city council – Page 97 – The NEN

Basement Jaxx to headline Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2021

Grammy winning, electronic music duo headline Party alongside Scottish DJ and presenter Arielle Free

Tickets for Party at the Bells headlined by Basement Jaxx (DJ Set), supported by Arielle Free, are on sale now available here.

The electric duo will take to the Ross Bandstand stage under the famous Edinburgh Castle backdrop to perform hits from their DJ set such as Where’s Your Head At, Do Your Thing, Romeo and Oh My Gosh!

The double BRIT and Grammy winners will be supported by BBC Radio 1 DJ, and Scotland’s answer to Annie Mac, Arielle Free, who will be returning to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay after ringing in the bells in 2019. Party goers can prepare themselves for more bangers than the midnight fireworks, making it the best place to welcome the new year!

Garden Access Tickets for Party at the Bells are now sold out, a limited number of Premium Garden Access Tickets for Party at the Bells went on sale today (Tuesday 9 November) at 10am.

Party at the Bells: Street Access tickets will allow revellers to view Basement Jaxx’s DJ set through a series of screens as they are beamed onto the street from the Ross Bandstand. Party goers will also enjoy interactive street theatre entertainment from Close-Act Street Theatre, who will be joined by Scottish based PyroCeltica with more acts to be announced soon.

The world-renowned midnight firework display will also return with a bang, accompanied by a special soundtrack from Basement Jaxx themselves.

Underbelly Co-Directors, Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, said: ‘Basement Jaxx are world class DJs and we’re bringing them to Edinburgh for the biggest night of the year!

“Nothing brings people together like live music and, after a year like no other, we can’t wait to see them on stage in Edinburgh, helping us to see 2021 out in style.’

Basement Jaxx duo, Felix Burton and Simon Ratcliffe said: “Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is an iconic event known to artists around the world.

“The crowds in Edinburgh are always full of atmosphere and we know it will be a special night heading into 2022.”

Cllr Cammy Day, Depute Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Edinburgh is THE place to be to celebrate Hogmanay and it’s great to have the return of live events including music from Basement Jaxx to herald 2022.

“The past year has been very challenging right across the globe and for us, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is such a fantastic way to close 2021 and bring a shared sense of renewed hope and optimism for the year ahead.”

In a showcase of some of the best of Scottish music, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival will also see Greyfriars Kirk play host to imaginative contemporary folk act, Breabach, on 29 December whilst local singer-songwriter, Dougie Maclean OBE and three x BRIT Award winner, Eddi Reader OBE take to the stage on 30 and 31 December respectively.

Working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Government, Underbelly is meticulously planning Edinburgh’s Hogmanay in the context of Covid-19 and is dedicated to creating a safe and fun environment for the 2021 celebrations. Ticket holders for the Party at the Bells and the Torchlight Procession, who are aged 18 and over, will need to show a Covid-19 passport to enter the events.

For more information and tickets, please visit:

https://www.edinburghshogmanay.com/

Helping young people into work being placed at the forefront of Council’s economic recovery drive

The City of Edinburgh Council is channelling crucial Young Person’s Guarantee funding into 14 employability programmes to help as many young people as possible get into work.

As Scotland’s Capital looks to build a stronger, fairer and more sustainable economy, councillors at the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee this week were given an update on the diverse range of projects and programmes, both new and existing across the city, that will receive grant money.

These programmes will further help young people, aged between 16-24 years old, to prepare or give them the tools to find work.

They are open to all young people, regardless of background or experience, but will also specifically help and support young people who have additional barriers to securing a job. The help that young people can expect to receive will include mental health support, early skills training, practical skills training, as well as in-work support and mentoring as they progress into employment.

The funding supports projects and activities running between October 2021 and March 2022.

The successful providers and their programmes that young people can access are as follows (in no particular order):

Cyrenians “Key to Potential – Key to College” and “Getting Together”

Citadel “Futureheads”

Impact Arts “Impact Arts (Projects) Ltd”

Access to Industry “EdinMe Project” and “Access Mechanics”

Street League “Connected”

RUTS “Inspire”

Young Enterprise Scotland “Bridge 2 Business – Edinburgh”

Move On “Move On Employability Pathway”

ENABLE Scotland “Breaking Barriers (Edinburgh Napier University)”

Articulture Cultural Trust “Creative Potentials”

Adoption UK Scotland

Barnardos “Drive2Work”

The funding is being delivered through the city’s own Edinburgh Guarantee, which earlier this year expanded to help people of all ages access fair work, training and employment, and has been provided by the Scottish Government, through its Young Persons Guarantee ambition.

