Housing Allocation Policy Consultation now live @Edinburgh_CC
The city council is seeking your views on its current Lettings Policy.
Your opinions will help to shape future allocations policies in the city.
To have your say, visit:
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/allocations-policy/
The consultation closes on 8th July.
A new survey from Acas has found that a third of employers (33%) are likely to make staff redundancies by January 2027.
Acas commissioned YouGov to ask British businesses about their redundancy plans between February 2026 and January 2027.
The poll revealed that 46% of large businesses are likely to make redundancies and one in five (21%) small and medium sized (SME) businesses said that were likely to do so over the same period.
The Government has recently consulted on new law changes outlined in the Employment Rights Act 2025 for employers that want to make collective redundancies across their organisation. Acas has published its response to the consultation.
Acas Director of Dispute Resolution, Kevin Rowan, said: “The results of our poll reveal that a third of businesses are considering redundancies by the start of next year.
“Organisations should look at all possible alternatives to redundancies first, but if employers conclude they have no choice, then they have legal requirements they must follow. This means they must consult with staff early to seek their views, or risk being subject to a costly legal process.
“In 2027, the Government’s Employment Rights Act will introduce new consultation requirements if redundancies are proposed across multiple sites. Acas recommends that the Government ensures employers and trade unions understand the value of collective consultation and have the skills to work well together.”
If an employer finds there are no other choices than to make redundancies, then there are strict rules on consulting staff that they must follow.
An employer must discuss any planned changes and consult with each employee who could be affected. By law, employers who wish to make 20 or more staff redundant in a 90-day period must also consult a recognised trade union or elected employee representatives about the proposed changes.
If an employer does not meet consultation requirements, employees can take their employer to an employment tribunal. If successful, the employer may have to pay up to 180 days’ full pay for each affected employee.
An employee can also make a claim of unfair dismissal to an employment tribunal on the grounds that they were not consulted, or the consultation was not meaningful.
At the moment, collective redundancy rules only apply if the redundancies are proposed at one workplace. The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a law change that means the rules will count redundancies across an employer’s entire organisation.
An organisation that plans to make a certain number of redundancies across multiple sites or workplaces will have to follow new law changes due to take effect in 2027. The Government ran a consultation to seek views on the changes and what the redundancy threshold number should be that sparks a collective redundancy process for an employer that has multiple sites.
Acas advice is that employers should consider all possible options before considering redundancies as other solutions to their situation could be found through consultation with their staff, employee representatives and unions.
In response to the Government’s consultation, Acas recommended that:
For Acas’s full response to the Government’s consultation, please see:
https://www.acas.org.uk/public-consultation-responses
Acas’s advice for staff and employers about redundancies is available at:
We need your help to shape the future of the Community Grant Fund – you have until 4th May to have your say.
You may be aware that the Community Empowerment and Engagement Team are in the process of making changes to the Community Grants Fund (CGF).
This began with an evaluation of the current funding model in 2024, then in 2025 we worked with CGF volunteers, applicants and grant experts to develop three options for a refreshed funding model for the CGF.
You can read more information about the stakeholder engagement process here.
As we enter the next phase of the process, we’d like your views on which funding model option meets the following aims:
Your feedback will directly influence how the fund operates, making it more accessible and impactful for communities across Edinburgh. The survey takes just a few minutes to complete:
👉 Complete our survey by 4 May 2026
Please also share the link to complete the survey with anyone who lives or works in Edinburgh, who might benefit from the community grant fund.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team. Thank you for helping us create a stronger, more inclusive community grants process.
Best wishes,
The Community Empowerment and Engagement Team
Community Empowerment & Engagement Officer | Community Empowerment & Engagement Team | Culture and Wellbeing | Place | The City of Edinburgh Council | Waverley Court 1.7 | 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG | Tel 0131 200 4088 | Mob 07718569916 | www.edinburgh.gov.uk
The Prime Minister will say “looking the other way is not an option” as he brings senior leaders of major social media companies – Meta, Snap, Google (YouTube), TikTok and X – to Downing Street today to press for progress on one of the most urgent issues affecting children today.
For parents, the stakes could not be higher – this is about whether children grow up supported and safe online or exposed to harm with no one taking responsibility. When it comes to keeping young people safe online, the Prime Minister has been clear this is not a question of if the government will act, but how.
