city council – Page 2 – The NEN

Community campaigners force rethink on People’s Story closure

People’s Story Museum set to reopen next month

The People’s Story Museum will reopen to the public on Monday 2 December after a temporary closure.

The Museum, which offers an insight into the lives of Edinburgh’s working-class people from the 18th to the late 20th century, has been temporarily closed due to staff shortages but will resume its regular seven-day schedule from Monday 2 December.

The Council is working on a new operating model for the Museums and Galleries service aimed at enhancing the experience for residents and visitors, increasing revenue, and focusing more on the city’s historic collections. The service has faced increased budget pressures this year, which initially led to a proposal to close the People’s Story Museum during the autumn and winter.

However, based on public feedback, officers have been working to identify funding and resource which will facilitate the reopening of the museum.

Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker, said: “After initially proposing a temporary winter closure for the museum, we listened closely to the community’s passionate feedback, and I’m delighted to announce that we will reopen the museum on Monday 2 December.

“It’s a special museum where all exhibits are inspired by the voices of Edinburgh’s own people, drawn from oral histories and written accounts to share authentic stories. The collections showcase this with items such as Friendly Society regalia, banners, and materials representing Edinburgh’s diverse communities.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors back through the museum’s doors.”

JIM Slaven, who initiated the campaign to keep the museum open, said: “@SaveTPSM welcome this Council decision & thank everyone who has supported the campaign.

“The city now needs to work together to create a sustainable future for the museum. #Edinburgh needs change. This is a first step.”

“It is only a first step. For the museum to have a successful future it must be in the Tolbooth & it must be curated properly, cared for & invested in. That is going to involve a lot of work. Not just from Council staff, but from everyone who wants it to succeed. It can be done.

“On personal note. To all the real ones who trusted my judgment that this fight was worth it & was winnable, who stayed disciplined & stuck to the plan, I am constantly surprised and inspired by people’s energy and enthusiasm for the battle(s).”

Jim Slaven had criticised the Labour-led council’s proposals as a betrayal of the city’s working class. “Labour with 11 out of 63 #Edinburgh councillors have no mandate for their dodgy “buildings strategy”, which closes museums & community centres.

“Turning public spaces into private spaces. In whose interests?”

A report on the new operating model for Museums and Galleries will be brought to December’s meeting of the Culture and Communities Committee.

Edinburgh celebrates the commitment of Living Wage employers

Employers in Edinburgh continue to lead efforts in Scotland to make sure people in work can earn a decent wage that is enough to live on.

The real Living Wage is an independently calculated rate based on the cost of living and is paid voluntarily by employers. This pay rate is updated every year to make sure hourly pay keeps up with the costs of housing, childcare, transport, and heating costs for workers in Scotland.

Efforts to boost the number of businesses paying the real Living Wage has led to a total of 746 accredited employers in the city. This means that a total of 217,887 employees are covered by a Living Wage commitment.

Figures shared ahead of Living Wage Week 2024 (4 – 12 November) reveal that the Living Wage movement in Edinburgh is continuing to grow. Since October last year, there have been 91 new accreditations in the city, and this has uplifted the pay of 686 staff.

Living Wage week provides an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the movement to date, and to express gratitude to employers for maintaining their commitment, despite challenging business conditions.

Councillor Jane Meagher, Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, and Co-Chair of Edinburgh Living Wage Action Group, said: “Over 80,000 people are living in poverty in Edinburgh and many have been pushed into deprivation because of insecure work. It really can happen to any of us and that is why the Living Wage is such a powerful tool, for making sure people get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

“In 2024 we’re more determined than ever to work with employers to encourage them to sign up, and it feels like we’re witnessing a real movement. Edinburgh is now home to 20% of Scotland’s Living Wage employers and since October last year more than 90 businesses have signed up. I’d like to express my gratitude to every single one.

