Council Leader calls for tougher measures against nuisance fireworks and disorder

HALLOWEEN DISORDER IN HAY DRIVE MARKS START OF BONFIRE SEASON

Council Leader Cammy Day yesterday repeated his calls for a complete ban on the public sale of fireworks and tougher sentences for those misusing them and causing public disorderbut trouble flared up in Niddrie last night.

Councillor Day said:We all remember vividly the shocking scenes we saw last year with emergency services being attacked while trying to do their jobs. And more recently the appalling reports of violence and antisocial behaviour with buses and cars coming under attack.

“Whilst this isn’t an issue unique to Edinburgh, or indeed Scotland, I’m clear that this sort of behaviour has no place in our city.

“It’s long been my view that we need to ban the public sale of fireworks, given the potential risk to health, if misused, but also the unnecessary fear and alarm they cause in our communities. 

“I will be writing to my colleagues in the UK Government to request a review of the legislation, as well as the Crown Office to ask for tougher sentences for those found guilty of committing these crimes.

“I’m determined to do everything within our power to prevent a repeat of last year. Earlier this week I chaired the latest multi-agency meeting with colleagues, the police and fire service as part of our ongoing preparations, and the implementation of our firework control zones, which come into effect tomorrow (1 November).

“In addition to FCZs, we’re also increasing patrols from our waste services to collect items that could potentially be set alight.

“Bonfire Night should be an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate and spend time together. I would urge everyone in the city to only attend organised displays and look out for one another.

“Please work with us and our fantastic emergency services to help make it a safe and enjoyable occasion this year. If you witness any criminality, please call the police on 101.

“I want to thank our emergency services once again for the professional and measured way they carry out their duties under the most difficult of circumstances. Police officers, firefighters and paramedics have a tough enough job already without being subjected to violence and abuse.

“Please show them the respect they deserve this Bonfire Night.”

Chief Inspector Mairi Creanor added:We know that certain areas of Edinburgh experienced unprecedented levels of disorder during Bonfire Night last year, and because of this a significant number of officers responding to the incidents that arose sustained a range of injuries.

“The unacceptable actions of a minority of individuals left communities in a state of alarm and put the safety of emergency service workers at serious risk of harm.

“Such offences cannot and will not be tolerated and detailed planning has been undertaken since last year to ensure we have appropriate resources in key areas and can provide additional support should they be required.

 “It is an offence to use fireworks in any manner within a Fireworks Control Zone and we will take appropriate action against anyone in breach of an FCZ over the Bonfire Night period.

“This is just one of the tools at our disposal and we’ll continue to work with key partners to keep our communities safe and bring those intent on causing harm to justice.”

Firework Control Zones will come into effect in four areas of the city – Niddrie, Calton Hill, Seafield and Balerno – from 1 to 10 November, making it a criminal offence to use fireworks (excluding sparklers and indoor fireworks) unless part of a licensed display.

There are a number of organised events taking place across the city. Full details are available on the council website.

UPDATE: Council Leader @cllrcammyday has responded to reports of disorder taking place across Edinburgh last night.

Police officers attended the Hay Avenue area following reports of disorder. Police vehicles and public transport providers were targeted with fireworks and missiles, including bricks.

Roads in the area were closed during the incident, but were reopened by 11pm.

Cllr Cammy Day said: “I’m shocked and saddened to hear of the mindless violence and disorder taking place in areas across the city tonight.”

DECISION DAY

COMMUNITY PROJECTS TO LEARN THEIR FATE AT EIJB MEETING

SIXTY-THREE voluntary sector organisations will learn their fate today when Edinburgh Integration Joint Board makes crucial decisions on cost-saving measures.

EIJB is looking to make ‘savings’ (i.e. cuts) of £60 million and the proposal to disinvest in third sector projects would see the EIJB ‘save’ £4.5 million, but the voluntary sector argues that the scale of the cuts in some of the capital’s poorest communities – cuts imposed without any prior consultation – will actually cost the city far more in real terms – and they are urging the EIJB to think again.

If the EIJ Board accepts Chief Officer Pat Togher’s recommendations to disinvest, projects across Edinburgh will be forced to slash services, make staff redundant and, in some cases, close completely.

One of the projects affected is Libertus Services, a charity dedicated to supporting people to live independently. Libertus provides two registered Day Care services to local older people, located in Gracemount and Canalside, alongside a plethora of recreational, educational, cultural and social activities.

Libertus Services is dedicated to empowering its’ Members to make informed choices and to engage with activities which offer a selection of physical activity, reminiscence, games and art as therapy. 

Their Positive Futures project supports local people (50+) across Edinburgh to develop and run activity groups in community based settings. The groups take place on a weekly basis, facilitated by a dedicated team of volunteers.

Andrew Farr, General Manager at Libertus, said: “Libertus Services has been established for 43 years and employs 23 staff members to provide services for people at risk of many vulnerabilities, including social isolation, and has provided support to thousands of people.

“The impact of EIJB cuts to Libertus Services will affect at least 300 people aged over 50, and older vulnerable people and their support base who rely on the input and outcomes achieved within our groups.

“The loss of peer support, interaction and professionally led early intervention will inevitably lead to an increase in our vulnerable population of older people becoming more reliant on statutory services now and in the future. 

“The potential closure of our Positive Futures over 50’s service and our volunteer service additionally losing 42 volunteers not only increases risks to our Day Services for older people, which will no longer receive the additional social and practical input from our volunteers, but also reduces our financial stability.