Councillor Kate Campbell, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “We’re really pleased that there were so many good ideas and new, innovative programmes put forward by organisations across the city. The pandemic, and then Brexit, have caused so much disruption to people’s working lives and livelihoods, but we’re particularly mindful of the impact on young people and people facing additional barriers.

“We want to make sure that everyone, but especially those at the early stages of their working life or people who already face disadvantage, get fair access to education, training, skills development and good quality jobs.

“The Young Person’s Guarantee grant programme will help to increase those opportunities and will complement the already extensive support provided across the city.

“As a council we spend almost £5million a year supporting people who need a bit of extra help to find work and build skills and confidence. It’s never been more needed.

“Alongside, we’re making Edinburgh a Living Wage City, so that we’re not just helping people to access jobs, but good quality jobs. As we move through to economic recovery it’s vital that everyone can share in Edinburgh’s success, so making sure that work is fair, and people can earn a living wage, is a top priority.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Vice Convener, said: “Our Edinburgh Guarantee promises that no one will be left behind. Through this small grant programme we hope to make sure those who need our help will be given the opportunity to access the support they need so they are ready for whatever training or career aspirations they have their sights on.

“We also want to make sure that this is spread out across the city and that those experiencing the greatest barriers get the most help from these grant programmes.

It is hoped that YPG funding from the Scottish Government will be available in 2022/23 so work with providers to continue projects where the uptake and impact on young person accessing those programmes has been positive.

For anyone looking for more information about the Edinburgh Guarantee they can get in touch by emailing edinburghguarantee@edinburgh.gov.uk

Libraries’ Digital Help Surgeries

We can help you get started or troubleshoot problems with our ebook, audiobook, magazine and newspaper services.

During November we are running one-to-one digital help sessions on Tuesday afternoons in the Central Library.

You must book in advance by emailing informationdigital@edinburgh.gov.uk with your name and phone number. We will phone you back to arrange a session time.

Covid-19 arrangements for this session

A few things will be different about this session in order to keep our staff and customers safe

· Booking is essential

· Please attend the session on your own if possible (if someone needs to come with you, they must be from the same household)

· You will be required to wear a mask throughout the session, unless exempt

· On arrival you will be requested to complete the Test & Protect process via the QR Code scan or on paper. The information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR requirements and to be disposed of after 21 days

· Hand sanitiser is available throughout Central Library including the location of the session

· You will be asked to remain 1m socially distant throughout the session

· While at the session please follow good hygiene practices (avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and dispose of it safely)

· Please do not attend the session if you display symptoms of coronavirus

· We are following guidance in line with the Scottish Government Covid-19 guidance – https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-safe-and-protecting-others/

By booking a help session, you agree that you have read and agree with the above guidance.

Our team can also support you remotely via phone call or email. Please contact us via email at: informationdigital@edinburgh.gov.uk or message us on Facebook or Twitter.

School pupils inspire Edinburgh residents and businesses to take up net zero challenge

Edinburgh’s residents and businesses are being urged to follow the lead of the city’s young people in taking action on climate change by joining the Council’s new Net Zero Challenge.

The challenge aims to encourage citizen action across the city and comes as COP26 climate talks get underway in Scotland.

Pupils at St Peter’s RC Primary school to the south of the city centre are growing produce in the school vegetable garden for use in meals and snacks, as part of the school-wide approach to support the city’s 2030 net zero target.

Pumpkins grown in the school’s vegetable garden have been used to make pumpkin muffins, apples have been turned into chutney, and other seasonal produce such as leeks and potatoes for soup. Food recycling is commonplace at the school with waste turned into compost for the vegetable garden to nurture new crops.

Pupils also turn non-recyclable plastic items such as crisp packets and snack wrappers into ‘ecobricks’. After washing the wrappers, the pupils cut them into small pieces and stuff them tightly into used bottles. The ecobricks are collected and can be joined together to make furniture and in structures for gardens and play parks.