“The next few months and years will be critical because we know more Edinburgh-based businesses want to help tackle low pay and insecure work, but that they are under increasing pressure.

“So, as the rate of the Scottish Living Wage rises to £12.60 an hour, the events hosted here in Edinburgh and across the country provide an opportunity to showcase how far we’ve come, while acknowledging that more work is needed.”

Kat Brogan, Managing Director of Mercat Tours and Co-Chair of the Edinburgh Living Wage Action Group commented: “In Edinburgh, the Living Wage movement has continued to grow.

“This is a massive achievement for the city, particularly as many employers are facing difficult circumstances with rising business costs. In this context, committing to the real Living Wage can seem daunting. Yet, it is more important than ever.

“It is not only the cost of business that is rising; the cost of living is also on the up. More and more workers are struggling to keep up with this and are finding themselves unable to afford necessities like food and heating.

“By accrediting as Living Wage employers, organisations are doing their bit to support their employees and to reduce levels of in-work poverty.”

Edinburgh Libraries receive donations of children’s books from 36 visiting UNESCO Cities of Literature

In October 2004, Edinburgh was designated the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, a permanent title celebrating Edinburgh’s status as a literary capital and pioneer in the UNESCO Creative Cities network.

The concept of a City of Literature was devised in Edinburgh by the Trust’s founding members Jenny Brown OBE, Catherine Lockerbie, James Boyle and Lorraine Fannin, trailblazing the way – there are now 53 UNESCO Cities of Literature across the world.

To mark the occasion, 60 representatives from Cities of Literature destinations across the global network came to Edinburgh for a four day conference as part of The Scottish International Storytelling Festival last week (21-25 Oct 2024).

The conference helped mark the achievements of the past two decades and to make plans for the future – ensuring that Edinburgh continues to stay firmly on the literary map.

As part of this conference the Cities of Literature attending from all over the globe carried on the annual tradition of donating a selection of books to the hosting city. This year’s donations sees a range of diverse and beautifully illustrated children’s books in the original language of each of these UNESCO Cities gifted to the Central Lending Library in Edinburgh.

Keira Brown, Communications and Community Manager for Edinburgh City of Literature Trust, said: ‘It’s a wonderful initiative that the Cities of Literature decide to donate picture books from their city, showcasing the range of talent from this global network, giving back to Edinburgh for welcoming these delegates to the city for the week, such a beautiful idea reflecting the international connection that is so beneficial for the sector here in Edinburgh.’

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Keira Brown from Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust and UNESCO Cities of Literature Coordinator, Hannah Trevarthen, with a selection of the donated books.

Nottingham’s City of Literature Director and UNESCO Cities of Literature Chair, Hannah Trevarthen, said: “It’s a fantastic tradition, donating children’s books to the city hosting the meeting every year, and one we hope will long continue.

“It’s our thank-you to the city for all of the hard work that goes into hosting the Cities of Literature delegates.’We hope that the children of Edinburgh will be inspired by the books from other Cities of Literature from around the world.’’

Within Edinburgh City of Literature Trust’s twenty year span, they have helped grow a global network of international literary cities, for the benefit of writers and literature professionals, bringing opportunities for paid commissions, supporting creative practice and broadening literary networks internationally.

At a more local level in Scotland, the Trust’s work has ranged from high profile campaigns to community-based Edinburgh projects, with bold, innovative work bringing communities together – connecting readers and writers as well as literary organisations in the Scottish literature scene.

The Trust has also long partnered with Edinburgh Library service, working to advocate the importance of librarians and libraries across the city.

Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker, said: ““Donating children’s books is a wonderful tradition within the UNESCO Cities of Literature Network. Through our ongoing partnership we are thrilled to see this meaningful gesture from such a diverse network of cities.

“As the founding city of this international cohort of UNESCO Cities of Literature, we take immense pride in celebrating our 20th anniversary, and I truly hope this wonderful tradition continues for many years to come.”

