Tag: city council

Have your say on Council’s plans

Edinburgh residents are being asked to share their views on the draft City Mobility Plan, a ten-year strategy for creating accessible, affordable and environmentally-friendly travel in and around Edinburgh, and the Choices for City Plan 2030, which sets out options for the sustainable management of future development during a time of major change.

The two draft plans are closely linked and are being consulted on at the same time to ensure any new development helps people to make healthier choices, improving quality of life through enhanced provision for walking and cycling and better links to public transport.

Over the next eight weeks, the public can share comments and opinions on both by taking part in the consultations online, while they can meet the teams involved and find out more about plans at several drop-in events being held across the city.

Capital Coalition leaders call on residents to take part

SNP Council Leader Councillor Adam McVey said: “These ambitious plans to transform our approach to both transport and development in the Capital are essential to our ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030, to vastly improve the city’s environment and to create a healthier, fairer and more inclusive place for everyone.

“We’re about to embark upon a period of significant change, where we simply must meet the challenges posed by population growth and a climate emergency head-on. We have it within our power to drive our city forward, to adapt and thrive despite the pressures we face. If we act now, with pace, we will realise the future Edinburgh and its residents deserve.

Depute Council Leader, Labour’s  Councillor Cammy Day, said: “These proposed changes will affect everyone who lives in, works in and visits Edinburgh, so it’s only right that we continue to have a conversation with our residents, businesses and other stakeholders about how our city grows and changes to meet future needs.

We want everyone to play their part in these momentous decisions and I look forward to engaging with the public on these two, inextricably linked strategies, which will have a game-changing impact on Edinburgh’s development.

How the two plans have progressed to this stage

The draft City Mobility Plan was approved for consultation by the Transport and Environment Committee on 16 January and will replace the Council’s Local Transport Strategy 2014 – 2019. The plan sets out new policy measures over the next ten years focusing on public transport provision, improved cycling, walking and electric vehicle infrastructure and reducing the volume of polluting traffic in the city. These draw on feedback gathered during public engagement carried out in 2018.

On 22 January members of the Planning Committee agreed to consult on the Choices for City Plan 2030. The document sets out options for how to make the best use of land for future development while also addressing how the Council could tackle short term lets, planning for and building more affordable housing and managing the growth of student housing, amongst other issues.

Both strategies envision the Capital in a decade’s time, when residents will live in homes they can afford and won’t necessarily need a car to move around, with policies addressing Edinburgh’s rising population and the wider climate emergency while managing the growth and success of the city.

Take part in drop-in events to find out more

To help the public have their say on both sets of plans and to speak to experts, several drop-in events will be held on:

  • Monday, 3 February; 4pm – 7pm in Gilmerton Library, 13 Newtoft Street, EH17 8RG
  • Saturday, 8 February; 11am – 4pm in The Wash House, 3 Adelphi Grove, Portobello, EH15 1AP
  • Monday, 10 February; 1pm – 7pm in the Urban Room, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, EH8 8BG
  • Thursday, 13 February; 4pm – 7.30pm in Kirkliston Parish Hall, The Square, EH29 9AS
  • Wednesday, 26 February; 4pm – 7pm in YMCA, 1 Junction Place, EH6 5JA
  • Wednesday, 4 March; 4pm – 7pm in Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Rd, EH4 5EG
  • Thursday, 19 March; 1pm – 8.30pm in St Bride’s Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace, EH11 2DZ

There will also be a series of consultation hub surgeries where help will be on offer, with one-to-one support to complete the online consultation for Choices for City Plan 2030 specifically. These will be on:

  • Monday, 10 February; 1pm – 7pm in the Urban Room, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, EH8 8BG
  • Monday, 24 February; 4pm – 7pm in Piershill Library, 30 Piersfield Terrace, EH8 7BQ
  • Monday, 2 March; 4pm – 7pm in Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street, EH11 1BG
  • Monday, 9 March; 4pm – 7pm in Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road, EH6 4AE
  • Wednesday, 11 March; 4pm – 7pm in Drumbrae Library Hub, 81 Drum Brae Drive, EH4 7FE.

Next steps for City Plan Mobility Plan and Choices for City Plan 2030

For the City Mobility Plan, the results of this public consultation, alongside a comprehensive travel behaviour survey to be completed by the end of February, will form the basis of a finalised plan to be brought to Transport and Environment Committee later this year supported by a delivery plan packaging and phasing the implementation of actions and policy measures.

Consultation responses to the Choices for City Plan 2030 will help inform the proposed City Plan 2030, which is due to be published by the Council in August. It will then be published to allow for representations to be made after which it will be formally examined by the Scottish Government before the Council can consider adopting it.