Inspired by the pupils actions the City of Edinburgh Council is calling on people of all ages, and businesses, to follow their example and take part in the Net Zero Challenge and highlight through social media what they are doing to cut their carbon emissions using the #MyClimateAction hashtag.

Edinburgh residents and businesses are being encouraged to measure their carbon footprint to discover where they can take climate action in their personal life, with advice and support on hand at NetZeroEdinburgh.org

Participants taking up the Net Zero Challenge can visit NetZeroEdinburgh.org which features ideas on how residents and business can make a difference – such as:

calculating your carbon footprint
looking at the way you heat and power your home to make it more energy efficient
choosing public transport or trips by foot or bike
thinking about what you buy and where you buy it from to make things last.

Council leader Adam McVey said: “Edinburgh’s young people are strongly advocating for change and explaining why we need to tackle climate change to secure their future. We know our residents and businesses understand the need to change to get to net-zero.

“Awareness of climate change and the impacts on our city has never been higher, but we know from recent climate consultations that some people are still unsure of where they can start taking action.

“Measuring your carbon footprint is free and easy to do. And it lets you know the areas of life where you can make the biggest impact on your personal emissions.

“With COP26 taking place in Scotland, this is the perfect opportunity for all of us across our Capital to work together and take steps to cut our emissions. By all working together we can make a difference and hit net-zero by 2030 and secure the future of our children and grandchildren.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day added: “Hitting Edinburgh’s net zero target by 2030 is something that everyone who lives and works in the city will need to play their part in. That’s why it’s really it’s great to see the pupil’s at St Peter’s leading the way on climate action within their school as small changes do add up as we all do something different.

“That’s why we’ve launched the Net Zero Challenge as a quick and easy way to find out how you can help make a difference and create a cleaner, greener city.

“Because we all have a responsibility to act now and play our part in protecting our city for generations to come.”

Teacher Catherine McCabe, who helps lead St Peter’s sustainable activities, said: “Taking steps to be more sustainable and cutting our carbon footprint has become part of daily life at school.

“Whether it’s growing food in our vegetable garden, making compost from food waste or turning crisp wrappers into building blocks that can be used in making furniture, the kids are so involved in playing their part, from nursery and as they move through the school.

“It’s really inspiring to see the children getting so hands-on at this age and developing such good habits they can carry through their lives and, along the way, inspire others in the city to do their bit to take action on climate change.”

Edinburgh set to take part in new Internet of Things trial

Scottish Councils create safer and more sustainable communities through smart tech

The city council is one of six Scottish local authorities – alongside Scotrail, Blackwood Homes and Care and Borders College – set to benefit from a new Internet of Things (IoT) trial which has the potential to transform the experience of people who live within communities across the country.

The ‘IoT Accelerator Packs’ are being supplied by North, the UK’s leading IoT service and solutions provider.

The innovative packs are set to provide access to real time data insights on waste management, air quality, social housing solutions, building health and water monitoring capabilities. Used in the right way, they have the potential to transform the ways in which local communities live and work and can deliver a wide range of societal and economic benefits.

With access to the Scottish Government-backed national Internet of Things network, IoT Scotland, and funded IoT Accelerator Packs, the organisations involved can investigate and evaluate the power of IoT technology. Scotrail, Blackwood Homes and Care and Borders College are taking part in the innovative trial alongside the following:

Aberdeen City Council
Angus Council
East Renfrewshire Council
City of Edinburgh Council
Fife Council
Highland Council

Working closely with each organisation, North determined the services which would most benefit from smart solutions.

Comprising of sensors and the back-end services required to deploy the selected pack, the IoT Accelerator Packs are accompanied with professional services to facilitate the rollout. The North team will then evaluate and capture feedback, with deployment and support fully funded by the provider.

Fife Council has selected intelligent waste management technology. This will help to reduce their carbon footprint and operational costs using data to monitor smart bins, which align waste collection frequency with demand, significantly reducing costs and emissions.

Scotrail, Edinburgh City, Angus and East Renfrewshire Council will have the ability to measure air quality within train stations, council buildings or across a busy town centre, measuring and reporting on temperature, humidity and pressure, alongside primary air pollutants, enabling environmental teams to access and collate measurements in real-time more easily and frequently than traditional manual processes.

Similarly, Blackwood Homes and Care will be implementing the use of sensors within its social housing to monitor and improve living environments. This will ensure parameters such as moisture control and ventilation are adequate, providing a healthy living environment for tenants whilst also protecting the fabric of the building.

