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City council: more live broadcasts

Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee is live today

Just four days after the declaration of the Independence Referendum was aired live from Edinburgh and watched around the world, the City of Edinburgh Council has revealed plans to broadcast more of its committees, meetings and decision-making live online.

The latest developments mean that the Council’s webcasting service – which currently airs four committee meetings – will expand to add nine more meetings to the list following the installation of cameras and microphones in the Dean of Guild Court Room at the City Chambers.

The latest meetings to be added will cover key decisions on topics of interest to the public, including changes to sporting facilities, health initiatives, and arts and cultural events that take place in the city.

From decisions on town planning and Edinburgh’s roads, to changes to local bin collections, parks and libraries; citizens will be able to tune in to decisions that affect them and their communities.

Approved at Full Council last October, where a report showed a positive reaction to existing webcasting from the Edinburgh public, the move follows a wave of interest in local democracy and decision making in Scotland, which saw 84.4 per cent of Edinburgh residents on the electoral roll turn out to vote in the Independence Referendum.

The RT Hon Lord Provost, Councillor Donald Wilson said: “As the turnout to vote on Thursday showed all of us, people in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland and more engaged and excited about politics and democracy than they have been in a long time. Over 84 per cent of the people in Edinburgh who were registered to vote did so last week, which demonstrates a real appetite for people to engage in the issues that affect them directly.

“That is why it is essential that we, the Council, enable the public to scrutinise and engage with local decisions, and webcasting more meetings will give people direct access to this process.

“This is one of a number of initiatives to promote openness and transparency throughout the Council. For example, we are also piloting e-voting by councillors as Andrew Burns revealed just this month, which will give greater transparency as to how councillors vote on key decisions.”

The £81,000 webcasting scheme will see a full audio-visual upgrade of the Dean of Guild Court Room, as well as improved facilities for the hard of hearing.

Webcasting Council committee meetings is hoped to raise awareness of the local democratic process, improving transparency, understanding and accountability of local decision-making, as well as making meetings as accessible as possible.

Webcasts are archived and available for five years after the meeting on the webcast website.

The first meeting to be webcast using the new equipment will be the Communities and Neighbourhoods committee at 10am today.

Members of the public can register to receive alerts detailing the agenda of the meetings which are available to view online six days in advance on the Council website.

More information on webcasting can also be found on the Council websiteand on Twitter by following the hashtag #edinwebcast.

The existing webcasting service currently allows internet users to watch Full Council, Governance, Risk and Best Value and Petitions Committee meetings.

Subo pops in to support poppy appeal

Scotland’s singing superstar Susan Boyle visited Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Warriston yesterday to help with the dispatch of poppies ahead of the 2014 Scottish Poppy Appeal in November.

Susan, a long-standing supporter of Poppyscotland, the charity that runs the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal, met the 40 veterans with disabilities who work at the factory, before helping to load some of the 5 million poppies on to vehicles for distribution to volunteers across Scotland.

Five million poppies and more than 10,000 wreaths are hand-assembled annually at the historic Factory. The poppies are then sent to Poppyscotland volunteers the length and breadth of Scotland who will ensure they are available to the public in November.

Susan, resplendent in poppy red, said: “It was a pleasure to meet the veterans who make poppies all year round for the Scottish Poppy Appeal before sending them to the many volunteers across the country. It is a fascinating process and I hope that when the poppies start to appear in our shops, schools and businesses in the coming weeks, the Scottish public will once again show their support.”

Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory Manager Charlie Pelling added: “We are delighted that Susan joined us today. The dispatch of poppies for the Appeal is an important milestone in our calendar as it marks the culmination of a year of hard work. This year we have seen a high demand for wreaths and other Remembrance items because of First World War centenary events and we expect this to continue over the next four years. Susan’s visit gave the guys a real boost.”

Information about the Factory and an online wreath ordering facility is available at www.ladyhaigspoppyfactory.org.uk

Housing Advice road show’s heading your way!

