Tag: city council

Residents and businesses encouraged to invest for a greener, healthier and fairer Edinburgh

EDINBURGH GREEN INVESTMENT PROGRAMME

The city council has launched a new investment programme enabling residents and businesses to invest in projects that contribute to a healthier, inclusive and thriving city.

The new investment initiative will give residents and local businesses the opportunity to support projects that reduce climate damaging emissions, prepare for the impacts of climate change and help to protect nature.

The Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and a nature emergency in 2023 reflecting the need for urgent and sustained action to reduce emissions and become a climate resilient and nature positive city.

Progress has already been made to make sure that Edinburgh is ready to cope with the challenges that a changing climate brings – the Climate Ready Edinburgh Plan and its associated  Implementation Plan include the approach the Council is taking to adapt and respond at a local and regional level.

While open to anyone, the new investment programme will enable Edinburgh residents and businesses to be actively involved by investing in projects that contribute to a healthier, inclusive and thriving city to live, work and do business in.

Funds will be used to deliver nature-based projects across the capital to reduce emissions, improve access to nature, offer cooler spaces during heatwaves, reduce flood risk during heavy rainstorms, and boost biodiversity.   

This investment phase will include tree planting and delivery of sustainable drainage systems such as rain gardens and rainwater planters in key parts of the city to prevent flooding.

The new investment programme, Edinburgh Green Investment, in partnership with Abundance Investment Ltd, encourages investment from a minimum of £5, with interest at a rate of 4.84%, paid every six months over the course of five years. The funding window will remain open until November 30 2026 or until the target of £1 million is reached.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “We’re already seeing the effects of a changing climate in Edinburgh with warmer and wetter weather causing damage to property, travel disruption, flooding and wildfires.

“When we declared a climate and nature emergency and set out our commitment to tackle the causes and consequences of a changing climate, we knew we couldn’t do it alone and would need the support of partner organisations, residents and businesses. It is encouraging that we are already making positive progress to make sure we’re prepared for the inevitable changes we face, but there’s more to do.

“I’m pleased that, alongside the projects and plans already in progress, our new investment initiative will enable our residents and businesses to play their part – helping to support the delivery of projects that will benefit the places where they live, work and visit. By working together, we can make a meaningful difference to ensure we’re ready to cope with a changing climate.”

Greens and Labour win Edinburgh by-election seats

TOUGH NIGHT FOR SNP

The results of the Southside/Newington (Ward 15) and Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) by-elections have been announced at Waverley Court.

Ruth Elliott (Scottish Labour Party) and Lorenzo Martinico (Scottish Greens) have been duly elected to serve in the City of Edinburgh Council for Ward 15 and Ward 17 respectively. Ruth Elliot received 2,153 votes, and Lorenzo Martinico (Scottish Greens) received 1,781 votes.

The new councillors were elected through the Single Transferable Vote system.

The turnout was poor – 6,741 votes (27.3%) in Ward 15 and 6,427 votes (22.9%) in Ward 17.

The declaration was made in the early hours of this morning (Friday 4 September) by Depute Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Chris Highcock.

Depute Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Chris Highcock, said: “I would like to welcome Councillors Elliot and Martinico into their new roles and wish them all the best as they begin serving their wards.

“My thanks goes to everyone who took part in these by-elections, alongside our elections team and council colleagues, who have been working hard behind the scenes over the last few months.”

SCOTTISH GREENS HAIL HISTORIC BY-ELECTION WIN

Portobello housing campaigner Lorenzo Martinico has made history by becoming the first Scottish Green to win a council by-election in the City of Edinburgh. 

Lorenzo is a local housing campaigner and was previously a postdoctoral researcher at Edinburgh University, specialising in computer security and digital privacy.

Reacting to the result, Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer MSP said: “This is a truly historic day for Edinburgh and the Scottish Greens. For the first time ever our capital has elected a Scottish Green councillor at a by-election, showing the failing Labour administration that Edinburgh demands better.

“By electing Lorenzo, voters in Portobello/Craigmillar have demanded radical change in Scotland’s capital. Just a few months ago, Greens won our first ever Holyrood constituency here in the heart of the city. This result confirms that we are fighting to win next May’s council elections in Edinburgh.”

“I know that Lorenzo will make a huge difference for the people of Portobello/Craigmillar. He will push to deliver urgently needed rent controls, tackle the climate emergency, and build a more affordable Edinburgh.”

Edinburgh Green Group co-convenor and fellow Portobello/Craigmillar councillor, Cllr Alys Mumford said: “Portobello-Craigmillar is now the first ward in Edinburgh to be represented by two Green Councillors, and residents there will benefit hugely from Lorenzo being their new local Councillor.

