Tag: consultation

Scottish Government: Recognising and supporting kinship care

Consultation on national vision for kinship care

Proposals to provide consistent and fair support for families caring for children unable to live with their parents have been published.

Kinship care – where a child lives with a relative, close family friend or other trusted person rather than their parents – is now the most common placement away from home for looked-after children in Scotland, accounting for 35% of such placements.

Views on a draft Vision for Kinship Care will be sought from organisations and individuals in a public consultation launched today.

The draft Vision sets out a consistent baseline of support, proposed for all kinship families across Scotland. It focuses on improving accessibility and transparency around financial support, strengthening advice and advocacy services, and ensuring children in kinship care can access independent advocacy support, while allowing local partners to tailor delivery to families’ needs.

Kinship carers, children and young people helped shape the draft Vision as part of the Scottish Government’s work on ‘The Promise’ – which commits to ensure that all care-experienced young people grow up loved, safe and respected by 2030.

The consultation on the draft Vision will be open until the end of February 2026.

Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise Natalie Don-Innes said: “Kinship carers make an extraordinary contribution to our society, often stepping in at a moment’s notice to provide care and stability for children within their family network.

“Their contribution is vital to wider efforts to keep The Promise, and they deserve our recognition and support.

“Kinship families face numerous complex challenges, including financial pressures, and it is crucial that they are able to access the right help when they need it.

“Through our draft Vision for Kinship Care, we want to work with kinship families and partners to shape a system of support that is fair, consistent and grounded in children’s rights, aligned with our commitment to Keep The Promise and tackle child poverty.

“This Vision builds on the Scottish Government’s previous work to update kinship care guidance and roll out the Scottish Recommended Allowance, further strengthening the rights of kinship families.

“I encourage everyone with an interest in kinship care to share their views and help us shape a final vision that delivers real improvements for children and families.”

Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive, Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity said:“The draft Vision for Kinship Care is an important step in recognising the scale of support needed for kinship families to thrive and upholding every child’s right to family life.

“We welcome the Minister’s commitment to ensuring that kinship children and their families have all the easily accessible, tailored practical, emotional, financial and legal advocacy and support they need to stay safe and well together.

“As providers of the Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland, we are determined to help every kinship family to succeed. Families can contact our friendly, expert team every day of the year by calling 0808 800 0006 for free or by visiting www.kinship.scot.”

Joanne McMeeking, Head Improving Care Experiences, CELCIS, said: “Kinship care is at the heart of families and communities, enabling children to stay connected and feel loved. 

“The Scottish Government’s ambition with this proposed vision for kinship care in Scotland, acknowledges the unique challenges for kinship carers and their families and is both timely and essential.

“By focusing on widening access to support, with sufficient resources and a realistic deliverable plan, the proposed vision has the potential to improve the experience of kinship families.

“This would resonate with Scotland’s commitments to both The Promise of the independent care review and upholding children’s rights. We look forward to working with others on the development of the vision.”

Consultation on care homes and ‘care at home’ services

Views sought on extending Freedom of Information provisions

Private and third sector providers of care home and ‘care at home’ services may be made subject to Freedom of Information laws.

Following the Covid pandemic, ministers agreed to look at extending provisions in the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) to cover care services. The Act enables the Scottish Government to extend Freedom of Information rules to cover organisations delivering ‘functions of a public nature’.

A consultation will seek views on whether providers of care homes and ‘care at home’ fall under that definition and if so, whether and how the Government should exercise its power to extend FOISA to cover them.

It will also cover other issues, including whether services should only be covered if they receive public funding, whether services for children and young people should be included and how a change in the rules might affect organisations of different sizes.

Minister for Parliamentary Business Graeme Dey said: “Care home and ‘care at home’ services are of the utmost importance to people, including some of our most vulnerable citizens.

“There is a good argument that these services can be considered to be public functions, and that statutory FOI obligations should therefore be extended to private and third sector providers in this area. Doing so would put the same obligations on those providers to be open and transparent that we already place on public sector providers of similar services, such as local councils.

“We will therefore publish a public consultation to gather the views of people who rely on these services for the care of themselves, their friends and family and the wider community. We also want to hear the views of people who work in and with the sector, and from provider organisations. 