Need housing advice? The city council is running a programme of friendly and helpful roadshows next month – and everyone is welcome!

Energy advice and support to help you save money
Council house improvements and repairs
Tenant’s groups

Local events will be held at McDonald Road Library (Wednesday 8th), Leith Library (Thursday 9th), North Local Office in West Pilton Gardens (Wenesday 15th) and the Community Shop on Pennywell Road (Friday 17th).

The roadshows run from 10am -4pm – see below for the full itinerary

Road shows

Get your bike marked

News from Police Scotland … local opportunities to improve your cycle’s security

Ten minutes to change a life …

Save The Children has launched a video that puts viewers in the position of someone who is unable to read as part of their Read On. Get On literacy campaign.

The campaign has been launched by a coalition of charities, businesses and authors to encourage professionals and parents to help children improve their reading, and Save the Children‘s film that shows the impact that not being able to read well can have on someone’s life.

Called Ten Minutes a Day Could Change Everything, the film illustrates the importance of reading and the positive difference adults can make to young children’s lives.

The charity has also launched an online petition that calls on politicians to ensure by 2025 that every child in the UK is a confident reader at age 11. It has also been promoting the campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #ReadonGeton, and several popular YouTube bloggers have made videos to show their support.

Justin Forsyth, chief executive of Save the Children, said: “Read On. Get On is not just about teachers, charities and politicians – it’s about galvanising the nation so that parents, grandparents and volunteers play their part in teaching children to read. We want every child to be given a fair and equal chance to learn to read well, regardless of their background.”

Read the report here: ReadOnGetOn

Are your gas appliances safe?

Did you know that last week was Gas Safety Week? Me neither, there was quite a lot happening – but it’s not too late to check that your gas appliances are safe …

Research shows many homes have an unsafe gas appliance – risking fire or carbon monoxide poisoning, and firefighters are supporting the call to the public to help prevent tragedies by ensuring gas appliances are always properly maintained.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has thrown its weight behind Gas Safety Week – the nationwide campaign aiming to raise awareness of gas safety issues.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, director of prevention and protection, said: “The effects of a gas escape or carbon monoxide poisoning can be absolutely devastating.

“In the last year alone 343 people were injured and 10 people died in the UK as a result of gas related incidents.

“This follows previous information from Gas Safe Register which revealed that around one in five homes in Scotland has an unsafe gas appliance.

“It also found one in 20 would be considered immediately dangerous – meaning they could cause a fire, an explosion or a potentially fatal leak of toxic fumes.

“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer that you can’t see, taste or smell. It is the unnoticeable result of fuel not being properly burned and it can kill very, very quickly.

“Every home which has gas appliances should have carbon monoxide alarms fitted to ensure that in the event of a leak everyone gets warning of the danger.

“The threat of explosion or fire is real and the simple fact is anyone who uses gas heating or other appliances should ensure these are regularly serviced and properly maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer.“

Gas Safety Week runs from 15 to 21 September and is coordinated by Gas Safe Register – the official list of engineers who are qualified to work legally and safely on gas appliances.

It advises the public is to have appliances checked every year, with a reminder service and information about specific local dangers available online at www.StayGasSafe.co.uk.

People should check for any of the warning signs an appliance may not be working correctly, such as a lazy yellow flame, black marks or stains around the appliance, or too much condensation in the room.

Knowing the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness – could also save lives.

To find a Gas Safe registered engineer and for further gas safety advice visit www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.

New Town and Broughton Community Council

The New Town and Broughton Community Council meets on the second Monday of the month from 7.30pm until 9.30pm. Local residents are very welcome to attend and raise issue with the Community Council. The dates are:

Monday 13 October 2014
Monday 10 November 2014
Monday 8 December 2014

All meetings are held at the Drummond Room, Broughton St Mary’s Church, Bellevue Crescent (enter by ramp, suitable for wheelchairs, down at right hand side of church).

