Group Dovesdale Action Group Friends of the Earth Falkirk Friends of the Earth Inverness and Ross Irvine Without Incinerators
Environmental Groups:
Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland Friends of the Earth Scotland UK Without Incineration Network (UKWIN)
Last week at the Scottish Parliament, Lothian MSP Miles Briggs called on SNP and Green Ministers to progress the A720 Sherrifhall roundabout.
At the start of February this year a Public Local Inquiry was carried out, to address objections which were received in relation to the project.
In his question, Mr Briggs asked if the Scottish Government has received any recommendations from the independent reporter.
In response, Minister for Transport Fiona Hyslop, said: “The Scottish Government has not yet received any recommendations from the independent reporter regarding the A720 Sherrifhall roundabout following that public inquiry, held between the 31st January and the 8th February 2023.”
Mr Briggs has previously called on SNP and Green Ministers to make progress on upgrades to the junction, with £120 million being earmarked for the project as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.
The announcement on Thursday by Audit Scotland that the Scottish Government will not meet their infrastructure goals has raised concerns over the delivery of the project.
Lothian MSP Miles’ Briggs said: “I am disappointed to hear that and I think that people across Edinburgh and the Lothians and the South of Scotland as well, will really be wanting to see when those will be given to Ministers and how fast we can see this progress, because we need the A720 Sherrifhall roundabout to be upgraded.
“It is now over five years since the Sherrifhall Roundabout was included in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. We need to see this upgrade urgently progressed.”
As the UK gets ready for Challenge Poverty Week (Monday, 2nd October to Sunday, 8th October), Edinburgh Leisure, the largest provider of sports and leisure facilities across the city, is working in local communities to support more people living in poverty and affected by inequalities to be active and well.
Poverty and poor health are inextricably linked. Despite Edinburgh being one of the wealthiest cities in the UK, Edinburgh faces some of the greatest levels of inequality. The Edinburgh Poverty Commission estimates that almost 82,000 people are living in poverty. And in terms of life expectancy, a boy born in in the New Town, Edinburgh can expect to live 21 years longer, than a boy born in Niddrie.
Forty-four percent of adults living in the most deprived communities in Scotland do not meet the recommended amount of physical activity compared with twenty-eight percent of adults living in the least deprived areas.
Helen Macfarlane, Director of Wellbeing at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Being active is one of the best things we can do for our health, wellbeing, and quality of life. Yet many people living in poverty can face barriers to being active, such as cost, lack of confidence and knowledge of what support is available.
“As part of Challenge Poverty Week, we’d love more adults experiencing poverty and inequalities to take out our £10 Get Active Pass and enjoy the life changing benefits of being active with Edinburgh Leisure. The card is not available to buy online but anyone eligible can pop into any Edinburgh Leisure venue and sign up. It really is making a huge difference to people’s lives.”
One participant explained the positive impact it is having on their life: “I don’t often leave the house but since I’ve taken out a £10 Get Active Pass, I’ve been going swimming regularly which makes a huge difference to my mental health.
“I couldn’t afford a membership, so the £10 Get Active pass has been a godsend. It’s helping me both mentally and physically and encouraged me to meet new people.”
The Edinburgh Leisure £10 Get Active Card is aimed at people on a very low income and offers off-peak access to the gym, swim, saunas and steam rooms and group fitness classes, up to 4pm, 7 days a week. Fitness classes can be booked on the day of use.
Edinburgh Leisure is a charity on a mission to keep people active and well. They run over 50 sport, leisure and school venues across the city and are committed to creating opportunities for everyone to be active and stay active.
Each year Edinburgh Leisure’s’ Active Communities team support more than 10,000 people who face the greatest barriers to being active, including those affected by health conditions, disabilities, inequalities, and poverty to improve their health and wellbeing. They deliver over 20 different programmes city wide, which aim to break down barriers to physical activity and help people to lead healthier, happier, and more active lives.
Each year, they raise over £800,000 from external funders to provide a range of targeted projects and activities which enable people on low incomes and those living with long term health conditions to be active to protect their health, wellbeing, and quality of live.
The funding is an investment into health and wellbeing, providing a significant return by reducing the need for people to access more expensive health and social care services.
· New poll finds that more than one in four parents (28%) who attend their child’s sports club or activity said they have seen or experienced inappropriate behaviour
· The week-long campaign kicks off today (Monday, October 2) to help parents recognise how negative behaviour at sporting events and activities can impact children
· The campaign, backed in Scotland by JudoScotland, Glasgow Warriors, Children 1st and other organisations plus former professional footballer Paul Stewart, encourages parents and carers to understand their role in safeguarding children and to show them positive support
Scottish sports clubs and footballing star Paul Stewartare backing the NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week campaign which this year calls on parents to show positive support for their children in their activities.