“This is due to our premises increasing their reliability on the already reducing contract with the EHSCP, following a 10% in year contract reduction, followed by additional year on year 10% reductions in funding from 2025 onwards.

“A significant number of people would be without our support, leading to social isolation for a significantly higher number of people with social and psychological needs. Service provision would need to be absorbed by adding further pressure within statutory services, including hospital admissions and readmissions, due to the increase in demand resulting from the loss of this preventative service.”

The projects facing cuts today are:

ACE-IT

Art In Healthcare – Room For Art project

Autism Initiatives

Bethany Christian Trust – Passing The Baton project

Bridgend Farmhouse – Community Kitchen

Calton Welfare Services

Care for Carers – Stepping Out residential and short-term breaks for Carers

Caring in Craigmillar – Phonelink

CHAI Community Help and Advice Initiative (Edinburgh Consortium) – Income maximisation, debt and welfare advice

Citizens Advice Edinburgh (Edinburgh Consortium) – Income maximisation, debt and welfare advice

Changeworks – Heat Heroes programme

Community One Stop Shop – COSS

Community Renewal Trust – Health Case Management

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland – Edinburgh bereavement services

Cyrenians – Golden Years Community Connecting Service

Drake Music Scotland – Musicspace

Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust – Healthy Lifestyles South Edinburgh

Edinburgh Community Food – Healthier Food, Healthier Lives, Healthier Future

Edinburgh Community Health Forum

Edinburgh Consortium (CHAI, Citizens Advice Edinburgh and Granton Information Centre) – Income maximisation, debt and welfare advice across the city

Edinburgh Garden Partners – Befriending Through Gardening project

Edinburgh Headway Group – ABI Rehabilitation Support Project

Edinburgh Leisure – Steady Steps programme

Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre – Rape crisis support service

Eric Liddell Centre – Caring for Carers Befriending Service

FAIR – Family Advice and Information resource for people with learning disabilities

FENIKS – Reach Out, Help Within support for Eastern European community

Fresh Start – Helping previously homeless people make a home for themselves

Granton Information Centre (Edinburgh Consortium) – Income maximisation, welfare and debt advice

Hillcrest Futures – Futures Hub

Health All Round – Community health initiative in Sighthill Gorgie

Health in Mind – Counselling in Craigmillar

Home Start Edinburgh West and South West – promoting positive perinatal health

LGBT Health and Wellbeing – Core funding and community programme

Libertus Services – Positive Futures volunteering project

LCIL – Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living

MECOPP – Jump Start project

MECOPP – BME Carer Support

Multicultural Family Base MCFB – Syrian mens mental health group

Murrayfield Dementia Project – Day Resorce

Pilmeny Development Project – Older people’s services

Pilton Equalities Project – Mental health and wellbeing support service

Pilton Equalities Project – Day Care services

Portobello Monday Centre – Informal daycare for people with dementia

Portobello Older People’s Project – Lunch and social club for isolated people

Positive Help – HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C support service for vulnerable adults

Queensferry Churches Care in the Community – support services for older people

Rowan Alba Ltd – CARDS service for people with alcohol-related brain damage

Scottish Huntingdon’s Association – Lothian Huntingdon’s Disease service

Sikh Sanjog – Health and wellbeing group for ethnic minority women

South Edinburgh Amenities Group – community transport service

South Edinburgh Day Centre Volunteer Forum

Support in Mind Scotland – RAISE for Carers project

The Broomhouse Centre – The Beacon Club

The Broomhouse Centre – Vintage Vibes consortium

The Broomhouse Health Strategy Group – B Healthy Together initiative

The Dove Centre – Social day centre

The Health Agency – Community-led health improvement initiative

The Living Memory Association – drop-in facility for isolated older people

The Open Door Senior Men’s Group – tackling social isolation

The Ripple Project – Community hub in Restalrig

The Welcoming Association – Welcoming Health programme for migrants/refugees

Venture Scotland – Outdoor activities and residential experiences

VOCAL – Counselling support for carers

Waverley Care – HIV and Hepatitis C support

The following projects will make deputations to this morning’s meeting:

It’s looking increasingly likely that common sense will prevail today and that recommended funding cuts will NOT be imposed before the end of this current financial year – always an unrealistic ambition given the timescales involved and the lack of prior consultation.

Edinburgh Green Councillor Alys Mumford tweeted yesterday: “I’m sure everyone has been very concerned about news of potential in-year cuts to 3rd sector organisations.

“Here is an update from the Edinburgh Councillor Group, and as a board member of the Integration Joint Board, I’m glad I’ve submitted this joint proposal to reject the cuts:

So a small victory for the voluntary sector IS possible today, maybe, but would this be just a stay of execution, a short reprieve?

The EIJB must balance it’s books, and with the city council, NHS Lothian and the Scottish Government all facing financial challenges of their own, just how does Edinburgh Integration Joint Board fill that black hole?

And what is the future for our community projects – and the hundreds, perhaps thousands. of vulnerable people they support across what is supposed to be an affluent capital city – come the new financial year? Can it be a Happy New Year for them?

Hopefully all will become clearer this afternoon.

Good luck to all of the deputations this morning and here’s hoping Edinburgh Integration Joint Board belatedly sees the real human cost of the cuts being proposed – and rejects them.