The city council would like to hear from communities by 31 March about neighbourhoods they would like to be considered for firework control zones this November.
These zones can help reduce noise, stress and littering caused by fireworks.
Email us for an application pack at fireworkscontrolzone@edinburgh.gov.uk
How could our committees work more effectively?
https://twitter.com/i/status/1896867127790887245
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee is looking at what changes need to be made to ensure that these can deliver their key role in holding the government to account.
Ensuring committees are structured and equipped to deliver their key role in holding the Scottish Government to account is being considered by the Scottish Parliament’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.
The inquiry will look at issues such as the size of membership, remit of committees and the impact, if any, of introducing elected conveners. It will also explore how committees evaluate their work and the approaches to pre and post legislative scrutiny.
Now the Committee has launched two call for views so that those who engage with committees can have their say on what changes need to be made.
Speaking as the call for views launched, Committee Convener Martin Whitfield MSP said: “The Scottish Parliament is a relatively young legislature. But that does not mean that we do not need to reflect on our practices and procedures to make sure they are meeting the needs of the Scotland in which we find ourselves today.
“Committees play an essential role in the work of the Parliament. Scrutinising legislation and holding the Government to account are vital. But we want to know if there are changes that need to be made to make these work more effectively.
“We know, for example, that elected conveners are in place in other parliaments in the UK and beyond, but what impact might they make at Holyrood? And would changes to the remits structure and size of committees have an impact on how they do their work.
“We want to hear from you if you have worked with or given evidence to a committee about what practices and procedures you think needs to change.”
Committee effectiveness is about looking at how committees work and whether there are things which could help them work better.
The Committee will consider three themes a part of its inquiry:
The Committee is expected to hold oral evidence sessions over the next three months and publish its report with findings and recommendations in the autumn.
More information can be found on the Committee’s webpage.
The call for views is open until 22 April 2025.
Have your say: https://ow.ly/68wF50Va33O
A Scottish Parliament Committee is to examine changes to the way that funding is provided for post-school education and skills training.
The Education, Children and Young People Committee has opened a call for views on the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill introduces changes to funding arrangements for apprenticeships, work-based learning and training for employment.
Currently, some of the responsibilities for ensuring access to Scottish apprenticeships and work-based learning are held by Skills Development Scotland. However, under the proposals, the Scottish Funding Council would take responsibility for this.
The Bill also sets out changes to the procedures and governance of the Scottish Funding Council.
The Committee is keen to hear what Scotland’s colleges, universities, unions, training providers, employers and students make of the changes set out in the Bill.
The Committee’s call for views is open now and will run until 11 April 2025.
Douglas Ross, Convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee said: “The structure of the post-school education and skills training landscape is critical to Scotland’s employers who are looking to recruit people who are ready to work.
“The changes in this Bill aim to improve the way that funding is provided for post-school education and skills training. Our Committee is keen to understand whether these objectives will be met.
“We would encourage anyone with an interest in post-school education and training to share their views on these proposed changes.”
The Call for Views is available to respond to here:
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/ecyp/tertiary-education-and-training-bill
Local authorities could be given the optional power to introduce a tax on cruise ships that visit their areas in future.
The Scottish Government is seeking views on the practicalities of such a levy, as well as the potential market implications and effect on local economies and communities.
Analysis shows there were around 1,000 cruise ship visits to Scottish ports in 2024, bringing 1.2 million passengers – an increase of almost 400,000 per year compared with 2019.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: “The tourism sector is a crucially important part of the Scottish economy and cruise visits are increasing. The consultation will help to inform the Scottish Government’s decision over whether or not to bring forward legislation and it is really important that we hear from a wide variety of voices on this matter.
“Last year, we held events to hear the views of the cruise ship industry, local government, and others. We want to continue the helpful dialogue which started at those events, and explore further what a cruise ship levy could mean in a Scottish context.”
Consultation on a potential local authority Cruise Ship Levy in Scotland – gov.scot
The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a nationwide cruise ship levy.
The areas that welcome the most cruise passengers are Invergordon, Orkney, Edinburgh, Lerwick, and Greenock, and the average ship in the five busiest ports carries over 1,000 passengers.
Should voters be able to recall MSPs? And if so, what criteria should be used?
Just two of the questions the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee is asking about Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill.
The work is part of the Committee’s consideration of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill. The Bill, which was introduced by Graham Simpson MSP, proposes that systems should be introduced for the recall and removal of MSPs.
Now the Committee is asking whether these measures are generally supported and how the detail of the Bill would work in practice.
The recall process would be triggered if an MSP was excluded from Parliament for 10 sitting days or received a prison sentence of less than six months.
This would then mean that constituents in the constituency or region the MSP represents would be able to sign a petition calling for the MSP to lose their seat.
The Bill also proposes new grounds for the removal of MSPs, including when a Member has not attended the Parliament in person for 180 days without a good reason for their non-attendance.
