The City of Edinburgh Council is set to keep the city moving throughout this week’s wintry conditions. With the city facing freezing temperatures, snow and ice, plans are underway to minimise any resulting disruption.
Continue reading Keeping Edinburgh moving – whatever the weather
END THE HORROR of SLUM HOMELESS HOSTELS IN EDINBURGH
Wednesday 17 January 10am – 11.30am
Abbots House 10 Links Place EH6 7EZ
Continue reading Homes for Everyone: Solidarity protest with homeless people
“The time has come to take a good look at why there are still people living in Edinburgh who are not sharing in this prosperity” – Councillor Gavin Barrie, Housing & Economy convener
An Economy Strategy to tackle inequality and poverty in the Capital has been published by the city council. The draft strategy which will be considered by councillors at the Housing and Economy Committee on Thursday, recognises that although Edinburgh remains the second most prosperous UK city outside London, jobs growth alone has not been sufficient to tackle poverty and deliver sustained improvements in living standards for everyone.
Consultation carried out with all political parties and businesses, as well as local communities and the third sector, revealed a consensus of opinion that Edinburgh’s economy should aim to create jobs and inspire innovation but that it should also do much more to ensure that the benefits of that prosperity are accessible to all residents across the city.
It has been created around three themes – innovation, inclusion and collaboration and includes ten steps to achieve this goal. The council alone cannot achieve this and needs ownership and leadership from other city partners such as the Edinburgh Partnership and Edinburgh Business Forum.
Cllr Gavin Barrie, Housing and Economy Convener, said: “Our Economy Strategy sees an important shift in the focus of our work to help Edinburgh’s economy to grow. It is going from strength to strength and has shown great resilience during tough economic times. The time has come, however, to take a good look at why there are still people living in Edinburgh who are not sharing in this prosperity.
“We need to grow our economy so that it is fair in terms of wages, opportunity, access to housing, education and good careers. Much of that work has already started through our commitment to build 20,000 new affordable homes in the city and the £1.1b Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region deal, which will provide £300m for world leading data innovation centres, £25m for regional skills programme to support improved career opportunities for disadvantaged groups and £65m of new funding for housing to unlock strategic development sites.
“The strategy also fits in well with the most recent Scottish Government Economic Strategy and UK Industrial Strategy, both of which have placed increasing emphasis on the need for inclusive growth for our economy.
“Locally, the strategy also represents one of the first major practical steps towards achieving the City Vision for 2050 that we have been developing with contributions from people across the city since September 2016.”
Hugh Rutherford, Chair of the Edinburgh Business Forum, said: “To stay ahead of our global competitors, Edinburgh needs a laser focus on our world leading sectors – financial services, tech, life sciences, creative industries and tourism.
“But we need more than sectoral growth – we need responsible and sustainable ‘good growth’, making sure everyone benefits in a way that’s not happened before. Crucial to the success of this will be the private sector, all levels of education, and the third and public sectors working together to achieve this common goal.”
Ella Simpson, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council, said: “I am pleased the Strategy explicitly acknowledges poverty and inequality in the City and highlights actions which aim to reduce the impact on people’s lives. The strategy needs to recognise the existing communities and people as the bedrock for fair growth in the city and it is important that we provide support to business, from all sectors, to be the best employers they can be.”
The Strategy’s ten steps, which all have their own actions plans.
Establish Edinburgh as the data capital of Europe.
Develop Edinburgh as a city of resilient businesses with the space to grow.
Create a step change in the growth of green and socially responsible business in Edinburgh.
Deliver new approaches to tackling the barriers that reinforce worklessness, poverty and inequality.
Reform Edinburgh’s education and skills landscape to meet the needs of our changing economy.
Deepen our relationships with employers to unlock good career opportunities.
Create a transformational city centre fit to power Scotland’s economy.
Build a world class Waterfront, and deliver business and residential growth in West Edinburgh.
Build affordable places for people to live and work.
Deliver sustainable and inclusive growth in our world leading culture and tourism sectors.
Edinburgh is set to dazzle next month with the launch of Edinburgh Lumen, a stunning immersive visual and sound display that will brighten up the city centre’s dark winter nights.
Continue reading Edinburgh set to dazzle in February as Lumen lights up city centre
Education Convener Councillor Ian Perry explained the benefits of larger schools as part of the current review into west and south west Edinburgh schools in yesterday’s Edinburgh Evening News:
There has been a lot of debate over the proposals for changes to schools in the west and south west of the city over the past six weeks.
Much of the focus has been on the potential impact any changes might have on local communities but it’s important to highlight the benefits that state of the art schools of an optimum size can bring for pupils and communities.
Everyone agrees that we must prioritise the learning needs of all our young people and focus on our aspirations for them and future generations – we are not talking about the educational impact over the next six years but the next sixty years.
Larger and newer schools can provide enhanced opportunities on site for all pupils both within and out with the curriculum. More pupils mean more staff so the curriculum choice can be expanded with extra subjects and advanced levels on offer to increase their learning experience. A wider curriculum, increased sporting facilities and opportunities for more varied cultural/social clubs can only be of benefit for our pupils. Over three quarters of our high school pupils, around 15,000 young people, are currently or soon will be educated in new or refurbished buildings.
Active links with special schools, such as those between Currie Community High and Woodlands, would still be maintained and where possible enhanced. Myself and my Vice Convener, Councillor Alison Dickie, have already met with the Woodlands head teacher and members of the parent council to reassure them.
Some questions have been raised that suggest vulnerable pupils may not be supported in a larger school. This is not borne out by the experiences of our other larger schools in the city. We saw this on a recent visit to a 1,200 pupil high school with inclusion and nurture spaces that allow those pupils who need additional support a place where they can feel safe and be supported.
Everyone should remember that we are only at the informal consultation stage with the review and I want to repeat our appeal to hear people’s ideas and solutions. As part of that process we will hold events at schools later this month and in early February which will allow discussion of the ideas proposed with Council officers. An update on the discussions and recommendations about what should happen next will come to the Education, Children and Families Committee in March.
Yes, change brings with it hurdles to overcome but if everyone works together it can only be positive. Where community links presently exist with schools these will be maintained and if possible expanded and new schools, like the one proposed in the west of the city, will have new and strong community links established.
We’re determined to improve attainment and achievement for all and to make sure no child is left behind. The educational outcomes for our young people should be at the heart of our future plans and providing schools that fully meet the needs of our learners is key to our success moving forward.
Full details of the schools review can be found on the Council website.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Frank Ross reflected on 2017 and shared his hopes for 2018 in yesterday’s Evening News …
Following another record-breaking year for Edinburgh’s festivals, our Hogmanay festivities certainly provided a stellar end to a superb 70th anniversary year.
As the world’s festival capital and a city which prides itself on its reputation as the home of Hogmanay, it is great to see the Edinburgh Evening News print today’s special New Year’s Day edition. Indeed, you are the first readers to hold a copy of this paper dated 1 January for over a century!
When this paper first went to print, the year was 1873. Sculptor William Brodie was working on a new statue to honour Edinburgh’s most loyal four-legged friend, Greyfriars Bobby, which would be unveiled later that year. The Scottish Rugby Union and Scottish Football Association were being formed for the first time, while a young Elsie Inglis grew up in India, yet to set foot in Edinburgh and influence medics across the nation.
Now, in 2018, we’ve seen our local paper continue to report on turning points in the capital’s history. Over the last 12 months alone, highlights have included the opening of the new Queensferry Crossing, our third bridge across the Forth, one built in each of the last three centuries. Photos have documented works to rebuild a new St James Centre fit for 21st Century Edinburgh, while reporters have covered the beginning of a new Council coalition administration and the crucial securing of a City Region Deal, which will enable Edinburgh and our neighbouring councils to finance important infrastructure projects and new homes for the future.
With a growing economy and an expanding population, it is so important for a city like Edinburgh to plan ahead and, in the year ahead, I hope to read more about citizens’ ambitions for their city – not just for the coming year, but for the coming decades. As part of this, we will continue to promote the creation of a vision for 2050. One which all of us can buy into and help make a reality. Already we have heard from citizens from all corners of the city about the type of place Edinburgh should be, but we need to engage everyone to make sure we get it right. So, when you make your own new year’s resolutions today, I urge you to make one for Edinburgh too. A greener city? A fairer city? Why not let us know at edinburgh.org/2050.
I also appreciate that this is a time of year which can be very hard for many people in the city, and there are urgent social issues which need to be addressed right now. That is why one of my personal priorities for 2018 will be to work with businesses and partners to build on the work of the OneCity Trust. On Saturday night, every torch lit for the Torchlight Procession provided funds towards the Trust, which works to tackle inequality across the city. One look at the photos of the torches blazing an amber trail through the city, is an indication of money raised. Yet, more needs to be done and later this month, I hope to do my part and raise thousands of pounds through my first Lord Provost’s Burns Supper in aid of the OneCity Trust.
This time of year can be particularly difficult for families with loved ones in the armed forces, and for those veterans who have returned from service. Last year I signed the Lothian Armed Forces and Veterans Covenant agreement, to improve support for the military community. I hope to see that work continue, to give stability to every member of the armed forces in Edinburgh and beyond and their families. This year, I also aim to make sure Edinburgh hosts fitting commemorations to mark the end of the centenary of WW1. You can be sure this will be a key moment for the city for 2018.
And, while Greyfriars Bobby remains a permanent reminder of his story, and how the city rallied together all those years ago to remember him with a statue, I think we all know it is time for a new tribute. One which will honour a woman who did so much for the city, for the country, for the war effort and for equality. She set foot in Edinburgh at age 14 having arrived from India, just a few years since that very first edition of the Evening News.
Let’s make 2018 the year we fundraise enough to add Edinburgh’s inspiring Elsie Inglis to the list of the very few women honoured with statues in our city. The campaign needs the people and businesses of Edinburgh’s help if we are to make it happen. If you can, please donate here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/elsie.
Best wishes to everyone, and Happy New Year.
Frank
Frank Ross, the Right Honourable Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh
A £4.5m fund to help reduce both waiting times for assessments and delayed discharges in the capital has been approved by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB). The one-off allocation will support the work of the newly established assessment and review board to help alleviate the most urgent pressures and will also improve business processes.
Continue reading £4.5 million boost to tackle pressure on city’s health and social care
Edinburgh’s Finance leaders will take to the City of Edinburgh Council’s Twitter account from 6 – 7pm tomorrow (Monday 18 December ) to answer your questions about budget and services. The budget consultation closes on TUESDAY. Continue reading Time running out to have your say on Council budget
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, has called for an extension to the public consultation on City of Edinburgh Council’s plans to redesign the Picardy Place junction, with one of the City’s key gateways set to be transformed into a large, car-dominated gyratory. Continue reading Green MSP calls for extension to Picardy Place consultation
RESTALRIG has become Edinburgh’s 50th conservation area, the City Council has announced. Approval was given after a report was considered by yesterday’s Planning Committee, following a public consultation in the local area. Continue reading Restalrig becomes Edinburgh’s 50th conservation area