Edinburgh City of Literature Trust birthday also contributes to the on-going Edinburgh 900 celebrations; marking the 900 year anniversary of Edinburgh – a city-wide celebration of Edinburgh’s history, culture and future.

PICS: Neil Hanna

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 disorder – but 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.”

First tenants move in to new ‘green homes’ on Granton Waterfront

Tenants have moved into the first ‘net zero ready’ affordable homes to be delivered in Granton Waterfront.

A housing emergency was declared in Edinburgh last year and the 75 energy efficient homes for social and mid-market rent at Granton Station View built by CCG (Scotland) Ltd on behalf of the Council are part of the local authority’s £1.3bn regeneration of the area to provide much needed affordable housing.

The project is part of the major transformation of Granton Waterfront to create a new coastal town in the north of the city with tenants and homeowners also due to start moving into over 400 ‘net zero ready’ homes for social rent, mid-market rent and homes for sale at Western Villages throughout next year. Work is also well underway to deliver a further 143 ‘net zero ready’ social and mid-market rent homes at Silverlea due for completion in Summer 2026.

The homes at Granton Station View are the first Edinburgh Home Demonstrator (EHD) programme pilot which is part of a collaborative programme between local and national government, academia and the construction industry that has developed a new model for delivering affordable housing in Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

The homes will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the city’s 2030 net zero target. The homes were largely manufactured offsite and have high performance energy efficient features which will help reduce utility bills for tenants. Features include triple glazing, communal zero direct emissions heating as well as solar panels linked to the communal energy centre being provided. The University of Edinburgh will monitor the energy efficiency of the building design for the first year.

Granton Station View was supported by of over £6.6m funding from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme (ASHP).

Other innovative features in the development include an underground waste collection system, cycle parking twice the capacity of the residents living there and links to existing and established walking, cycling and wheeling routes.

Three commercial spaces are also situated underneath the homes at Granton Station View providing business and employment opportunities for the area. Two of the spaces have recently been let out ensuring that residents of Granton Station View will have access to a local convenience store with a post office and a fitness gym.

As well as delivering over 3,500 ‘net zero’ homes in the next 10 years, the wider £1.3 billion Granton Waterfront regeneration will include a primary school, a health centre, commercial and cultural space as well as a new public park at the iconic Granton Gasholder, currently being restored.

Council leader Cammy Day said: “Today’s announcement is welcome news as the housing emergency we declared last year means we have a chronic shortage of housing in the city.

“Despite Scottish Government cuts in affordable housing, the homes at Granton Station View are part of an exciting pilot project which will not just help us ease this shortage but will provide many individuals and families with comfortable modern homes using the very latest technology to keep energy bills down.

“I wish everyone moving into Granton Station View well and look forward to seeing hundreds of other individuals and families move into the high-quality homes we are delivering at Western Villages and Silverlea as part of our wider £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront.”

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “I am pleased that the City of Edinburgh Council has delivered 75 high-quality, energy-efficient homes for social and Mid-Market Rent in Granton.

“These homes were backed by over £6.6 million of Scottish Government funding and they will help to meet the needs of the local community for generations to come, whilst supporting Scotland’s net-zero ambitions.

“We remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes across Scotland by 2032 with at least 70% for social rent and 10% in our rural and island communities.”

CCG (Scotland) Managing Director, David Wylie, said: “Scotland is in a housing emergency and our planet is in the midst of a climate emergency. Both issues are some of the most challenging that will face this generation and it is fundamental that we tackle both in equal measure by delivering more, sustainable homes like we have here at Granton Station View.

“Through our own, pioneering construction methods and a new delivery model that focuses on streamlined procurement and collaborative working, we have unlocked brownfield land and evidenced that a just net zero transition is achievable, the needs of our communities can be met, and our carbon impact can be significantly lowered.

“We thank the partners of the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator programme for their support during construction, and we look forward to continuing our work with the Council at Western Villages where a further 444 net zero ready homes, including 56 for sale from CCG Homes, will be completed in 2025.”