Speaking as the Committee launched its call for views, the Committee Convener Martin Whitfield MSP said: “According to the support documents accompanying this Bill, it has at its heart the integrity of the democratic process and the aim of improving accountability.
“Our Committee want to know what effect these proposals would have in practice.
“The recall process suggested within the Bill broadly mirrors the now well established process at Westminster. But the two electoral systems are not alike and a simple copy and paste approach will not work.
“So, we want to hear from people in constituencies and regions across Scotland about whether they feel that these measures, and the suggested approaches would work.”
Read the questions and submit your views on Citizen Space
Have your say: https://ow.ly/jCNC50V6TLB
EVOC has submitted a collective third sector response to the #EIJBStrategy consultation.
It summarised the priorities, concerns, and recommendations from surveys, interviews and discussions with a breadth of sector colleagues.
Read the response below:
The Scottish Government is launching a consultation on its plans to end the two-child cap on benefits.
Eradicating child poverty is the government’s top priority and ministers have committed to ending the limit by April 2026, or sooner if possible. The Child Poverty Action Group estimate that scrapping the two-child cap in Scotland could lift 15,000 children out of poverty.
The consultation is seeking views from the public and stakeholders about the most effective ways to put systems in place to mitigate the effects of the two-child cap. It asks for views on questions such as whether Social Security Scotland should administer top-up payments.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The UK Government has failed to scrap the two child cap despite it being a key driver of child poverty. In the face of such inaction the Scottish Government is determined to end the impact in Scotland. If we can safely get the systems up and running earlier than April 2026, then we will make our first payments earlier – helping to lift thousands more children out of poverty.
“We have launched a consultation calling for people to respond as we look to put the necessary systems in place to achieve our goal. We have made clear to the UK Government what is needed for us to end the impact of this policy and I would urge people and organisations across Scotland to contribute to make their views known.
“The draft 2025-26 budget continues to invest more than £3 billion to policies which tackle poverty and the cost of living for households – and I would hope that would command widespread support across Parliament.
“There is irrefutable evidence that the two child limit is increasing poverty and hardship across the UK. We have repeatedly called on the UK Government to end the two-child cap, and we have been just one of many voices saying the same thing. Until they do so, the Scottish Government will do everything in its power to mitigate the policy, which helps create child poverty.”
The consultation closes on April 18th 2025.
There’s still time to share your views on council plans to revitalise Princes Street, the Gardens and area around Waverley Station.
The survey closes at midnight TONIGHT – Friday (21 Feb). If you work, live, shop, enjoy visiting or just travel through the city centre, this survey is for you:
www.edinburgh.gov.uk/princesstreetsurvey
• better pavements and crossings
• more places to sit
• less steep path into Princes Street Gardens
• generating a mix of retail, hospitality and leisure
• safer cycling at the east and west of Princes Street
• supporting wildlife, planting more trees and flowers
Old Town, New Town & Broughton and West End community councils submitted the following joint response:
The city council is inviting residents to share their views on the regeneration of Seafield to make sure it responds to the needs and wishes of the local community.
As a key site for delivering the goals set out in the Edinburgh City Plan 2030, plans for the narrow stretch of land include a new promenade, GP surgery and opportunities for new shops and workplaces.
The coastal site could also include as many as 2,700 new homes, with 35% of homes being affordable, to address the Capital’s housing emergency. Future residents will benefit from the provision of a heat network which will help keep energy bills down whilst contributing to the city’s net zero targets.
The consultation, which closes on Wednesday 30 April 2025, will build on the first two stages of engagement and consultation carried out to date. Residents can attend a drop-in session to discuss the plans, or they can take part in an online survey via the Consultation Hub.
Planning Convener James Dalgleish said: “Our draft plan to transform Seafield into a new environmentally friendly neighbourhood will take us one step further to tackling our housing emergency and reaching net zero by 2030.
“This is a chance for residents to shape the future of the area – whether it’s about improving transport links, preserving green spaces or introducing new community facilities and we’re eager to hear everyone’s ideas for a Seafield that serves the whole community.
“I’d encourage everyone to share their views with us by filling in our online survey or coming along to one of our consultation drop-in events.”
The in-person events will take place on the following dates and times:
In response to the EIJB consultation inviting people and organisations to have a say on the draft Strategic Plan for 2025 – 28, the Third Sector Reference Group is working on a contribution on behalf of our sector.
This is another in a series of actions in light of the future funding crisis third sector organisations are facing across the city.
Download the draft Strategic Plan
Your input to this response is vital and we would ask any and all third sector groups and organisations to share your hopes, fears and priorities, by answering the 9 questions in this short survey.
You are also encouraged to submit a separate response individually, feeding back on the identified priorities, planned actions and measures of success.
You can find out more and submit a response to the consultation here.
Please be aware that the deadline for the consultation submission is extremely tight – Sunday 23rd Feb 2025.
This is strongly influencing the actions we are focusing on to deliver the best outcome for the sector.
The Reference Group has pulled together several resources that you might find useful:
