“Is Community Council only for older people?”
Absolutely NOT! We need voices from ALL ages and backgrounds:
Parents (school safety, play areas, youth services)
Young professionals (transport, local businesses)
Older residents (accessibility, community safety)
Students (affordable housing, local amenities)
New residents (welcome to our community!)
Different perspectives = better decisions for EVERYONE
Join us Monday, 23rd February, 6:30 PM – Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
Communities across Scotland could see more money invested in their area as a result of onshore renewable energy developments – under new proposals published yesterday.
The proposed updates to existing community benefit guidance for onshore energy developments would recommend that local groups should receive yearly payments of £6,000 per Megawatt (MW) of onshore wind capacity – up from £5,000 per MW – for the lifetime of a project.
‘Community benefits’ are voluntary contributions provided by energy developers to local communities. Around £30 million in benefits was provided to groups across Scotland last year, supporting projects that matter most to local communities.
The proposals also include:
Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “For more than 10 years, Scotland has led the way in establishing the provision of community benefits as a common and expected practice across our renewables sector.
“This has led to communities and energy developers working together to deliver tangible and long-lasting legacy benefits for local areas – along with the wider benefits of local jobs, supply chain businesses and growing local economies.
“The updated proposals outlined today seek to strike a balanced approach to future fund levels which continue to serve communities well while reflecting the market challenges for developers over recent years.
“We will continue to engage with communities and the energy sector to help refine these proposals ahead of developing our final updated Good Practice Principles later this year.”
Stephen McCarron, Chief Operating Officer at the 9 Community Councils Group, said: “The 9CC Group warmly welcome the significant updates to the Good Practice Principles and are delighted that it adopts our key asks for communities to be at the heart of the decision making regarding the funding and delivery support for local and strategic priorities.
“It’s an excellent document; comprehensive and clear on best practice while striking fair balance on the interests of developers and communities.
“A partnership approach is critical to creating a lasting legacy for our communities and whilst we will continue to promote a collaborative and wider approach in terms of communities working together, we are pleased that there is a clear distinction between those who make local decisions on funding and those who administer the fund, that avoids the risk of self interest undermining the greater good for the wider community.”
The Good Practice Principles are national guidance that sets clear expectations for developers and communities on how community benefits should be designed and delivered. Read the Working Paper on Refreshing the Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy.
Our webinar on Local Place Plans – what could they mean for pedestrians? – takes place a week today: Monday, 23 February, at 3 – 4pm.
We are delighted to host Anna Grant, Edinburgh Council and Joanna McClelland, architect.
Aimed especially at community councils but everyone – groups or individuals – very welcome!
Register here! http://bit.ly/45KgofS
Community Councils, have you signed up for our next free webinar yet?
On 25th February at 6pm we welcome Scottish Government Local Governance Review team who will be providing an update on Democracy Matters policy development.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions on the process and next steps.
Community Councils can register for this free event using the link below:
FUTURE WOODLANDS SCOTLAND WEBINAR
Free webinar for Community Councils coming up next month!
Wednesday 17th December 6-7pm
Hear how Future Woodlands Scotland can support communities to create greener, healthier places for people, wildlife, and future generations.
Find out more about the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund which is now open and how communities can apply.
Learn about the 3-30-300 rule and find out the tree equity score for your community!
Sign up and book your free place:
We should decide what happens in West Pilton/West Granton 
come along to learn more.
This event is being put on by myself (Jessica Fenn) and Chris Cullen – we live here, we aren’t an outside organisation, and we want other locals to join us
Leith Central Community Council has now agreed its final position on Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) developments.
Leith already has two-thirds of all PBSA beds in Edinburgh – 6,332 out of 9,873 citywide. Despite this, developers keep proposing more blocks, even though Leith has no university campus and our area gains little direct benefit.
We believe further PBSA expansion:
– takes up land that should be used for affordable homes for families and key workers
– adds pressure on local transport, health services and infrastructure
– undermines community balance and diversity
– conflicts with Edinburgh’s wider housing strategy
Leith is proud to welcome students as part of our diverse community, but the scale of PBSA development is now out of proportion and unsustainable.