New operator for Gorgie City Farm

LOVE learning, a charity that supports vulnerable individuals using ways to innovative ways to engage them in learning, is to take over the City of Edinburgh Council site previously occupied by Gorgie City Farm, which went into liquidation in November last year.

The new operation will be known as LOVE Gorgie.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE learning said: “We are incredibly excited to be taking on such a treasured resource as Gorgie City Farm. At LOVE learning we seek to improve the education and life chances of vulnerable children, young people and adults, as well as their families.

“Not only will the farm remain open seven days a week and remain free, but we will provide a range of exciting education, environmental and social care programmes supporting vulnerable children and adults.

“This will include learning programmes within a newly-established skills academy, social prescribing, animal therapy and employability projects.

“In addition, our educational centre will engage with local communities on environmental programmes around farming and food production and our intention is to have a food bank and social enterprise café. It will be a real community hub.

“We would like to commend the massive community support and fully recognise the love there clearly is for Gorgie City Farm. We cannot wait to get in and to work with the Council and other key stakeholders to get it up and running.”

Liquidator Shona Campbell of MHA Henderson Loggie led the search for a new operator for the site on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council. 

Shona Campbell said: “I am pleased to have secured such a positive outcome for Gorgie City Farm. As well as financial security we were looking for an operator with the vision and experience to breathe new life into the site and uphold the values treasured by the community.

“As liquidator I have been responsible for the continuing welfare of the animals on site throughout the search period and I am very grateful to the retained staff for all their support. I wish Love Learning every success for the future.”

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “I’m delighted that there has been such a successful outcome for the future of this much-loved community asset.

“LOVE learning’s proposal meets the community’s aspirations for what continues on the site – free for families to visit, open seven days a week and supporting and providing opportunities for vulnerable young people and adults.

“It buys into the values of volunteering, education, farming, supporting everyone in our communities as well as providing a sustainable and financially secure future for the site.

“When the farm closed in November, I know many people worried this would be the end of such a unique venue. However, I’ve been hugely grateful for the outpouring of support and for everyone who has rallied round to get the farm back for our city.

“I would like to put on record my thanks for all the hard work Shona and her team have put in over the past few months to reaching this great outcome. We’re really looking forward to working with Love Learning in providing a fantastic facility for everyone to enjoy.”

New Smart City pilot for Edinburgh schools

School pupils across Edinburgh will be challenged to come up with creative  ways of using new technologies to tackle local issues and help transform their hometown into a Smart City as part of a unique partnership with local businesses and organisations.  

CityFibre, the City of Edinburgh Council, and the University of Edinburgh’s Data Education in Schools programme – part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal – will deliver the Smart City-focused Internet of Things (IoT) pilot to primary and secondary school year groups across Edinburgh.   

Aiming to enhance the number of children using data science education in schools, pupils will develop their understanding of data-driven solutions for a range of issues both inside and outside of the school environment.  

This could see pupils develop ways of monitoring air-quality in playgrounds, improve the use of digital technology in classrooms or examine digital methods for managing traffic flow across the city.  

The project will kick off in schools in spring and a number of pupils will be invited to attend a Smart Cities event in Edinburgh in May to showcase their solutions. 

As part of the initiative, CityFibre will also provide schools in Edinburgh with IoT technology kits over the next 12 months. This will enable pupils to practice solving challenges using sensors and data analysis, with some of the data they’ll be collecting travelling over the CityFibre network.   

The announcement was made at an event in Edinburgh’s Royal Scots Club which brought civic and business communities together to discuss how improved digital connectivity will soon transform everyday life for people across the city.  

Work is currently underway on a city-wide full fibre network which will deliver significant benefits to communities across Edinburgh. CityFibre is investing more than £100m to deliver the project, which will give almost every home and business access to next-generation full fibre connectivity.  

Elaine Doherty, CityFibre’s City Manager for Edinburgh, said: “We can’t wait to hear about the creative ideas school pupils have to use IoT technology and make the most of Edinburgh’s new full fibre infrastructure.   

“While most schools and City of Edinburgh Council buildings have been connected to full fibre, construction is well underway to extend the benefits of a full fibre network to almost every home and business across the city with the first homes to be connected next month.” 

 Professor Judy Robertson, Chair in Digital Learning, at the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Education, Community and Society, said: “We are delighted to be working with CityFibre to deliver this exciting IoT project to schools across the region.    

“The project will encourage young people to think about how they can use sensors and data to understand their environment and to develop tools that can improve their local communities, learning how data can be used for good. The project is a fantastic addition to our Data Education for Schools project.   