Alys added: “We’d like to congratulate Lorenzo on his election and also pay tribute to Isabella, who narrowly missed out on securing our second by-election win in Southside/Newington, but whose vote share increase reflects a growing desire for change.

“Green volunteers and activists ran a fantastic campaign across both wards and the results show that our message of hope is resonating with the people of Edinburgh.”

Lorenzo Martinico, the newly-elected Green councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar, said: “I am really honoured that my neighbours in Portobello/Craigmillar have chosen me to represent them as their councillor.

“I would like to thank the hundreds of Scottish Greens volunteers and supporters who have spent the last two months campaigning for us, securing our first by-election wins in the city. 

“It’s been an honour to be part of such a positive and energetic campaign. When I first moved to Edinburgh, I could never have imagined I would be elected as a councillor.

“There are thousands of people like me who weren’t born here but have chosen to make Edinburgh their home – I hope my election gives them a bit of hope, at a time when some in our community feel unsafe because of how they sound when they speak, because of the colour of their skin or their religion.

“I am looking forward to working to make a difference for the people of Portobello/Craigmillar.”

The by-elections were initiated by the resignation of two SNP city councillors who were elected as MSPs in May’s Scottish Parliament elections. Another two city councillors – Green Kayleigh Kinross‑O’Neill and Lib-Dem Sanne Dijstra Downie – also became MSPs in the Holyrood elections but both decided to stay on as councillors, carrying out dual roles until next May’s council elections.

Full details of the by-election results are available on the Council website.

Adult Education: Outdoor Classes

SKETCHING LANDSCAPES

Develop skills in making quick sketches to capture moments, buildings, scenes and events at beautiful landmarks around the city.

Wednesday mornings or afternoons for a 5 week term  

Book your place online or ringing 0131 556 7978

https://adulteducationedinburgh.spydus.co.uk/ Great rates Standard Fee: £84.70 Concession Fee £42.85 Reduced Fee £21.00

SKETCHING QUEENSFERRY

Enrol on this course to unwind and enjoy sketching quick images of the iconic landmarks.  One day course.

Thursday 17th September – 11am-4pm

Book your place online or ringing 0131 556 7978

https://adulteducationedinburgh.spydus.co.uk

Great rates Standard Fee: £26.50 Concession Fee/Reduced Fee £21.00

SUBURBAN STROLLS

There is just time to enrol on a gentle weekly walking tour, filled with fascinating facts about the city of Edinburgh – learn about the local history, interesting people and buildings.   

Excellent all over well being. Starts 8th  September

Tuesday afternoons for 10 weeks

Book your place online or ringing 0131 556 7978

https://adulteducationedinburgh.spydus.co.uk

Great rates Standard Fee: £105.85 Concession Fee: £53.55  Reduced Fee £21.00

City Council: Clarification on Council Housing allocation following media misinformation

Last week, an article in the media and subsequent posts on social media channels, inaccurately reported details about how we prioritise and allocate council housing.

It is important that we address misinformation and set out the facts.

Status of those applying for council housing

  • We cannot house asylum seekers. This is a matter managed by the Home Office, not the Council. 
  • People who have been assessed and granted ‘Leave to Remain’ status by the Home Office have legal rights to services including access to housing and other public services. They are afforded the same process, support and respect as every other applicant.
  • It is entirely false to say people in this position have been prioritised for housing. 
  • We provide advice and assistance to any individual or household who declares themself homeless and this can, but does not always, include the provision of accommodation.

How we prioritise council housing

  • To address the housing emergency in Edinburgh and to reduce the number of people staying in unsuitable temporary accommodation, we temporarily paused the letting of council homes and accelerated our work to bring empty council housing back into use.
  • This has allowed us to prioritise temporary housing for people assessed as legally homeless and to reduce the number of people staying in unsuitable accommodation in accordance with Scottish and UK housing legislation. This does not mean that people in this position have a permanent council house.

Council by-elections this Thursday

By-elections in Southside/Newington (Ward 15) and Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) take place this Thursday (3 September).

We’re urging residents in these wards to remember their polling cards and to cast their votes.

Residents in these wards who are aged 16 or over and have registered to vote can participate in Thursday’s by-elections.

One new councillor will be elected for each ward. The current electorate for Ward 15 is 24,666 and for Ward 17 it’s 28,062.

Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: “With these by-elections fast approaching, I encourage residents in these wards to take this opportunity to have their say on Thursday. Please remember your polling cards and check your polling place. These new councillors will represent your communities on issues affecting your local area and Edinburgh as a whole.

“Our elections pages provide useful information on how the Single Transferable Vote system works – you can rank candidates in order of preference, choosing as many or few as you’d like.

“If you’re voting by post, please return your completed ballot as soon as possible to make sure your vote is counted.