“This government recognises the significant pressures that the social care sector is facing and to be effective, any future roll out of Freedom of Information will need to take place in partnership with the sector, taking this into account. Therefore I hope as many people as possible will engage with this consultation.”

The consultation will open on January 5th 2026 and close on March 30th 2026.

GIQ – consultation on care homes

Have your say on improving Scotland’s water environment

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are calling on Scots to have their say on the future of the nation’s water environment.  

The environmental regulator has launched a public consultation, Safeguarding Scotland’s Water Environment, about what it calls Significant Water Management Issues – issues that are having a significant adverse impact on the condition of the water environment and that it seeks to tackle.  

The water environment is one of Scotland’s most precious natural assets. It supports a rich diversity of wildlife, contributes to people’s health and wellbeing and provides for the sustainable growth of Scotland’s economy.  

Water experts at the agency have identified seven key focus areas for the next six-year water management cycle:  

  • rural diffuse pollution (the release of potential pollutants from a range of activities such as agricultural run-off) 
  • the physical condition of rivers
  • artificial barriers to fish migration (physical modifications to rivers built for water storage, navigation, water abstraction and crossings for road and rail transport)
  • sea lice from marine fish farms
  • water use (ensuring our water resources are resilient to a changing climate and managed within environmental limits)
  • wastewater and sewer networks 
  • chemicals in the water environment 

The consultation outlines the targeted work already underway to address these complex issues and sets out a recalibrated approach to achieving further vital progress with partners over the next period, in line with the evolving context.  

Input from members of the public and communities is essential to ensure plans reflect local experiences, practical solutions and a wide range of perspectives across Scotland.

Respondents can have their say on the Significant Water Management Issues and offer their thoughts on the role this work could play in supporting climate adaptation, nature recovery and health and wellbeing.  

Safeguarding Scotland2019s Water EnvironmentDownload

Rachel Harding-Hill, Head of Environmental Resilience and Enhancement at SEPA, said: “Protecting and improving our water environment as a vital natural asset is fundamental to Scotland’s efforts to build resilience to climate change and to ensure that the needs of wildlife, people and the economy can be met and safeguarded into the future. This requires ongoing effective management of the issues that are having a negative impact in a catchment-wide approach. 

“Our current proposals are at a formative stage, and we want to gather valuable evidence of the range of experiences and opinions, knowledge and ideas on this pivotal issue to inform our decision-making. 

“We know people across Scotland share our respect and aspirations for our water environment and we look forward to engaging with them at this key stage of our planning.”  

The consultation will feed into Scotland’s River Basin Management Planning (RBMP) – Scotland’s six-yearly framework for protecting and improving the water environment – which will be further consulted on in December 2026. The current RBMP cycle ends in December 2027.  

The Safeguarding Scotland’s Water Environment consultation is open now on SEPA’s consultation hub. Have your say at https://consultation.sepa.org.uk/water-unit/swmi 

Tackling pyrotechnics at football matches

Consultation on Football Banning Orders

Views are being sought on whether the law on Football Banning Orders (FBOs) should be updated to crack down on pyrotechnics use and other forms of football-related disorder.

Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown has launched a public consultation seeking views and evidence on the legislation around FBOs and whether it needs to be improved so it meets current needs.

FBOs are court orders that prevent individuals from attending all regulated matches in the UK, and they can be imposed for engaging in violence or disorder.

The consultation will explore whether extending the reach of FBOs could be an effective deterrent against disorder such as pyrotechnics misuse, online abuse and other emerging challenges associated with the game.

The consultation was informed by an expert group including football authorities and justice agencies, set up by the Scottish Government last year.

Ms Brown said: “Football fans are passionate about the sport, supporting their club and of course our national team.

“The vast majority of supporters are well-behaved and want to enjoy football safely. However, the behaviour of a small minority can put others at risk and spoil their enjoyment of the game and have consequences for the football club.

“Whilst we have significantly strengthened the law to tackle pyrotechnic misuse in recent years, so that those who carry fireworks and flares into football stadia can face fines and up to six months in prison, pyrotechnic misuse at games remains an issue.

“The legislation governing Football Banning Orders in Scotland was introduced in 2006, when the use of flares at matches and harmful social media behaviour associated with the game were much less common.

“While FBOs can already be imposed on conviction for pyrotechnics offences that involve violence or disorder, we want to hear from people whether the law needs to change so these orders could be used more widely for pyrotechnics possession and misuse – ultimately to become a more effective deterrent and keep people safe.

“We have worked with football authorities, fans’ groups and justice partners on this consultation and I would encourage anyone with an interest to give their views.”

Alan Marshall, Chair of the Football Safety Officers Association Scotland, said: ““The Football Safety Officers Association Scotland welcomes the launch of this consultation.

“Safety officers across the country see first-hand the evolving challenges in ensuring a safe environment at football matches, including the increased misuse of pyrotechnics, which are illegal and becoming a bigger issue at football matches across Europe.

“Football Banning Orders are an important tool in helping prevent disorder, and to help stop the actions of a small number of supporters negatively impacting the experience of law-abiding football fans. It is appropriate that the legislation is reviewed to reflect modern realities.”

Consultation on Football Banning Orders. 

Holyrood to canvass public opinion on the Scottish Government’s draft Climate Change Plan

What do you think of the proposals laid out in the Scottish Government’s draft Climate Change Plan? Do they go far enough? Are they detailed enough? What more can be done to help ensure Scotland reaches its net zero targets?

The Scottish Parliament is keen to hear the views of individuals, community groups and organisations on the draft Plan for 2026-2040, by Sunday 25 January 2026.

The Plan sets out how the Scottish Government intends to meet emission reduction targets across all portfolio areas and sectors of the economy, as Scotland looks to be ‘net zero’ in carbon emissions by 2045.

Holyrood’s Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee will lead the cross-parliamentary scrutiny.

Edward Mountain MSP, Convener of the Committee said: “Climate change affects us all, so it’s crucial that the voices of the people of Scotland are heard on this pivotal local, national and global issue.

“The Scottish Parliament is now scrutinising the Plan, and this is your chance to get involved to tell us what you think should be done to improve it.

“Do the proposals make clear the changes we all need to make in our lives to help Scotland reach its net zero targets? Is the approach being taken transparent, so that we can see where progress is being made? Is there enough detail?

“Only credible and transparent policies, with public buy-in, will drive the emissions reductions needed to secure Scotland’s success.”

Parliamentary committees will focus on areas such as buildings (residential and public); transport; waste; energy supply; business and industrial processes; agriculture; land use & land use change; forestry; nature & biodiversity, and marine.

Committees are now set to engage in formal evidence sessions, community outreach and visits, before reporting on their findings by 5 March 2026.

Thereafter, the Scottish Government has committed to publishing its final Climate Change Plan in advance of the dissolution of Parliament for the 2026 election. 

Respond to the Your Priorities survey

Survey: How would you improve Clermiston Park

FRIENDS of CLERMISTON PARK

Community Survey – Share your views!

What would you change or add to the Park? We really want to hear from the Community. We would use the responses to shape what we focus on & to evidence any funding grants we apply for.

It takes 3 mins & can be anonymous if you want.

Its also simple, short & suitable for all ages! Please help any children or young people to fill out the survey so that we can hear from all age groups.

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/YDmWHjkJ1SDAGAq46

Printed copies available from Drumbrae Library Hub or download from our website.

Closing date: 30th November (St Andrew’s Day)

Thank you!

Last chance to have your say as Tram Route consultation closes on Monday

ROSEBURN PATH OR ORCHARD BRAE?

A major public consultation on the future development of Edinburgh’s tram network closes on Monday (17 November). The consultation began on 25 August and ran for 12 weeks.

The Council are seeking the public’s views on the proposed new tram routes from Granton in the north of the city to the Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the south.

A detailed business case was developed to extend the existing route from Edinburgh Airport to Newhaven, which was successfully completed in 2023 and now carries over a million passengers a month.

This consultation will inform the development of a Strategic Business Case (SBC) for the expansion, which will then be presented to the Transport and Environment Committee in 2026.

The proposed new route can be broken down into three main sections:

Granton to the city centre:

From Granton to Ferry Road / Crewe Toll there is a single route. From Ferry Road / Crewe Toll to the following section, two alternative route options are being considered: the Orchard Brae corridor or the Roseburn Path.

For Orchard Brae, the route would head to the west end of Princes Street along Orchard Brae, Queensferry Road (via the Dean Bridge) and Queensferry Street.  