“By bringing business, schools and the university together we can ensure that we are providing young people with skills and confidence to take full advantage of the opportunities provided within our data driven society.”  

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people across Edinburgh to explore how digital technology can change the way we live our lives – and to help us come up with data-driven solutions for some of the challenges facing the Capital.  

“Thanks to this partnership with CityFibre and the University of Edinburgh, the next generation of problem-solvers will gain the skills needed to deliver a truly smart city for the future.”  

To find out more about CityFibre’s Gigabit City vision for Edinburgh, visit: https://www.cityfibre.com/gigabit-cities/   

Pictured: L – R Phil Cragg, Deloitte Smart City Specialist; Andy Starnes, Head of City Development at CityFibre; Frank Airth, City Manager at Vodafone; Elaine Doherty, CityFibre’s City Manager for Edinburgh; Jenni Doonan, Business Developer at the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Education, Community and Society; Liz McAreavey, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce; Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive, The City of Edinburgh Council

Council will set budget on 20 February

The city council has announced a new timetable to enable councillors to agree a three-year budget on 20 February.

Following confirmation from the Scottish Government that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work intends to outline his spending plans on 6 February, a special Finance & Resources Committee has been added to the council diary on 14 February, where proposals for spending and investing will be considered in more detail.

A series of proposals developed by Council officers, which have been shared with all political groups in the City Chambers, will be developed into Coalition proposals and published on 10 February.

No decisions have yet been made and officers continue to explore a number of options based on previous feedback from residents and council employees.

However whether the budget is for one year or three, one thing is inevitable: communites face yet more cuts to services.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Despite the uncertainty brought about by delays to the UK Government’s budget announcement, we’re committed to setting a balanced three-year budget for Edinburgh – paving the way for record capital investment in our schools and transport over the next 10 years.

“We’ve already started outlining our long-term plans for making the city more sustainable and accessible while managing our city’s growth more fairly and effectively. But to reach these goals, we need to act now and make the smartest use of the resources we have available.

“Yes, there will be some difficult decisions we’ll need to make – that’s no secret. But it’s extremely disappointing that budget information, much of it inaccurate, has found its way into the public domain, causing unnecessary alarm in our communities.

“We won’t let this cloud the process or stand in the way of our priority, which is to agree the best budget for the people of Edinburgh; one that supports people out of poverty, responds to the climate crisis and allows our residents to share in our city’s success.”

The ciy council is currently run by a SNP – Labour ‘Capital Coalition’ – the majority SNP group supported by Labour’s twelve  councillors.

Council Depute Leader, Labour’s Cammy Day, added: “While many Councils across the country will be meeting next month or even later to set a one-year budget, we’re going further, outlining our spending plans until March 2023.

“Despite challenging budgets and continued pressure on local government finance, we will set a three year budget to allow the Council, partner organisations and our residents some certainty for the next few years.

“We will prioritise and invest in the areas our citizens have told us really matter to them, with a focus on poverty and sustainability. I’m confident that our future planning will see the capital city with a positive and progressive outlook for the future.”

Council appoints “empty homes officer”

The City of Edinburgh Council is working to bring much-needed homes back into use with the appointment of a dedicated ’empty homes officer’.

Supported by the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, which is funded by the Scottish Government and run by Shelter Scotland, the new post will strengthen the city’s ability to tackle the waste of long-term empty, privately-owned homes.

Edinburgh experiences the highest rents in Scotland and house prices are continuing to rise, placing pressure on housing supply and demand.

The post-holder will focus on advising home owners about their options, including selling their property or becoming a private landlord, making more homes available to buyers and renters. They will also use Council tax data to make sure additional levies on homes left empty for more than 12 months are applied appropriately, creating a financial incentive for home owners to take action.

The news comes after Scottish Government Ministers answered Edinburgh’s call for a new short term lets licencing regime earlier this month, with confirmation of greater powers for all local authorities in Scotland come Spring 2021.

Councillor Kate Campbell, Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “We face incredible pressure on housing supply in Edinburgh which is one of the key factors causing high rents. That’s why we have committed to building 20,000 affordable homes by 2027, why we’ve worked so hard to bring about regulation of short term lets and why we are continuing to work on building the case for a rent pressure zone.

“While less than 1% of homes in Edinburgh are empty for more than a year, we still have close to 100 cases where we know vacant properties could be providing safe, warm and much needed homes. Returning these homes to their proper use will be the priority of our empty homes officer and will be another important tool for increasing the number of homes available for residents to live in.”