For further details and for a contact form see our new website

ntbcc.org.uk

Whitespace Gallery to host post-conflict exhibition

What happens when war moves on? Gayfield Square’s Whitespace Gallery is to host an important post-conflict programme next month. The week-long event will feature a photographic exhibition, conference and the screening of human rights photojournalist Fiona Lloyd- Davies’ film Seeds of Hope.

THE Voices of Post-Conflict Project – a student-led initiative from the University of Edinburgh – is delighted to invite members of the public, NGOs, academics and students, as well as all other interested parties, to attend our conference and exhibition from 3 – 9 October.

Against the backdrop of a photographic exhibition, the conference, ‘Agency in Post-Conflict Societies – Perspectives on Issues of Gender and Agency for Women and Young People’, showcases various post-conflict perspectives and explores topics related to gender in post-conflict situations.

The public is especially invited to the film screening of ‘Seeds of Hope’, followed by a Q&A with award-winning director, Fiona Lloyd-Davies, on October 8th, 6-8pm. Fiona Lloyd-Davies is a renowned filmmaker and photojournalist who has been reporting on human rights issues in conflict areas for more than 20 years.

For more information and to register for events, please visit http://voicesofpostconflict.wordpress.com/

Picture Credit: Fiona Lloyd-Davies

Lazarowicz: transfer of powers ‘without delay’

Mark Lazarowicz MP has pledged to work for the transfer of powers promised to the Scottish Parliament without delay as Ed Miliband and the other UK party leaders confirmed their commitment to the process.

The North & Leith MP sets out his views on the way ahead for Scotland and the rest of the UK on the path to constitutional reform in an article published on his website today.

He said: “There must be no delay in the transfer of powers promised during the referendum campaign to the Scottish Parliament.

“Gordon Brown announced a timetable with cross-party support for further transfers of power to the Scottish Parliament and Ed Miliband as well as the other UK party leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to it.

“That has now begun with the agreement of a Parliamentary Motion which will be published as soon as Parliament returns. Full debate involving the Scottish Parliament and civil society in Scotland will follow leading to legislation being drafted by January.

“We now need to re-engage people to rebuild democracy throughout the UK by devolving power and Scotland is leading the way in that.”

You can find the full text of the article at:

http://www.marklazarowicz.org.uk/constitutional_reform_all_round_needed_but_must_not_delay_implementation_of_commitments_to_scotland

Volunteer Recruitment Fair’s this Wednesday

The Volunteer Recruitment Fair takes place at St Paul’s and St Georges Church on York Place this Wednesday (24.09) from 11am – 7pm.

Entry is free, and we expect more than a thousand visitors to come along to find out more about the wide variety of volunteering opportunities available across Edinburgh with charities, social enterprises and the public sector.

This year, in addition to fifty plus stalls, there will be free employability workshops running at 11.30am and 3.00pm, and when visitors need to sit down after taking in all this new information there’s a café serving delicious food and drink run by the by city-based social enterprise Out of the Blue Drill Hall Arts Café .

Volunteering helps people build new skills, get a taste of different working environments, create new friendships and boost individual confidence and wellbeing. For those seeking a route into work, volunteering also adds skills to CVs as well as providing work experience and up-to-date references.

Making the choice to give your time and expertise to help others is a positive and meaningful commitment, with big rewards for the volunteer and the organisation or clients that the volunteer donates their time to. The Volunteer Recruitment Fair is the perfect way to match those who want to make best use of their time with those who benefit from their input. It’s also an opportunity to publicise Edinburgh’s vibrant Third Sector community.

VCE Convener Kris Von Wald said: “The role of volunteers in improving the quality of life in their communities has never been more important. The success of last year’s Volunteer Recruitment Fair demonstrated that the desire to donate both time and skills to help others is alive and well in the citizen’s of Edinburgh. All the signs point to 2014 being even more successful.”

For more about the Volunteer Recruitment Fair, visit the Volunteer Centre Edinburgh’s website, or Facebook page.