It is estimated that this option would cost between £650m – £850m and is forecast to carry around 3.75m passengers per annum by 2042.

For Roseburn Path, the route connects to the existing line west of Haymarket via an old railway line which winds from Ferry Road/Crewe Toll before reaching Craigleith and heading towards the west end and city centre.

This option is estimated to cost between £350m-£480m and is forecast to carry around 4.25m passengers per annum by 2042.

In February 2024, the Roseburn Path was initially identified as the preferred route, however Transport and Environment Committee instructed that the consultation should present objectively the pros and cons of both the Roseburn and Orchard Brae routes.

It also examines the potential to install high quality walking, wheeling and cycling alongside the tramline on the Roseburn Path, and look at the potential to protect and enhance the local ecological network.

The entire route is forecast to cost between £2bn-2.9bn, depending on the final options selected, and carry around 38m passengers by 2042.

City centre to BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary:

The proposed route would begin at Princes Street on the existing tram infrastructure, allowing bus and rail interchange in the heart of the city centre.

The route would then cross the North Bridge, and run through Nicolson Street, Newington and on to Cameron Toll, then west towards the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Potential extensions to Midlothian and East Lothian:

We’re working closely with Midlothian and East Lothian Councils and SEStran, the regional transport partnership, regarding potential future mass transit connections beyond the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary.

This includes exploring a ‘tram-train’ (a light rail vehicle than can operate on tram and rail tracks) concept with Network Rail on the old Edinburgh South Suburban Railway (ESSR).

Other potential options include connections with Musselburgh Railway station and Queen Margaret University (QMU) in East Lothian and to Shawfair with interchange opportunities into Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

Speaking at the launch of the consultation, Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m pleased that we’ve reached this key stage for extending our multi award-winning tram service.

We need to prepare for the future. Edinburgh is the fastest growing city in Scotland, with more than 60,000 new residents expected over the next 20 years. Whilst this shift is a true sign of our success, it brings real pressure on our communities, and crucially on the city’s transport infrastructure on which we all rely.

“Managing this growth also means tackling the climate, nature and housing emergencies. To meet these significant challenges, we need to look for bold and ambitious solutions and the tram extension is central to this.

“Edinburgh Trams already offers a reliable and fast service, allowing residents and visitors to move around sustainably and efficiently, and with some of the cheapest fares in the country. The broader benefits of cleaner air and emphasis on active travel surrounding the network are equally as important.

“Our overarching vision is to truly link our city for the benefit of all. From our flagship £1.3bn development at Granton Waterfront through to the city centre, our world-famous universities, cultural hubs, brilliant local businesses, new housing developments, hospitals and beyond; our transport network must move with the times.

“The new developments we will see along the tram route will be key to Edinburgh’s prosperity for generations to come.

“I’d encourage everyone to engage with this consultation and help to shape the next chapter in the history of Edinburgh’s transport.”

The full details of all the sections mentioned above can be found in the consultation papers.

Residents can give their views until Monday 17 November online on our Consultation Hub.

The next step, should members agree on the SBC, would be to move to the next stage of development, as set out by Transport Scotland, which is the OBC.  

Local community invited to QMU’s online forum

Local residents and community representatives are warmly invited to Queen Margaret University’s online Community Forum on Tuesday 18 November 2025 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm. 

This twice-yearly event offers a unique chance to hear University updates, explore partnership opportunities, and share ideas about how QMU can best serve and collaborate with its surrounding communities.

This autumn’s Forum will take place on Microsoft Teams and will feature a presentation from Ann Turner, Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead in QMU’s Media Communication and Performing Arts Division.

Ann will showcase ways that local organisations can benefit from working with QMU students and share examples of impactful projects delivered in partnership with community groups and businesses.

In particular, she will highlight opportunities for collaboration with undergraduate and postgraduate students in marketing and communications, who can support organisations by:

  • Developing promotional strategies to reach target audiences;
  • Designing digital assets such as social media content;
  • And creating short promotional films or podcasts.

The event will also provide space for open discussion, inviting attendees to share their perspectives on QMU’s role in the community and explore how relationships can be deepened for mutual benefit.

Jane Scott, Director of Marketing and Communications at QMU, said: “The Community Forum is a chance for us to listen as much as we share.