The EHD programme has developed a housing delivery model for ‘net zero ready’ homes across the six council areas in the City Region Deal.

As part of this programme, in Edinburgh, there are also 140 affordable homes being built in Greendykes which will be ready in 2027 and another 40 affordable homes currently being designed for Burdiehouse Crescent. These homes will have similar energy saving features.

Mel Young MBE receives the Edinburgh Award 2024

The Homeless World Cup co-founder and social entrepreneur, Mel Young MBE, was officially presented with the coveted Edinburgh Award by the Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge.

The award was presented on Thursday evening (October 24) at a civic reception at the City Chambers.

Since 2007, the Edinburgh Award has celebrated individuals who have made a truly unique contribution to the city and brought the Capital to national and international attention.

Alongside family, friends and invited guests, Young received an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost, an official award certificate, and a set of his handprints preserved in stone in the City Chambers quadrangle was unveiled.

The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and Chair of the Edinburgh Award Panel, Robert Aldridge said: “It was a pleasure to present Mel Young with the Edinburgh Award yesterday evening. Mel’s handprints are now immortalised in stone at the City Chambers quadrangle, and he deservedly follows in the footsteps of some of the finest individuals associated with our great city.

“From The Homeless World Cup to The Big Issue in Scotland, his passion and dedication to changing lives and advocating for fairness is admirable and inspiring. Through his work he has represented the Capital with pride, dedication, and skill.

“I’d like to congratulate Mel on behalf of the city, and I’m sure he will continue to do great things, both here in Edinburgh and beyond.”

The Homeless World Cup co-founder, social entrepreneur and Recipient of the Edinburgh Award 2024, Mel Young MBE said: “I am honoured to receive the Edinburgh Award this year. Edinburgh is a stunning capital city, and I am proud to be one its citizens.

“The Homeless World Cup Foundation headquarters is in Edinburgh and our tournament connects people all over the globe. I would like to share this Award with the many hard-working people who have contributed to making the Homeless World Cup so impactful and successful.

“Also, this Award belongs to the real heroes of our work, the homeless people themselves who change their own lives through their involvement with our tournament and our operations across the world.”

Almost half a million workers to benefit from Living Wage boost

LIVING WAGE MOVEMENT CONTINUES TO GROW

Almost half a million Living Wage workers are set for a pay boost as over 15,000 Living Wage Employers are signed up to pay the new rates
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate independently calculated based solely on the actual cost of living and is different from the government’s National Living Wage, which is the legal minimum employers must pay for over-21s
The new real Living Wage rates are now worth over £2,262 more per year in the UK than the legal minimum, and over £4,700 more in London
Nearly £3.5bn in extra wages has gone to low paid workers since 2011

The Living Wage Foundation has revealed that the Real Living Wage will increase to £12.60 next year.

Almost half a million people working for more than 15,000 real Living Wage Employers throughout the country are set for a vital cost-of-living pay boost, as the real Living Wage rates rise to £12.60 an hour across the UK (60p or 5% increase), and £13.85 an hour in London (70p or 5.3% increase).

Recent research by the Living Wage Foundation shows that despite inflation easing, many of Britain’s 3.7m low paid workers are still struggling with the impact of years of high prices, with 42% having less than £10 left each week after covering essential expenses, 39% having used a food bank in the past year and 32% have skipped meals for financial reasons.

The real Living Wage vs the ‘National Living Wage’ – the difference

The real Living Wage is different to the government’s minimum wage rate, which for those over the age of 21 is often called the “National Living Wage”. It is a higher, voluntary rate that is independently calculated based solely on the actual cost of living. The Government’s rate is the legal minimum businesses are required to pay by law.

The real Living Wage applies to all workers over the age of 18 working for a Living Wage Employer and is £12.60 an hour. The ‘National Living Wage’ applies to those over the age of 21 and is worth £11.44 an hour.