Borders College will use the technology to monitor levels of CO₂ within the working environment across its building. With high levels of CO₂ saturation proven to have a detrimental effect on an occupant’s health, affecting productivity, comfort, absence rates and learning retention.

Aberdeen City Council will implement smart sensors to monitor its water, alongside Highland Council, which has already successfully adopted the smart IoT sensor technology across its schools, care homes, leisure centres and council offices to gather a range of data and insights.

The addition of water monitoring is set to help each of the organisations maximise their water safety, by continuously monitoring and measuring water temperature to identify and reduce the risk of legionella and other bacteria.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, Kate Forbes, said: “These innovative accelerator packs have been designed to help organisations explore Internet of Things (IoT) solutions which can deliver sustainable social and economic benefits for local communities.

“Digital technologies like IoT help drive forward our economic recovery while reducing business costs and enabling progress towards net-zero emissions.”

Alasdair Rettie, Group Technical Director at North, said: “IoT technology has the power to truly transform our lives, from revolutionising the ways in which we work, to ensuring that we live in safe and healthy environments. Whilst providing us with the ability to access data which allows us to make informed decisions to improve services across communities.

“We are elated to assist these 10 organisations across Scotland, as they pave the way to use IoT technology to its fullest potential, enhancing their operations and existing systems. From connecting large scale cities to remote communities, the opportunities brought about by the implementation of IoT within our digital connectivity infrastructure are endless, particularly as we work towards Scotland’s social and economic recovery.

“The use of such solutions provides extensive opportunities and a vast number of benefits, and we are pleased to be able to provide these organisations with this opportunity.”

IoT Scotland is the UK’s most advanced IoT network, and it is hoped that through the ‘IoT Accelerator Packs’, local authorities will realise the benefits insightful and actionable IoT data can deliver, driving the adoption of IoT technologies and smart solutions to revolutionise the lives of people throughout Scotland.

Data gathered by these smart solutions will remain the property of the council and all data will be handled in accordance with data protection and GDPR regulations. Councils will have the opportunity to pay to expand and continue the solutions after the initial 12-month period if they so wish.

Councils interested in taking part in the IoT Accelerator Pack programme should get in touch through the following email address: contact@north.tech.

Ten-year housing investment plan on track despite construction slowdown, Council insists

The city council says it is on track and committed to delivering on its ambition to deliver 20,000 affordable homes by 2027, despite the UK-wide impact on the development of affordable homes following the global pandemic.

In its Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2022-27 report being presented to the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee next week (4 November) councillors will be asked to approve the proposals ahead of submission to the Scottish Government.

The SHIP 2022-2027 highlights the progress being made which includes the projection that 7,500 new affordable homes will be approved by 31 March 2022 and 5,790 completed. There are currently over 2,100 homes under construction on 34 sites across the city.

A ‘strong pipeline’ has also been identified of 11,118 affordable homes that could be approved for site start and 10,124 potential completions by 2027.

Despite over 18 months of disruption for the entire Scottish house building sector, it is anticipated that the delivery of the interim milestone of 10,000 homes will be achieved midway through 2023. There are currently 25 projects, equating to 1,456 approvals, that have been delayed, primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 75% of these projects have just slipped into the subsequent year.

This comes in the wake of national pressures on the UK and Scottish house building sector. In the Scottish Government’s “Housing statistics quarterly update: September 2021” it sets out that in June 2021 affordable housing approvals were down 36%, compared to the same time last year. Affordable housing completions are also down 5% year-on-year, but when compared to 2019, there is a reduction of over 15%.

Added to this, as construction projects worldwide have recommenced post-pandemic, a surge in materials demand and prices has been seen which build on the pressures being seen as a result of the UK’s exit from Europe. The Office for National Statistics projects a rise of 7-8% in material prices, with increases for certain materials, such as timber, expected to more than double during the course of the year.

Councillor Kate Campbell, Convener for the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee, said: There are extreme pressures on housing in Edinburgh and a desperate need for more affordable homes.

“We’re doing all we can to drive forward our house building programme so that our residents can have permanent homes that are energy efficient, safe and affordable. There are constraints, from Brexit and Covid, which have had a severe impact on supply chains, material costs and the labour market, which are affecting housebuilding across the UK.