“Empty homes and derelict buildings can be a blight on communities which is why we invest £400,000 each year to support the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership. We are already seeing real results, with an increase of supply of good quality homes at a rate of 100 per month and over 5,000 in total.

“The key to this success is the network of dedicated Empty Homes Officers and that’s why I am pleased that the Council has now appointed someone to provide this vital service to help provide more homes for the people of Edinburgh. I strongly encourage local authorities across the country to follow Edinburgh’s lead in recognising the benefits of this approach and bring them to the communities they serve.”

Shaheena Din, National Manager for the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the council to kick start an empty homes service in Edinburgh. The city has one of the most pressured housing markets in Scotland and it makes no sense for properties to be sitting empty, potentially causing problems for neighbours, when they could be homes for people.

“Last year 1,128 homes were brought back into use following intervention by a local council in Scotland, more than 90% of them in areas with a dedicated empty homes officer. We look forward to Edinburgh seeing fantastic results from the new service.”

”People First”: Council tourism rethink?

Proposals for a new-look tourism strategy to guide Edinburgh’s visitor economy over the next 10 years have been endorsed by members of the Sustainability and Policy Committee.

Council Leader Adam McVey, who convenes the Committee, welcomed the sustainable way forward which is outlined in Edinburgh’s draft 2030 Tourism Strategy, saying it will put people at the heart of decisions made about tourism in the Capital.

Cllr McVay said: “This is a fundamental shift in policy from generating growth to managing the continued success of our tourism industry for our people, environment and sense of place. This strategy is about making the experience of tourism better for everyone – for our visitors but also the 35,000 people working in hospitality and the 500,000 people who call this city home.

“The vast majority of people who took part in the consultation process agree with the strategy’s key aims – prioritising putting people, place and environment first. It’s about fair work and a fairer and stronger footing for residents to have their say too.

“Industry should be commended for their acceptance of this ‘new normal’ and for recognising Edinburgh’s tourism success shouldn’t be taken for granted. The feedback from the sector acknowledges that the best way to create a sustainable future for tourism in the city is for all of us to work together. I’m looking forward to discussing this further at ETAG’s conference next week.”

Donald Emslie, Chair of ETAG (the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group), said: “The City of Edinburgh Council’s endorsement of the strategy is a significant milestone and their support and leadership in the development process to date has been key to ensuring that the city will continue to be recognised as an extremely successful, innovative and forward thinking exemplar of tourism development in the UK.

“The 2030 Tourism Strategy reflects this, presenting a significant step change in the approach to tourism in the city that responds to the changes, challenges and opportunities that the 2020’s will bring.

“We’re looking forward to further discussion on the strategy at the ETAG Conference, as well as hearing from Barcelona and Amsterdam on how they have created new initiatives to manage tourism success and what Edinburgh can learn from these.”

The ETAG 2020 Conference is being held in the Edinburgh Assembly Rooms on Thursday 30th January.

The city council has come in for increasing criticism for it’s stewardship of Edinburgh’s public assets. The latest of these was last night’s City for Sale public meeting, organised by Edinburgh’s civic trust The Cockburn Association.

 

Choices for a future generation: building a more sustainable Edinburgh

By 2030, Scotland’s Capital will be a sustainable city which supports everyone’s wellbeing. Its residents will live in homes they can afford and won’t necessarily need to own a car to move around, while having every opportunity to share in their city’s success … (AYE, RIGHT! say Edinburgh residents!)

But this is how Edinburgh could be in a decade’s time, if it responds fully to the twin challenges of a rising population and the climate emergency and in the manner set out in a radical plan for future growth.

‘Choices for City Plan 2030’, published earlier this week, will be discussed by the Council’s Planning Committee on 22 January. It sets out bold options for the public to consider and comment on about how we manage future development so Edinburgh can adapt and flourish during a time of major change.

The wide-ranging document sets out options for how to the make best use of land for future development. It also addresses how the Council could tackle short term lets through new planning policies, in addition to the new regulatory powers announced last week by the Scottish Government following Edinburgh’s campaign to seek national legislation.

Views will also be sought on planning for and building more affordable housing, managing the growth of student housing, and whether all new buildings and conversions should meet the highest zero carbon standards to help Edinburgh meet its ambitious target of becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030.

In each section, the Council gives its preferred option for development as well as other alternatives.

If the ‘Choices’ document is agreed by committee, an eight-week public consultation will begin on 31 January.

Residents and other interested groups will have every opportunity to have their say with 17 public sessions and six themed events for stakeholders planned. Copies of the document will be available in libraries and online, where feedback can be left via the Council’s consultation hub.

‘Choices for City Plan 2030’ links closing with the Council’s ambitious draft City Mobility Plan, designed to improve sustainable transport over the next decade.