A full-time worker earning the new, real Living Wage would earn £2,262 a year more than a worker earning the current government minimum (NLW), and £1,170 more than their current pay. In London, a full-time worker on the new real Living Wage rate would earn an additional £4,700 a year compared to a worker on the current NLW, and £1,365 more than their current pay.

Despite the economic challenges, in the past three years record numbers of employers have signed up to pay the real Living Wage, including to their third-party contractors like cleaners and security guards, with 1 in 9 employees now working for an accredited Living Wage Employer.

There are now over 15,000 Living Wage Employers, with recent accreditations including Pieminister, Fred Perry and the National Theatre. They join half of the FTSE 100 companies, household names like Aviva, Everton FC, Ikea, Burberry and LUSH as well as thousands of small businesses, who are choosing to pay the real Living Wage to provide workers and families with greater security and stability.

There are now 180 Living Hours Employers, including abrdn, Aviva, and West Brom Building Society, going beyond payment of the real Living Wage to also provide a guaranteed minimum of 16 hours work a week, a month’s notice of shift patterns and a contract that reflects hours worked.

Over 50 employers who want to ensure their workers never face poverty in retirement are signed up to the Living Wage Foundation’s Living Pension accreditation. Living Pension Employers provide a Living Pension savings level using either a cash (£2,950) or percentage (12%) target, with a minimum of 7%, or £1,720, contribution coming from the employer.

Katherine Chapman, Living Wage Foundation Director, said: “Low paid workers have been hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis and are still struggling to stay afloat amidst persistently high prices.

“The real Living Wage remains the only UK wage rate calculated based on actual living costs, and the new rates announced today will make a massive difference to almost half a million workers who will see their pay increase.

“It’s a challenging time for businesses too, which is why it is so encouraging to see the Living Wage movement continue to grow at pace. This year, we reached the major milestone of 15,000 accredited Living Wage Employers – with half of them signing up since 2021.

“Employers who want to go beyond the Government’s minimum wage and ensure their workers are paid in line with the real cost of living can look to these leading employers and accredit with the Living Wage Foundation.”

The City of Edinburgh Council is a Living Wage employer.

Responding to the news, Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Thousands of workers across Edinburgh are set for a boost in pay from May thanks to the new Living Wage rate.

“Helping our city’s workers as the cost of living soars, the rate set by the Living Wage Foundation will rise by 60p to £12.60 an hour across the UK.

“Too many people in our city have been pushed into deprivation because of insecure work. It really can happen to any of us and that is why the Living Wage is such a powerful tool for making sure people are paid fairly for their work.

“Considering the increasing pressures businesses are also under, we are so appreciative of the way Edinburgh employers continue to lead the way in Scotland, making Living Wage the norm.”

The city council is supporting calls for fairer pay in local government.

Following agreement by the Policy and Strategy Committee, the Council Leader will write to the Scottish and UK Governments requesting new funding for local councils to support a pay award for all workers, in line with calls from trade unions.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “There are 80,000 people living in poverty in Edinburgh and because of the soaring cost of living, in-work poverty is rising. One of the most effective ways we can prevent hardship is to provide people with a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

“We have close to 20,000 Council workers keeping our city clean, safe and moving and we’re calling on Government to properly and fully fund a fair pay award for each one.”

City of Edinburgh Council “must listen and act on community views”

It is crucial that the City of Edinburgh Council continues to engage with and then act on the views of its residents and communities as it considers options to make the significant savings needed, says spending watchdog the Accounts Commission.

The council isn’t alone in Scottish local government in having to make substantial savings. But the scale of savings needed – over £100 million by 2029 – means senior officers and councillors must work together to find sustainable ways to deliver differently, improve performance and ultimately reduce costs.

The council has ambitious plans to borrow money to improve housing and school buildings. But this will need to be managed carefully to ensure that plans are affordable and don’t have a detrimental impact on services.