“That said, the good news is that this is the largest ever SHIP brought forward. It sets out a positive long-term picture and shows we are on track to deliver a programme for 20,000 affordable homes over ten years.

“We’ll continue to work hard with our housing association partners to build more homes for social rent. But we need to look at what more we can do. We were the first local authority to develop an Affordable Housing Policy through planning – where 25% of the land on any new development must be given for affordable housing. Now, through the City Plan, we’re proposing to increase the affordable allocation from 25% to 35%.

“We have a strong track record in delivering new social rented homes. This has resulted in an additional £36 million of grant funding being given to Edinburgh over the last five years. We’ll work hard to make sure this continues, alongside making the case to the Scottish Government for increased investment in social housing in our city.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, Vice Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee said: “The Edinburgh housing market has remained resilient throughout the pandemic, however the full impact of lockdown & the continuation of restrictions, combined with Brexit, on the wider economy & the job market is not fully known.

“Those on low incomes will continue to be the greatest affected and therefore affordable housing needs to play a key role in a green and sustainable recovery.”

In term of delivery, funding and land supply remain two key challenges for delivery. The SHIP will require £329.6m in grant funding, or £65.9m per annum on average, or a 29% required annual increase, based on current benchmarks in order to meet the overall ambition of 20,000 homes. The Council will continue to work with Scottish Government and its partners to stretch available grant funding as far as possible to maximise the number of social rented homes that can be delivered.

While our Registered Social Landlord (RSL) programme is almost entirely dependent upon private developers bringing forward sites for development through the Affordable Housing Plan (AHP), we’re looking to mitigate this risk, through our Land Strategy by working on 20-minute partnerships with private sector & RSLs, inviting interest from the private sector to bringing forward opportunities for Council led delivery and working closely with public sector partners.

Strategic-Housing-Investment-Plan-SHIP-2022-27 Download

COP26: “We need to lead by example”, say council leaders

Edinburgh’s ‘Capital Coalition’ council leaders have laid out the scale of Council climate action and investment in Edinburgh to date as part of moves to secure a legacy of climate action from COP26.

The City of Edinburgh Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has set an ambitious target of becoming a net zero city by 2030, 15 years ahead of the national Scottish target.

Major programmes of work including: £1.3bn Granton Waterfront development – the largest net zero redevelopment undertaken in the city – and a £2.8bn Council House building investment programme and domestic building retrofit programme, are key projects which will encourage change in Edinburgh at the speed and scale needed.

The Council also committed £0.5m in funding this year along with £4m of related capital investment to improve Edinburgh’s parks, food growing sites and urban forests.

And over the next 10 years, the Council is committed to spending £68m to improve road safety and to further develop infrastructure to make it easier to walk, cycle and wheel around the city.

The Council has also been developing a 2030 Climate Strategy for the city which lays out how it will enable, support and deliver action to meet the city’s net zero ambition by working with leading strategic partners in Edinburgh. The final strategy and accompanying implementation plan are set to be published at the end of November following the global climate conference.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “The issue of climate change affects everyone in our world, Edinburgh faces the same challenges and opportunities in tackling the climate crisis as those world leaders will discuss at COP26.

“Scotland’s seven major cities make up half of the nation’s emissions and have the greatest opportunity and potential to deliver innovation and rapid acceleration of climate action. As Scotland’s capital city, we need to lead by example.

“Our vision is that by 2030, Edinburgh will be a net zero and climate resilient city. To get there we need to improve our air quality, protect our green spaces and make it easier for more people to walk, cycle and wheel for every day journeys. We also need to build warm, good quality places to live and work.

“The Council will keep on working with communities, businesses and residents to help deliver the aims in our draft climate strategy. Edinburgh has a strong record of climate action and together we can make fast progress and be at the forefront of funding opportunities to invest in change.”

Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019 the Council has also:

Joined the Race to Zero, a global campaign to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth. Edinburgh has also joined Race to Resilience, its sister campaign, helping to prepare for the impacts of climate change that are already set to happen
Been awarded the maximum of six badges by the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy – in recognition of the city’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts
Become the only local authority in Scotland (so far) to sign up to the newly launched national Civic Charter on Climate
Committed to developing Edinburgh as a sustainable food city after becoming a signatory to the International Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration.