Cllr Neil Gardiner, Convener of the Planning Committee, said: “Edinburgh is a vibrant city, with a great quality of life. We have a beautiful green and historic environment, a thriving economy and numerous cultural attractions to be enjoyed.
“But, like many cities, we have increasing levels of poverty and health inequalities in our communities, rising housing costs and in some areas, traffic congestion and poor air quality.
“We also need to adapt our city to meet the needs of an aging population, address the increasing impact of climate change and ensure growth is sustainable.
“We need to have an open conversation with our residents, businesses and other stakeholders about how our city grows and changes to meet future needs where this growth takes place. City Plan 2030 is about us making the right choices now so that our residents can make reasonable and informed choices about how and where they live and how they get around in the future.
“We’re embarking on one of the most significant periods of transformation in a generation and we need to rethink the way we expand to accommodate our growing population. We’re already committed to building 20,000 affordable and low-cost homes by 2027 but the city needs more housing, with particular emphasis on affordable homes.
“The plan we finally publish will affect us all to some degree and it’s important that we hear from residents on this journey to accommodate future needs. The history of Edinburgh is about successfully adapting and evolving – now it’s our turn to come together to think about how we can plan most effectively for the future.”
Vice Convener, Cllr Maureen Child, added: “To meet our ambitious climate change targets, we must develop differently in the future and all houses and other buildings will need be much more energy efficient.
“We will work with our partners in the industry to ensure we make the best use of the limited space we have and, going forward, we’ll be asking developers to think more carefully about location, density and design. Where historically you may have built a supermarket on a brownfield site, we need to think of a mix of opportunities and uses for the site, including housing.
“Of course, connectivity is central to this and our Transport and Environment Committee today agreed an ambitious new draft City Mobility Plan, designed to improve sustainable transport over the next decade, while enabling the type of growth we’re aiming for in City Plan 2030.”
The proposed City Plan 2030 will be published by the Council for representation before being formally examined by the Scottish Government before the Council can consider adopting it.

Local derby opens new pitches at Hunters Hall

Sports facilities at Hunter Hall Park in Edinburgh have received a boost thanks to the opening of two new third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch (AGP).
The park, can now boast some of the best sporting facilities in the local area and both pitches will be floodlit, allowing year-round use in late evenings and during the winter.

The new pitches were officially opened by Culture and Communities Convener, Donald Wilson on Friday 10 January. He was joined by representatives from Edinburgh Leisure and Scottish Football Association at a special opening ceremony.

Players from local teams Edina and Gold & Gray cheered the opening before kicking off a friendly match.

The football pitches offer outstanding amenities for the local sports clubs and the wider community. This phase of the redevelopment of the facilities in the area has also brought improved path network and overflow car park.

Funding from Section 75 contributions from local developments has enabled the Council to refurbish the existing 2G full size pitch and convert an existing grass pitch area to form a new 7-aside floodlit 3G playing surface.

This modern facility can be much more widely used, becoming a community hub for football in the area. The work was carried out by Allsports Construction & Maintenance Ltd.

Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Donald Wilson said: “I’m delighted that with our partners we have been able to provide these pitches which will offer year-round opportunities for both adults and young people to take part in sport.

“Not only will it help to increase participation in football and outdoor sport, it will also help the development of grassroots football in the area.

“As a council, we are committed to encouraging and enabling everyone to become more physically active and enjoy the associated benefits. We want sport to be as accessible as possible for our residents and our investment in fit-for-purpose sports facilities is helping to ensure that as many people as possible can get involved in sport throughout the year.”

An Edinburgh Leisure spokesperson said: “Making a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the people of Edinburgh is at the heart of what we do.

“The upgraded 3G floodlit pitches will mean more opportunities for the local community to get involved in grassroots football.”

David Gold from Gold & Gray Soccer Academy added: “We are very fortunate to work in partnership with Edinburgh leisure and the Jack Kane Centre.

“The standard of Astro allows us to put on quality sessions that benefit the physical health and wellbeing of the community as a whole.”

Brian Gunn, committee member of Edina Hibs added: “The new Astro turf pitch facilities at the Jack Kane Sports Centre are just what Edina Hibs Football Club and the local sports community needed.

“The new facility will enable Edina Hibs, in partnership with Edinburgh Leisure and Jack Kane Sports Centre, deliver our core aim of providing team sports to help keep children healthy and happy in the local community and beyond.

Jennifer Malone South East Regional Manager, Scottish Football Association added: “It’s fantastic to see this new facility opening which in turn will hopefully see even more of the local community taking part in the game.”