Please check your polling place as this may have changed since the last time you voted. If you bring your polling card to vote this will help us and speed up the process, but this isn’t mandatory.

A full list of the candidates standing in both wards is available on the Council’s website.

Further information on voting in Ward 15 and Ward 17, including accessibility information and spoken ballot papers are also on the Council’s website.

Polling places will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 3 September.

Polling Places (Ward 15):

  • Nelson Hall Community Centre (New for 2026)
  • Blackford and Grange Parish Church Centre
  • St. Catherine’s Argyle Church
  • Newington Trinity Church
  • Reid Memorial Church Hall
  • 75th Braid Scouts’ Millar Hall
  • Cameron House Community Education Centre

Polling Places (Ward 17):

  • Portobello Library (New for 2026)
  • Branch Out Together
  • St Mark’s Episcopal Church (New for 2026)
  • Bingham Community Centre
  • St Martins Parish Church
  • Craigmillar Library
  • Hays Business Centre
  • Newcraighall Leith Victoria FC

The by-elections will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference, rather than using a single cross. Voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they like.

The electronic count will take place at Waverley Court, starting at the close of poll at 10pm on September 3. 

“IS EDINBURGH  POLITICS AS LEFT AS IT THINKS IT IS?”

 The Communist Party of Britain’s (CPB) candidates in Edinburgh’s two by-elections have called out political opinion in the city.

The party is standing candidates Richard Shillcock (Southside/Newington ward) and Peter Olech (Portobello/Craigmillar ward) in the September 3rd council by-elections.

The Communist candidates note Edinburgh’s reputation for liberal politics. Many voters—particularly young ones—across Labour, Greens and the SNP see themselves as voting for a much better, new kind of Scotland.

But Communists are presenting crucially different policies to what is on offer from the other parties.

Communists say particular policies of Edinburgh’s established parties might sound good in isolation but they are overshadowed by the liberal commitment to rejoining the EU and/or to Scottish “independence”.

The EU. Rejoining the EU means accepting the EU’s foundational principles of the free movement of capital, goods and services, and its restrictions on state funding of industry.

Communists say we need to trade extensively with Europe but we need to be able to control the movement of capital and we need to be able to direct state-led investment if working people are ever to own and control a rebuilt productive economy.

“Independence”. Similarly, we need to control our own currency. A separate Scotland, in or out of the EU, means losing our central bank. Greece’s debt crisis had its roots in adopting the euro and losing its central bank.

Communists say the Scottish people have the right to decide whether to secede from the UK, but that better prospects for working people lie in strengthening working class organisation across Britain to win deeper and deeper federal autonomy in which working people own and control the productive economy.

Housing. Few idealistic voters would say “just let the market sort out housing”. But that is exactly what is happening when other parties’ housing policy is for a mix of measures like “affordable housing” at the expense of council housing. Communists say only large-scale, permanent investment in council housing, owned and run by the local authority, can solve the housing problem.

Women’s rights. Communists say that we need to urgently implement the Supreme Court ruling on sex in the Equality Act 2010. Local government should fully uphold women’s rights and protections under the Act, including the right to single-sex services. The Scottish Government should enforce the Act.

Violence against women. Liberal activists have been arguing that prostitution is “sex work”, that it is a mutually consensual transaction, that it can be empowering and that it should be decriminalised and destigmatised.

Communists say prostitution is not work. A woman’s body is not a workplace. Prostitution is unique sexual exploitation, reflecting class and sex inequalities. We need to support women to exit prostitution, with zero tolerance towards the sexual exploitation of women by men. 

Caring for each other. There is strong liberal support—in the Greens, LibDems and SNP—favouring assisted dying.

Communists stand with disabled activists in opposing assisted dying. It cannot be made safe. It will disproportionately endanger disabled people. Communists call for adequate funding for end-of-life care.

The local by-elections were triggered following the resignation of two local SNP councillors who were recently elected as MSPs to Holyrood. 

The Communist Party urges voters across Southside/Newington and Portobello/Craigmillar to use their ballot papers to vote for the policies they believe in—ones that will defend and extend the rights and the quality of life of working people.

Greens welcome expansion of Firework Control Zones

City of Edinburgh Council Has Passed The Most Extensive List of Firework Control Zones So Far

Animals and vulnerable residents in Edinburgh will benefit from protections from fireworks noise, as the city has confirmed an extension of the successful Firework Control Zones policy, championed by Greens.

Five FCZs for two years were confirmed for Corstorphine, Longstone, Gracemount, Moredun and Sighthill/Broomhouse with a further five at Lochend, Liberton, Stenhouse/Gaskell, Wester Hailes and West Pilton. These join existing Zones in Balerno, Calton Hill, Niddrie and Seafield.