JudoScotland, rugby team Glasgow Warriors, Scottish charity Children 1st and former professional footballer Paul Stewart, who was abused while he was a youth player, are all supporting this year’s campaign.
Paul, a former Premiership and International footballer who played for Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, was sexually abused by a football coach as a child and now works to promote safety in sport, including advising the Scottish FA on safeguarding children in football.
Paul Stewart said: “The NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week is an incredibly important campaign. Making sure that children are safe when they take part in sport is crucial.
“I’m proud to be helping raise awareness of the issue and empower parents and carers with the knowledge they need to spot the signs of abuse.
“Strong safeguarding policies in sport clubs and good parental awareness of them make it much harder for abusers to target children in these environments. That is why it is so important that parents and carers know how to access safeguarding information for their child’s club, and they can identify signs of abuse and have the confidence to speak out about any issues.
“We can all work together to help make sport a safer place for children and young people.”
More than one in four parents (28%) who attend their child’s sports club or activity said they have seen or experienced inappropriate behaviour, a new NSPCC survey has revealed.
This includes shouting insults, intimidating or threatening behaviour or fights between parents, guardians, carers or children.
The YouGov poll, commissioned by the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) to mark the launch of the charity’s Keeping Children Safe in Sport Week, also found that 68% of these parents said they or their children or both had felt uncomfortable because of inappropriate behaviour, and almost one in five parents said no action had been taken to stop it.
The NSPCC has launched a new video (WATCH HERE) which explores how behaviour from the sidelines can affect young sportspeople.
Entitled My No.1 Fan, the short film features interviews with families talking about positive parental behaviour and support and how negative behaviour can impact children’s enjoyment of sport.
Luke Struthers, Lead Wellbeing Protection Officer from JudoScotland, said: “We are proud to be supporting NSPCC Scotland on this important campaign to help keep children safe in sport.
“Safeguarding in sport is crucial and this is a great opportunity to help raise awareness of the important role parents play in keeping their child safe and happy in sport.
“We hope Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week will help to empower parents and carers with the knowledge they need to get involved with safeguarding within sports clubs and raise any concerns they might have.”
Cameron MacAllister, Lead Communications and External Affairs Manager at Glasgow Warriors, said: “We are backing the NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child safe in Sport Week because as a parent I know how important it is to make sure your children’s experiences of sport is safe so they have a happy and memorable time.
“As a club we are looking forward to our players visiting NSPCC’s Childline base in Glasgow in November with our Clan groups to hear more about the vital work they are doing for young people across the UK.”
Keeping Children Safe in Sport Week is being supported by sports clubs and sportspeople across the country at all levels, including Liverpool FC, Everton FC, Leeds United, Sunderland AFC, Birmingham City, Tranmere Rovers, Volleyball England, as well as football icon Alan Shearer and the youngest ever British Olympian, skateboarder Sky Brown.
Sky said: “Having my family with me is really important to me on my journey. My dad and my brother are always by my side and my mom always makes me feel at home when we are on the road and cooks the best food!
“I am thankful that they often travel with me for competition and training.”
The NSPCC recognises that children enjoy sport and activities the most when parents are engaged in what they do, whether it is postgame support and cheerleading or showing an interest in the rules of the game.
As well as this new film, the NSPCC’s CPSU hosts a wealth of resources and information for parents on the Parents’ Hub, including a free e-learning course for parents on keeping children safer in sport, videos, podcasts and factsheets.
Michelle North, head of CPSU, said: “We’re delighted to have so much support for this year’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week.
“We know that inappropriate behaviour has a negative impact on young people and affects their enjoyment of the sport or activity, which in positive and safe environments can bring a lot of fulfilment to their lives.
“It is important that sports organisations and activity providers not only work with their staff and volunteers but with parents too to ensure that children have the safest and most enjoyable experience in sport.”
The NSPCC and its CPSU want to bring together parents and sports clubs and bodies to help give them the confidence and knowledge about the role they can play in keeping their children safe in sports and activity settings.
Last weekend, the NSPCC supported the Football Association’s Play Safe campaign – a countrywide campaign to focus attention on the vital importance of safeguarding in our national game.
Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, added:“Being your child’s biggest supporter can help instil in them a lifelong love of sport, and help them build friendships and confidence. It can also help you learn about what makes their sports club safe and how to spot the signs that something might be wrong.
“Our Keeping Children Safe in Sport Week campaign highlights how important parents and carers are in a child’s sporting life. You can make a difference by being involved and supporting your child in their club or activity in a positive way and helping to spread the word about keeping children safe in sport.”
The NSPCC is encouraging parents to get involved and learn more about their local sports clubs and safeguarding and to be part of the team, on the CPSU parent hub via the official website.
