Category: North Edinburgh News

Turning up the heat on fuel poverty

A pilot will see 220 rural households offered targeted support to cut their energy bills – while an independent review of how fuel poverty is defined is to take place.

Communities, Social Security, and Equalities Secretary Angela Constance set out the developments as she responded to the recommendations of the Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force.

Ms Constance said both the pilot and the review will inform the consultation on a new fuel poverty strategy and target – which will be published later this year.

Advisers from Home Energy Scotland (HES) will visit selected homes in rural areas to see what more can be done to reduce their fuel bills. The £300,000 12-month Homecare pilot will be evaluated before a decision is taken on rolling it out to households nationwide.

Meanwhile, an independent panel of four academic experts has been established to consider changes to how fuel poverty is defined. This follows the working group conclusions that the current definition may be impeding efforts to target those most in need.

Making the announcement during a visit in Edinburgh to the home of Donnah Anderson –the 100,000thproperty to benefit under the Home Energy Efficiency Programme since 2013 – Ms Constance said:

“We have made good progress and significant investment in tackling fuel poverty, supporting people who need help, like Donnah and her family. However, there are still far too many people struggling with unaffordable energy costs. That is why we’re developing a new long-term strategy to tackle fuel poverty and will introduce a Warm Homes Bill to set a new target.

“The HES pilot is about providing tailored support to people in the greatest need – helping them lower their fuel bills and hopefully move out of fuel poverty altogether.

“I’m also pleased to announce a review of the definition of fuel poverty, which will look at whether changes are needed to help us better target our efforts to eradicate fuel poverty in the forthcoming Warm Homes Bill.”

Donnah Anderson lives in Duddingston with her husband and two children. She received help under the Home Energy Efficiency Programme, including a gas connection, boiler installation and radiators in place of broken electric heaters and a faulty hot water tank.

She said: “I contacted Home Energy Scotland for advice about my heating but I had no idea that I would qualify for a new boiler and new radiators! I really can’t thank everyone enough for the lovely job that they have done. My son is thrilled to bits and I’m delighted the kids now have a bedroom that’s so warm.”

 

Counting down to the Year of Young People

Mark McDonald, Scottish Government Minister for Childcare and Early Years, yesterday launched a search in Edinburgh for young ambassadors for Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018 (YOYP 2018). On the milestone of 300 days to go until the year starts, a new website, event funding and the official logo for YOYP 2018 were also unveiled. Continue reading Counting down to the Year of Young People

More smoke and mirrors: a good deal for Scotland … or is it?

£350 million more for Scotland, proving that ‘we are stronger together in this great United Kingdom’, cried a triumphant Chancellor. No, we’re £2.9 billion POORER, said the Scottish Government’s finance spokesman. Confused? You will be. Continue reading More smoke and mirrors: a good deal for Scotland … or is it?

Better Late Than Dead On Time: road safety theatre at Broughton

Hi Folks

Just a short note to bring your attention to a road safety theatre production which is being delivered in Broughton High School on Tuesday 28th March at 7pm. It’s a free event (refreshments provided as well) and is open to all ages as well as local adults or school staff. 

Given the amount of concerns about accidents/road crimes/road safety etc. I think we’ve timed this perfectly and it should be of huge benefit to the local area.

If you’ve any queries please don’t’ hesitate to give myself, Helen Bourquin or Elaine Lennon (both copied into this email for your info) a shout and we’ll do what we can to answer them!

Best wishes

Callum

Callum McLeod |Community Learning & Development Worker | Schools and Lifelong Learning | Communities and Families| City of Edinburgh Council |Broughton High School , 29 East Fettes Ave, Edinburgh, EH4 1EG | | Tel: 0131 332 6316 | Email: Callum.mcleod@ea.edin.sch.uk | Web: www.edinburgh.gov.uk | CLD Web: www.joininedinburgh.org

Scottish Ambulance Service launches Registration to Resuscitation camapign


The Scottish Ambulance Service is appealing to communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians to register potentially life-saving public access defibrillators on its dedicated website.

Continue reading Scottish Ambulance Service launches Registration to Resuscitation camapign

Testing times ahead for new councillors

New councillors elected in May face major challenges and need to focus on improving long-term planning, says the Accounts Commission.

In its 2017 overview published today, the local government spending watchdog outlines a long-term decline in Scottish Government real terms funding which makes up around 60 per cent of council income.

At the same time, there continue to be increasing pressures on services, particularly in social care and education which together account for over 70 per cent of council spending.

The report says councils overall have maintained or improved their performance in the face of these challenges. However, public satisfaction is declining and complaints are increasing. Looking ahead, they need to better involve their communities in service design and deliver.

There are wide variations between councils. Some have grasped the nettle in finding new ways to provide services more efficiently. Others have been slower off the mark. Councils have made savings by cutting jobs but half of them still don’t have organisation-wide workforce plans.

Councils must learn more from each other and collaborate better to improve services and reduce costs.

Councillors elected in May must have the necessary training and tools to do an increasingly complex job determining local priorities, overseeing delivery of essential services and working in partnership with other public bodies to improve outcomes for communities and individuals.

Ronnie Hinds, deputy chair of the Accounts Commission, said: “New councillors will require time to settle in and develop skills to make strategic plans, consider options for service delivery and scrutinise how well this is happening in practice.

“But they have four years ahead of them, and they need to plan effectively for the longer term, work with their communities to decide key priorities and then make that plan happen.

“We hope our report is helpful to councillors and officers as they strive to maintain or improve services for the public with reduced resources.”

The report: nr_170307_local_government_performance

The Scottish Greens have commented on the report. Andy Wightman, the Scottish Greens’ local government spokesperson, said:

“Audit Scotland is right to highlight these challenges. The Scottish Greens are committed to strengthening local democracy in Scotland and that’s why we led a debate on the subject only a few months ago. We will also be publishing proposals later this week on a fiscal framework that details how the financial relationship between Holyrood and local government can be improved.

“The six Green MSPs, who were elected on a manifesto pledge to campaign to devolve decisions and budgets to a more local level, will continue to call for councils to have more powers to implement new structures for local democratic participation.”