Throughout the government’s consultation, he has heard first hand from parents on the worries they have about the growing grip of social media on their children’s lives and the need for greater support.
The Prime Minister has said his government will not sit on its hands after the consultation, but instead has acted swiftly to take the legislative powers needed to move quickly once it has concluded to deliver change within months, not years.
Some social media companies have already stepped up by putting in place protections like disabling autoplay for children by default and giving parents greater control over screen time and introducing curfews. But the Prime Minister has argued we must go further to protect children and meet the moment.
During today’s meeting, the Prime Minister and Technology Secretary will set out the government’s principles and values when it comes to protecting children, and press for answers from companies on what they are doing to keep children safe online and responding to families’ concerns.
Ahead of the meeting, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Social media shapes how children see themselves, their friendships and the world around them. When that comes with real risks, looking the other way is not an option.
“Parents rightly expect action and fast. That’s why we’ve already taken the powers needed to move quickly once our consultation ends.
“I will take whatever steps necessary to keep children safe online. Today is about making sure social media companies step up and take responsibility.
“The consequences of failing to act are stark. We owe it to parents, and to the next generation, to put children’s safety first – because they won’t forgive us if we don’t.”
The meeting comes halfway through the government’s consultation, Growing Up in the Online World, which has so far received more than 45,000 responses to proposals aimed at protecting children’s wellbeing online.
With around six weeks left before the consultation closes on 26 May, the government is urging parents and children to get involved and help shape the next steps.
The consultation is the most ambitious of its kind in the world. It explores key questions including whether to introduce a minimum age for social media, limits on addictive design features, and stronger safeguards around AI chatbots for young people.
Almost 6,000 young people have already taken part, and more than 80 organisations – including schools, charities and community groups – have participated in engagement sessions with ministers and officials in recent months.
Take part in the national consultation: https://gov.uk/growing-up-online
Edinburgh residents have the chance to share their views on a potential safer drug consumption room for the city.
From today until 1 July 2026, people can share how they feel about having a facility for people to take drugs under the care of medical professionals in the Old Town area.
The consultation is an opportunity for people who live or work in the Old Town area to share their views on the facility. Groups including those with lived experience of problem drug use and families affected by drug use will also be consulted.
The views from the consultation period will help to inform whether a formal business case to establish a facility will be developed for the Scottish Government for a final decision.
Residents can take part in an online survey: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/hsc/sdcf/
Or come along to one of the drop-in sessions in the city centre – they will be advertised on the consultation hub https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/
EVOC are pleased to share a summary report from the consultation event on Edinburgh’s Community Plan (LOIP 2018-2028) Refresh:
The refreshed Community Plan is due to be approved and launched in June, with opportunities to shape the next Plan to follow.
Human trafficking is a serious crime that causes lasting harm. Ensuring victims receive the right support is essential.
A new consultation seeks views on whether the guidance on support available to adult victims is clear, practical, and helpful.
Consultation now open by @Edinburgh_CC on ‘North Edinburgh Connections’ active travel scheme (Ferry Road-Pennywell Road-West Granton Road).
You can see the plans and comment (closing date 9 June) here:
I wanted to follow up with some additional information after our community pop up event on the 7th March.
I’d like to pass on our thanks to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh again for hosting us. It was a beautiful sunny day and it was a great spot to have our information stand.
We spoke with many members of the local community and some passing visitors. Thank you if you managed to make it along, it was really lovely to meet some members of the Community Council and the Friends of Inverleith Park in person as well as welcome partners from The City of Edinburgh Council. We received some valuable feedback and comments.
Keep updated
I’d like to highlight the Climate Ready Craigleith StoryMap for information on the current projects. This includes some of the images of the proposals on Arboretum Place we shared on Saturday in case you were unable to attend.
Click here to visit the Climate Ready Craigleith project website
We’re now in the consultation stage of our Community Asset Transfer, and this is your last chance to have your say before the survey closes this Sunday.
Every single response makes a real difference. The more people who take part, the stronger our case for securing the land our Centre sits on, and protecting it for the future of our community.
You can get involved by:
– Completing the online survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/drylaw
– Filling in a paper copy at the Centre
It only takes a few minutes, but your input helps us hugely.
Please take part and share this post to help us reach as many people as possible before Sunday!
Thank you for your continued support.