This year’s campaign is calling on parents to:
· recognise that negative behaviour, including at sporting events, can have an impact on their child and their enjoyment of their chosen sport or club.
· understand their crucial safeguarding role in their child’s sport and help keep them safe from possible abuse.
· get involved in their child’s sporting club or activity and show positive support. Sport is safest when everyone plays their role in keeping children safe, including parents.
To find out more about being your child’s biggest supporter and how to get involved with the campaign, visit thecpsu.org.uk/parents
Colin Beattie MSP was welcomed by Barratt Developments to Pentland View in Midlothian last week in celebration of its site manager’s Pride in the Job Quality Award win.
Shaun Quinn, Site Manager at Pentland View, received the Pride in the Job Quality Award, known as the “Oscars of the housebuilding industry”, from the National House Building Council (NHBC) – setting him apart as one of the very best in the country.
This year, a total of 19 site managers from Barratt Developments Scotland, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, won a top national award for the quality of the homes they are building – the most ever received by the housebuilder in Scotland.
Nicholas Wright, Development Director for East Scotland, said:“We were thrilled to welcome Colin Beattie MSP to Pentland View and to demonstrate the quality which we are building across all tenures in his constituency.
“The Pride in the Job awards acknowledge the work we’re doing to showcase our commitment to building the highest standard of homes in Midlothian and across Scotland, with our elite site manager Shaun Quinn being among those demonstrating our award-winning customer care.”
Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh,said:“I was delighted to visit Pentland View housing development and meet some of the individuals behind this impressive project. My congratulations to site manager Shaun Quinn on receiving this award which acknowledges his dedication and expertise.
“I was pleased to meet with Mitchell McGonigal and Findlay McGillivary who are both undertaking apprenticeships with Barratt Homes. Their enthusiasm and commitment left a positive impression on me. It was also my pleasure to meet award winning sales advisor Karen Conelly, and discuss matters about the housing development with her.
“I was greatly impressed by the quality of the new homes and the talented individuals driving this development forward. It is clear that this project is not only enhancing our local housing options but also fostering a sense of pride and excellence in the construction industry.”
Situated in the Midlothian town of Bilston and just seven miles from Edinburgh city centre, Pentland View is a community of 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes.
The development has a spectacular backdrop of the Pentland Hills and is surrounded by countryside right at residents’ doorsteps making it a great base for outdoor adventure. The development also has exciting offers to suit potential buyers’ next move.
In addition to the recent Pride in the Job award wins, Barratt Developments has also been awarded 5 stars by its customers for satisfaction in the annual Home Builders Federation (HBF) new homes survey. To be rated 5 star means that more than 90% of its customers would recommend one of its homes to a friend, with Barratt being the only major national housebuilder to be rated 5 star for 14 years in a row.
If you would like to pay a visit to Pentland View and explore the 4-bedroom Buchanan Barratt show home, find our more here.
An Edinburgh-based homelessness charity will be able to continue running a ground-breaking initiative in the city for the next year after a four-figure donation from one of Scotland’s leading family firms.
Cyrenians approached the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust over concerns for the future of their Homeless Navigator Project, which helps homeless men and women in Edinburgh access and engage with the support they need to secure safe accommodation and get their lives back on track.
“We focus on prevention and reaching those at the edge of homelessness, as well as those in crisis and in recovery,” said the charity.
“Beyond providing direct support to those experiencing street homelessness, we work to prevent homelessness in the first place by alleviating poverty, tackling food insecurity and providing support to families and young people.”
The Homeless Navigator Project offers potentially life-changing support to around 80 homeless people in Edinburgh – a street-based initiative delivering street-based emotional and practical help.
Navigators meet people where they are and help them on a journey to where they want to be. They operate in pairs in the centre of Edinburgh three times a week and develop trust-based relationships with people who may have had past negative experiences with support services.
Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust – the charity arm of Allied Vehicles Group in Glasgow – gave the group £2,000 to continue the Homeless Navigator Project.
Calum Wright, Cyrenians fundraising coordinator, said: “The recently released homelessness figures make for grim reading, with rough sleeping on the rise across Scotland.
“Thanks to the generosity of funders like the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, our Homeless Navigator project will be able to respond to this rising need and continue to offer life-saving support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
“By offering a friendly face and building trusted professional relationships, our staff are able to work with those who are street homeless for as long as it takes for them to get their lives back on track.”
David Facenna, Allied Corporate Culture Director, added: “Behind the rising homelessness figures are real people who have fallen on hard times, many through no fault of their own.
“The Homeless Navigator Project is a novel way of trying to tackle it and I hope our donation will help Cyrenians keep it running over the next year.”