The Council has also taken a number of actions within its own organisation including:

Invested £1.1m in beginning the task of retrofitting our public buildings in 2021
Committed to ensure that we no longer develop public buildings with boilers we will need to retrofit;
Committed to all new council buildings being Passivhaus standard
Delivered 60% reduction in Council organisational emissions – substantially overshooting original targets
Become a founding signatory to the Edinburgh Climate Compact, pledging to reduce operational emissions in line with the city’s target
Committed to invest in providing training to colleagues to develop their awareness and understanding of climate change and what changes they can take in their professional lives which could lead to a reduction in emissions

Depute Leader Cammy Day added: “Edinburgh offers a huge opportunity to invest in net zero action to build a better future for us all.

“Council action already under way across the city will support the reduction in harmful greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change and will also make Edinburgh a better healthier place to live.

“However, no individual partner has the knowledge, skills, capacity or resources to deliver our net zero target on their own.

“Whether that’s the choices people make in their everyday lives, the way small businesses operate, or the strategic, policy and spending decisions made by public and private sector organisations, It will only be through collective effort that we will ensure Edinburgh can make fast progress to meet our climate targets and be at the forefront of funding opportunities to invest in change.

“And we will continue to build on our successes as a city and collaborate to make sure we achieve a legacy to COP26 for the good of the planet and all future generations who will live, work and visit this amazing place.”

Next steps for Council climate action

As part of the legacy of COP26, the final 2030 Climate Strategy for Edinburgh and accompanying implementation plan are set to be published at the end of November.

Annual city and Council emissions will also be disclosed publicly at the end of the month through CDP (formally the Carbon Disclosure Project) and the Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report.

Progress will also continue of the seven areas of work identified as having the most impact on Edinburgh’s emissions. These include:

Creating a partnership of financial investment and delivery organisations to develop a business case for how all Edinburgh’s citizens will be able to affordably retrofit their homes in partnership with the Scottish Futures Trust.
Developing an Edinburgh Community Climate Forum to help empower citizens, encourage behaviour change and community activism on climate action. It will be sponsored by the Council and delivered independently by EVOC and Our Future Edinburgh.
Bringing forward business case proposals for community energy generation schemes across the city, with Energy for Edinburgh.
Working with Lothian Buses to decarbonise their bus fleet and developing a plan for shared public service charging hubs.
Developing a costed climate change risk assessment for the city and a new city adaptation plan by 2022/23, alongside a regional approach.
Establishing a business led Economic Transition Forum and also a new Business for Good programme through Edinburgh CAN B to provide practical support and training for businesses across the city to transition to net zero.
Developing a citywide programme/pipeline of green investment proposals with a Climate Strategy Investment Programme Board.

Additional action and investment towards net zero

In 2021-22 the Council committed to:

£8.4 million to finish upgrading our street lighting to energy-efficient LED lights
Trams to Newhaven project including £2.4 million to support local businesses
£7.6 million to continue to replace more than 200 vehicles with lower emissions ones
£250,000 to expand EV charging infrastructure for the Council’s own fleet, ensuring that the Council leads by example by making our vehicle fleet carbon zero.
£200,000 to improve the Council’s recycling performance.
£500,000 to drive forward the delivery of 20-minute neighbourhoods, making it easier for people to get to and access the services they need in their community.

Sean Bell scandal: Council says sorry … twenty years too late

Councillors have unanimously agreed a series of recommendations including reforming the way it investigates complaints about abuse.

This follows the findings of an independent inquiry into how the Council handled complaints about the conduct of an employee who took his own life after being charged with serious sexual offences.

Susanne Tanner’s devastating report highlights catastrophic failings by the city council in dealing with a serious allegations which were first raised MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS AGO.

The inquiry was finally commissioned in October 2020 by Chief Executive Andrew Kerr following complaints about the historical behaviour of senior social worker Sean Bell, who was found dead in August that year.

Susanne Tanner QC was appointed to lead the independent inquiry and presented her final open report at yesterday’s Full Council meeting.

Both Ms Tanner and the Council’s Chief Executive answered detailed questions at the meeting.

Investigation-Reports Download

In her report Ms Tanner makes a number of recommendations for the Council to act upon and an all party amendment was unanimously passed following the debate by Councillors at today’s meeting.