LCCC is calling for a moratorium on any new PBSA developments in Leith.
We want future developments to focus instead on affordable, family-friendly and mixed-use housing that supports long-term residents and the local economy.
We’ll continue to work with other community councils, housing organisations and Edinburgh Council to make sure Leith’s voice is heard as part of the city’s Local Housing Strategy and upcoming planning guidance on student accommodation.
You can read our full position paper here https://tinyurl.com/jvntj3cm
The Edinburgh Partnership is conducting a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations in Edinburgh.
The review into the relationship between the public sector and third sector in Edinburgh seeks to improve funding certainty in future years. This includes how grant funding and commissioning is delivered, how third sector organisations monitor and report on their work, and what in-kind support is provided.
Third sector organisations of all types – voluntary, social enterprises and charities – are being asked to share their views through the City of Edinburgh Council’s Consultation Hub survey or by attending a workshop.
The results will be reported to the Policy and Sustainability Committee in August.
Council Leader and Chair of the Edinburgh Partnership, Jane Meagher, said: “The third sector provides vital support to local communities, with many giving direct support to the most vulnerable in our city.
“We know that they, like the Council, are under significant financial pressure and that there needs to be longer-term change in how they are supported by us and our partners.
“We want to hear about how we can make it simpler, provide more stability, and work better together to help vulnerable people. You can share your views through the council’s consultation hub webpage, or by attending one of the workshops.”
Workshops run from Monday 19 May until Thursday 5 June. Details are available on the Consultation Hub and booking is required.
As part of the city’s commitment to help the sector, the council has dedicated £3.5m this year to help organisations impacted by unexpected loss of grant funding or reduced commissioning.
Visit the Council’s website for more information about the Third Sector Resilience Fund.
Community Council Elections 2025 : 2nd call for nominations update
A second call for nominations for the following 8 community councils opened on 27 March 2025.
Nominations close at 4pm on Thursday 17 April 2025.
If you work with networks, groups, or community organisations in any of these areas we would be most grateful if could pass on this information.
Anyone who wishes to stand should complete a nomination form signed in ink, and return it to the Governance Team at Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG by the closing date at 4pm on Thursday 17 April 2025. Alternatively, a mobile phone picture or scan of the nomination form can be returned by email tocommunity.councils@edinburgh.gov.uk by the same deadline.
Candidates can download a nomination form by clicking on the community council name above (download an example completed nomination form)
Local Interest Groups can download the Local Interest Group Nomination Form (download an example completed Local Interest Group nomination form)
Please visit our community council election webpages for more information.
Community Council Elections 2025 – 2nd call for nominations
Nomination forms can be downloaded by clicking on the community council name above (an example completed nomination form is available here)
Local Interest Group Nomination Form are also available here (an example completed Local Interest Group nomination form is available here)
Completed nomination forms can be returned by:
The quickest method to return completed nomination forms is by email to the Governance Team at community.councils@edinburgh.gov.uk
If candidates choose to return by hand or by post please ensure sufficient time is allowed for the nomination form to be received before the deadline at 4pm on Thursday 17 April 2025.
Nominations close at 4pm on Thursday 17 April 2025.
Our webpages have been updated with the Notice of Community Council Election 2025.
Please share with your networks to encourage nominations for the above 8 Community Councils.
Completing a nomination form
Please review the example Nomination Paper for Community Council Elected Representative and the example Local Interest Group Registration and Nomination Form. All sections in yellow must be completed.
Declaration of Acceptance
If successful, candidates will be required to sign a Declaration of Acceptance at the first community council meeting declaring that, having been elected to the office of Community Councillor they
A copy of the Declaration of Acceptance can be viewed on our website.
Community Council election timescales (for the above 8 Community Councils)
Here is a breakdown of the important dates:
Nominations are for the 8 community councils agreed in the new Scheme for Community Councils and new boundaries which were approved by Council on 26 September 2024. The Scheme and Boundaries agreed on 26 September 2024 took effect on 28 March 2025.
The other 39 community councils in Edinburgh received sufficient nominations to form during the previous nomination period and have had their election results published and will establish once the new terms starts on 28 March 2025.
CEC Governance Team