“We want to hear directly from our neighbours, learn about their priorities, and explore how QMU can work alongside the community to make a positive difference in East Lothian and beyond.

“By working together, we can strengthen relationships, support local organisations, create opportunities and ensure that QMU continues to play an active role in the life of our community.”

QMU welcomes both regular participants and new members of the community to join the Forum. To attend, please register by emailing marketing@qmu.ac.uk. A Microsoft Teams link will then be sent to you, giving access to the meeting on the day.

Consultations launched on key Make Work Pay measures

New bereavement and pregnancy protections to be shaped by businesses and workers

  • Public invited to share views on reforms including dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers at work, and bereavement leave.
  • Business and workers to shape trade union reforms, including employer duty to inform workers of their right to join a union.
  • Reforms will help establish a modern-day workplace, central to the Government’s vision of growth and national renewal as part of the Plan for Change.

Businesses and workers are today [Thursday 23 October] being asked to share their views on how employment reforms, including bereavement leave and enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers, should work in practice.

Every parent should feel secure at work. Yet thousands of pregnant women and new mothers face significant risks to their job security – research has found up to 54,000 mothers a year may be dismissed, made redundant or treated so poorly at work they have felt they have to leave.

New legislation will make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, those on maternity leave, and mothers returning to work for at least six months, except in specific circumstances. Today’s consultation will seek views on how this should work in practice.

The UK Government’s plan to Make Work Pay will bring our employment rights’ legislation into the 21st century, extending the employment protections already given by the best British companies to millions more workers across the country.

Business Secretary, Peter Kyle said: “Many, many businesses already ensure their employees have security and dignity at work. That is particularly important in the precious early days of having children or, at the other end of the spectrum, if they experience tragedy and grief.

“What we’re launching today are vital steps to ensure everyone gets that dignity at work and feels the benefits of economic growth, delivering on our Plan for Change.

“We’re committed to working in full partnership with businesses and unions to get the detail right on these reforms, because strong employment rights and a growing economy go hand in hand.”

Reforms will also be introduced to ensure workers have a right to time away from work to grieve – including those who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.

The loss of a loved one is a deeply personal experience that impacts everyone differently. In some cases, people may need to take time and space away from work to grieve; while in other cases, people may prefer to continue working as normal.

There will also be the chance for stakeholders to feed in views on a new duty for workers to be informed by their employers of their right to join a trade union, as well as on the new framework that allows trade unions to request access to a workplace.

Employment Rights Minister, Kate Dearden said: “No family should ever be denied the time and space to grieve – and no mother should face penalties at work for choosing to have children.

“I know brilliant businesses and unions across the country will welcome the chance to give their views on these reforms – those who know that happy, well-paid and loyal staff are at the heart of building successful companies, driving growth that benefits all.”

Circular Economy Strategy consultation

Draft plan to increase reuse and recycling whilst growing the economy

Proposals aimed at creating new jobs and driving economic growth by keeping materials and goods in use for as long as possible have been published for consultation.

The draft Circular Economy Strategy sets out plans to increasing reuse, repair and recycling rates, for example by:

  • increasing the reuse of construction materials
  • supporting sustainable alternatives to fast-fashion
  • increasing EV battery re-purposing, recycling and material reprocessing
  • exploring ways to cut food waste

The draft Strategy will develop sector specific road-maps for four of the five sectors with the greatest potential for increasing reuse, repair and recycling rates in Scotland – the built environment, net zero energy infrastructure, textiles and food. Actions for the fifth sector, transport, will be included in the forthcoming draft Climate Change Plan.

Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: “Reducing, reusing and recycling materials has a huge role to play in Scotland’s response to tackling the climate crisis.

“It also brings huge benefits to households and communities – from lowering the costs of items and creating new jobs to cutting the amount of litter on our streets, helping to improve our local environment and protect wildlife.  

“By supporting Scotland to move towards a culture where keeping materials and goods in use for as long as possible is the norm, we will also be able to drive economic growth by increasing the resilience of our supply-chains and encouraging innovation.

“This consultation outlines priority sectors key to cutting waste and capitalising on the economic opportunities that a circular economy presents to businesses. I urge everyone to take part.”

Take part in the consultation: A Draft Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland – gov.scot