This includes taking forward the recommendations in the report and the subsequent action plan from the Chief Executive that will be brought to the next Full Council meeting in November.

The recommendations include reforming the Council’s system of investigation relating to sexual allegations, domestic abuse, physical violence, stalking or harassment, to make sure that it is independent and impartial and mandatory training for all managers on domestic abuse, coercive control and dealing with individuals making complaints of a potentially criminal nature.

They also cover improving policies and procedures relating to staff relationships and record keeping and the setting up of an appropriate redress scheme, without admission of liability, to compensate those who were abused by Sean Bell.

Chief Executive Andrew Kerr said: “Once again I want to offer my deepest sympathies to all the survivors of Sean Bell who suffered abuse at his hands over so many years, including those who came forward to speak to the independent inquiry and those who may not have felt able to do so.

“The report lays bare the extent of his abuse and the terrible and long-lasting impact it had, and continues to have, on their lives. I want to apologise to them on behalf of the Council – this should never have happened.

“The Council has now publicly discussed the report’s findings at length and accepted all the recommendations. It’s important we move quickly to put in place a plan setting out how we will implement these recommendations and I will bring this back to the Council next month.

“I want to reiterate my sincere thanks to the survivors and other participants for their courage in coming forward to give evidence to the inquiry team. I can only imagine how traumatic that must have been for them.

“We are grateful to Ms Tanner and the Pinsent Masons team who supported her inquiry for their sensitive and thorough approach to their investigation and we will do everything in our power to ensure this can never happen again.”

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “I want to thank the survivors for the courage, sincerity and perseverance in sharing their horrific experiences. I also want to apologise to them on behalf of all Councillors in light of their appalling experiences, which the independent inquiry has highlighted.

The detailed work carried out by Susanne Tanner and the Pinsent Masons team for this report has ensured the investigation, conclusions and recommendations were survivor-led and now gives us a clear way forward to strengthen the Council’s processes, policies and practice.

“I’m pleased that, as councillors, we were able to reach a unified position to endorse the inquiry’s recommendations in full. It’s vital that we continue to work together to ensure the failures of the past cannot be repeated in the future.

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “The bravery the survivors have shown in coming forward with their shocking testimonies of the abuse they experienced has been heartbreaking. No one should have to suffer as they have done and it’s due to their courage, honesty and openness in coming forward that we can makes changes for the future so I want to say sorry.

“Thanks must go to Susanne Tanner and her team for their thorough work and Council officers who co-operated fully with their requests for information. We have asked the Chief Executive to report back to Council next month, detailing how the inquiry recommendations will be implemented in full to ensure this cannot and will not happen again.”

For Bell’s victims, however, the Council saying sorry – more than twenty years too late – really just isn’t good enough …

COP26 travel: think ahead

Edinburgh’s travelling public have been urged to plan ahead during the COP26 conference, as part of a new communications campaign launched today by the City of Edinburgh Council and its partners.

The Council has joined with Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, with support from Police Scotland and local transport providers, to share the ‘plan ahead and stay informed’ message, as the major event approaches.

Around 140 world leaders and 25,000 delegates are expected to gather in Glasgow between 31 October and 12 November to agree next steps in tackling the climate crisis. As a result, roads and public transport services across the central belt, including in Edinburgh, are anticipated to be busier than usual and journeys are likely to take longer during this time.

From today, and throughout the coming weeks, messages will be shared through the media, social media and digital and on-street advertising suggesting people plan any travel ahead to minimise disruption, avoid peak times and work from home if possible.

The Council has worked closely with the Chamber of Commerce to create a new dedicated website, highlighting the latest travel information and to provide support and advice for local businesses. It also highlights some of the fantastic work going on around Edinburgh helping to achieve its 2030 net zero target.

Visit www.netzeroedinburgh.org to find out more.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “COP26 is a major event for Scotland and we’ve been gearing up to support it for many months, along with partners like the Scottish and UK Governments, Police Scotland and transport providers.

“While most of the events will take place in the host city of Glasgow, it’s going be extremely busy in Edinburgh. A huge number of people will be staying in the Capital and our own programme of events means Edinburgh will share some of the hosting responsibilities.

“That’s why, today, we’re launching a campaign urging people to take stock if they’re planning to travel during the two-week conference, whether it’s between Edinburgh and Glasgow or here in the Capital. We know there’s going to be more traffic on the roads so please plan any journeys ahead, avoid peak times and work from home if you can.