14 Zones will operate in total.

Edinburgh Green spokesperson for Culture and Communities Dan Heap welcomed the move saying: “Fireworks noise an be extremely distressing for vulnerable residents and also pets, as almost any dog and cat owner will tell you, and we also have strong evidence that they pollute the air and water.

“That’s why it is so crucial we have today extend FCZs further, encompassing a large part of the city.

“I am proud of the role Greens have played in championing these essential protections for people, paws and  planet.”

Community Moment of Remembrance

FRIDAY 25th SEPTEMBER 6 – 7.30pm at NEWKIRKGATE

On 25th September, I would like to invite anyone who has been affected by knife crime to come along to the Knife Angel (writes LISA PETRIE).

This will be an opportunity for us to come together, remember those we have lost, and show our support for those who have been injured or affected by knife crime.

If you have lost someone to knife crime, been injured yourself, or know someone whose life has been impacted, please feel welcome to join us.

I would also encourage you to bring a photograph of your loved one, yourself, or someone affected, if you feel comfortable doing so. We will also be lighting candles in remembrance and to honour those whose lives have been changed forever.

Everyone affected by knife crime is welcome.

Let’s come together as a community, remember those we have lost, support those who are still with us, and stand united against knife crime.

The Knife Angel will take centre stage at the Kirkgate at the bottom of Leith Walk in Edinburgh from September 1st to September 30th 2026.

Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland, Places for People Scotland and other partners will be working with schools, businesses and communities to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives and the impact of violence.

Granton & District CC comments on ongoing traveller situation

UPDATE ON TRAVELLER ENCAMPMENT

WE (Granton& District Community Council) are aware of community concerns around the continuing occupation of Scottish Government land at Waterfront Avenue / Granton Park Avenue, which is earmarked for The Art Works development.

The Community Council acknowledges the frustration felt by local residents about the length of time it is taking for this complex issue to be resolved.

An appeal hearing in relation to the eviction order took place in early August, and the judgement was issued at the Court of Session on Thursday (27 August). It found in the Scottish Government’s favour, upholding the eviction order. However, it is worth noting that a further appeal is possible.

As a Community Council, we hope to receive further updates on next steps once available, and will do our best to communicate this to residents in good time.

View the news reports about the judgement:

BBC News (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgwd9l5210o)

and STV News (https://news.stv.tv/…/traveller-family-to-be-evicted…).

GRANTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

£857,000 investment creates sport and physical activity opportunities for Edinburgh’s young people

Children and young people aged three to 26 will be able to take part in a range of free and low-cost activities thanks to funding from the Summer of Sport initiative in partnership with sportscotland.

Inspired by the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, the programme aims to encourage more children and young people to get active, try new sports and enjoy the physical, social, and mental wellbeing benefits of participation.

Delivered by the Council, Edinburgh Leisure, the University of Edinburgh, local sports clubs and community organisations, the funding supports free and subsidised holiday and regular activities that began during the summer holidays and are taking place until the end of March 2027.

This includes swimming, tennis, football, rugby and opportunities for children and young people with additional support needs. It will also expand community sport programmes, provide more opportunities in areas experiencing higher levels of poverty, and support young people who are care experienced, unaccompanied, or learning English.

Investment will also help develop the city’s sport and physical activity workforce through new coaching opportunities, qualifications, and training. The investment includes a £170,000 grant for local sports clubs and community organisations to deliver activities for young people at greater risk of poverty.

Cllr Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “This is a great opportunity for children and young people to get active, try something new like lawn bowling or cricket and enjoy the benefits of taking part in sport.

“Through the Summer of Sport programme, we’re working with partners across Edinburgh to provide more free and affordable opportunities that are inclusive, accessible, and shaped around the needs of local communities.

“This investment will help more young people take part in sport, while also strengthening local partnerships, developing skills and creating a lasting legacy beyond the summer.”

Cllr James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convener, said: “Every young person deserves the opportunity to be active, build confidence and develop new skills, and cost shouldn’t be a barrier to that.

“By working with schools, community organisations, and sports clubs across Edinburgh, we’re creating more opportunities for children and young people to stay active, make new friends and discover sports they can continue to enjoy for years to come.”

Perrotine Orr, Operations Director of Edinburgh Leisure, said: “This investment is helping us create more opportunities for children and young people across Edinburgh to take part in sport and physical activity, regardless of their background or circumstances.

“We have already seen strong engagement throughout the summer, and the real opportunity now is to build on that momentum over the coming months.

“By continuing to provide free and affordable activities until March 2027, we can help more young people develop confidence, make connections, improve their wellbeing and establish healthy habits that last a lifetime.”

Further information about activities and how to take part will be available on the Council website and the Edinburgh Leisure website.