Progress has been made since the Commission last reported, and many services are performing well. But now the council must address declining performance in areas including housing, waste and some aspects of street cleaning.

The Accounts Commission recognises the council’s ambitious plans to end poverty and become a net zero city by 2030.

Given current progress, however, there remains a significant amount of work to achieve these targets, not least in establishing cost implications.

Jo Armstrong, Chair of the Accounts Commission said: “We cannot underestimate the scale of financial challenge.

“The council has successfully achieved savings over recent years. But given increasing demand and financial pressures, the council must accelerate its transformation and change programme.

“Listening to and acting on the views of staff and local communities will be vital.

“The council has real opportunities, including the potential to raise more income. It shouldn’t use the potential of future income, however, to delay making difficult decisions now as challenges will only intensify.”

Council Leader, Cammy Day, said: “We’re encouraged by the Commission’s findings, which recognise the good progress the Council has made since 2020.

“We’ve delivered a lot of change at a time of huge pressure on our services and on our budget, but we’ve stayed true to our priorities of protecting day-to-day services and investing in a fairer, greener future. Our aims to eradicate poverty and become net-zero by 2030 are ambitious, but we need to be aspirational to make sure they stay at the top of our priority list.

“Our focus on getting the basics right for our residents, meanwhile, is also bearing fruit with Edinburgh now a top performing Council in Scotland for street cleanliness, and continued improvements in key areas such as road conditions.

“We acknowledge, however, that there is still much more to be done and we’ve targeted substantial additional resources into key services such as housing, where we know performance has to improve if we are to tackle Edinburgh’s housing emergency.

“We’re continuing to adopt new technologies to make it easier for residents to come to us for help and, as recognised in the report, we’re looking forward to realising the huge benefits our Visitor Levy proposals will bring from 2026 – which we forecast will raise over £100m for the city by 2030.

“It’s no secret, however, that ever more difficult financial decisions lie ahead. Despite the unique pressures that come with being Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh remains the lowest funded council per head in Scotland, which is having a huge impact on our finances.

“The latest projections show that we will face a budget shortfall of at least £30m next year and we’ll need to work even harder to ensure we can keep on delivering best value for the people of Edinburgh.”

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Council tenants urged to share views on how their rent should be spent

The City of Edinburgh Council is asking tenants to give their feedback on how it invests in Council homes, neighbourhoods, and services.

With just six weeks to go until this year’s consultation closes on Friday 29 November, tenants across the capital are being reminded to share their views on how they’d like their rent to be spent.

In February this year, councillors agreed to increase rent by 7% every year, for five years, starting in April 2024. The longer-term strategy gives tenants more certainty about the rent they pay and helps the Council better plan spending to improve homes and services.

The Council also introduced the Tenant Hardship Fund which offers financial assistance for tenants struggling to make rent payments. This year, the fund was increased to a maximum award of two fortnightly rent charges per tenant per year.

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Jane Meagher said: “We’re determined to provide a better service to our tenants, improve their homes, and build more places for people to live because everyone deserves a suitable and affordable place to call home.

“That’s why we want to make sure as many people as possible have the opportunity to share their views on how we spend and invest in their homes, neighbourhoods, and services. I’d urge every tenant to visit our website and share their priorities for how they’d like their rent to be spent.

“I also want tenants and residents’ groups to know that they can come to us if they’re worried about being able to pay their rent or have already missed payments.”

Find out more and share your views here at the consultation hub.

Tenants who are struggling to pay rent can speak to their housing officer or contact tenanthardshipfund@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Don’t miss out on Pension Credit

Are you missing out on Pension Credit?

If you’re of pension age & on a low income you may be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment to help with heating costs. You need to claim by 21 December.

Contact us to find out if you’re eligible or to refer someone:

http://edinburgh.gov.uk/benefits-grants/advice-shop?documentId=12262&categoryId=20127