“It’s also an opportunity to think about how we get from A to B in our compact, walkable city. As leaders from around the world prepare to tackle the urgent issue of climate change, we’re encouraging everyone to think about how they can lower their own carbon footprints where possible to embrace the spirit of COP, considering swapping car trips for walking, wheeling, cycling or taking our outstanding public transport.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “We want to make sure the city keeps moving and remains open for business throughout COP26. Officers from public safety, traffic information and resilience teams, amongst others, have been hard at work planning, in collaboration with partners, to make sure this will be the case.

“As part of the campaign we’re also encouraging the public to consider their travel choices and the impact these have on the world around us. With road traffic accounting for almost a third of greenhouse gas emissions in the city, swapping the car for a journey by foot, wheel, bike or public transport both supports our net zero goals and can avoid disruption during this busy period.”

Nicola Blaney, Head of Events Resilience for Transport Scotland, added: “While the main event is in Glasgow, the demand on our public transport and wider network is expected to be unprecedented and will have a severe knock-on impact on journey times in surrounding areas, stretching across the central belt and possibly beyond.

“There are also a number of additional factors from protest activity, planned and unplanned, as well as non-COP26-related activities such as major sporting events and marches.

“I would urge people to plan ahead and consider whether any journeys they make are necessary. Certain days are going to be much busier than others – the 1, 2, 5 and 6 of November in particular – so consider your travel needs. Work remotely if you can or make alternative arrangements. Avoid peak hours if possible, and retime and reroute if you want to avoid congested areas.”

The new dedicated web pages will include the most up-to-date travel information while the @edintravel traffic information team will be carefully monitoring the city’s roads seven days a week, sharing the latest information on disruption and diversions on Twitter. We’ll also be liaising with Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams to keep people informed about their services.

A second strand of the campaign will focus on Edinburgh’s own sustainability targets, and the part individuals, businesses and organisations across the city can play. This will showcase some of the ground-breaking innovations underway to deliver a climate-ready, resilient city, and highlight the change that is needed to achieve our net zero by 2030 goal.

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins, Police Scotland, said: “A considerable part of our planning for COP26 has been to ensure that there is minimal disruption to communities of Scotland as a result of the policing operation.

“However, some disruption is inevitable with an event of this significance and the increased number of visitors to Edinburgh and Glasgow, in particular. The road network across the central belt will be busier than normal and people should allow extra time for their journeys.”

A spokesperson from the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said: “With the projected increases in traffic and journeys, and with potential disruptions because this global and essential event is taking place in Scotland, it makes perfect sense for us all to plan our journeys carefully and – wherever possible – use an alternative to the car.

“It helps the environment and it may well get you to your destination faster.”

Find out more on the Net Zero Edinburgh website.

“Stick with it, Edinburgh”

Council Leaders urge citizens to help keep Covid numbers down

Edinburgh’s Capital Coalition leaders today urged city residents to keep up and renew efforts to help limit the spread of the Covid virus. The call from Council Leader Adam McVey and Depute Council Leader Cammy Day comes after MSPs heard an update from the First Minister yesterday.

A recent national decline in Covid cases has slowed in the past few weeks and hospitalisations and admissions to intensive care units are rising across the country.

Cllr McVey said: “We know with this pandemic that we have to be constantly vigilant and respond quickly to changes in infection rates, so that we keep a lid on case rises as much as we can to protect ourselves, our families and our fellow citizens.

As we head towards winter we’re asking all our residents to please keep sticking together on this and renew our collective efforts to slow the virus’s spread in our communities.

“Get both your jags and, if eligible, your third, booster dose when six months have passed since your second; carry on following the public health guidance on hand-washing, face-coverings, ventilation and meeting outdoors wherever possible; and test yourself regularly with the free lateral flow tests that can be ordered online or collected from chemists, libraries and our community testing centres.

Cllr Day said: “Unfortunately we’re definitely not out of the woods with the pandemic yet, although vaccinations have made a massive difference and helped us return to something much closer to ‘normality’ again.

“We all want to safeguard this progress and also we’ve got to reduce the severe pressure our health and care services are under as we approach the difficult winter months. That means we’re going to have to pull together, look out for one another and avoid giving the virus opportunities to spread as much as we can.”