Underbelly gets two year contract extension
Edinburgh residents will have the opportunity to have their say on how the city celebrates Christmas and New Year, the council announced yesterday. Continue reading Citizens to get their say on Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals
Candlemaker Row will be transformed this Sunday as part of a consultation on major proposals to reshape the surrounding area.
Continue reading Roll up, roll up to see Candlemaker Row in a new light
Views are being sought on proposals to transform walking, cycling and public spaces along some of Edinburgh’s busiest streets.
The Meadows to George Street project aims to significantly enhance the experience of those travelling on foot or by bike on streets connecting the two destinations, improving public realm and increasing accessibility. Continue reading Have your say on city council’s Meadows to George Street proposals
People living and working in Gracemount are being asked to take part in a new approach to designing local services. Continue reading My Gracemount: residents asked to shape services
New powers across areas of health, environment and leisure services could be given to local communities. Initial findings from the Local Governance Review published today, show that people overwhelmingly want more say about how public services are run in their area.
The review received more than 4,000 responses from across Scotland.
Publication today is the start of a process that could mean communities are given direct control of specific public services.
The Scottish Government is working with COSLA on the next stage of the review, which will look further into the type of powers communities would like to control. The results of the review will be published in 2021.
Communities and Local Government Secretary, Aileen Campbell, said: “A wide range of people with very different backgrounds, experiences and interests overwhelmingly responded that they want to have more say about how local public services are run in their area.
“We want to see a step-change in democracy in Scotland where decisions on public services are made in communities – where they have the biggest impact.
“Options are open as to what services are devolved, and there is still a lot of detailed work to do but we have the opportunity to shape the future of democracy so local communities can really flourish.”
COSLA President Councillor Alison Evison said: “The initial stages of this review have made clear that local, democratic choice and control matters to people’s lives.
“There is now a need across the country to achieve improved outcomes for our communities, particularly those communities suffering persistent inequality.
“With leadership from Local Government and the Scottish Government, we will continue the conversation to get it right and give communities more say in decisions that impact on them.”
Director for Electoral Reform Society Scotland, Willie Sullivan, said: “The biggest threat to democracy is that it does not grow and adapt quickly enough to meet the expectations of citizens.
“It’s clear that we have to remake democracy and governance for a time of rapid social and technological change and authoritarian threats. The only way to do this is from the local up and along with as many people as possible. The Scottish Government and COSLA seem to be embracing these ideas.
“Doing this well and getting it right will take time and attention. We welcome the progress made and will keep ensuring that democracy is at the centre of the hope for future transformation so that Scots can know the power and pride of running their own towns and villages”
Director of National Development for BEMIS Scotland, Mrs. Tanveer Parnez, said: “Utilising a human rights-based approach, in addition to facilitating participative democracy, within the Local Governance Review and associated Democracy Matters conversations, present an attentive and much needed approach to advancing democratic participation, active citizenship and empowerment for diverse communities at several levels.
“We have seen the impact of this approach through the positive and dynamic participation from diverse local communities in the first consultation phase, and we are fully committed to enhancing and progressing the equal partaking and participation of diverse communities in the next round of engagement and any new decision-making arrangements.”
Read the full joint statement.
The Local Governance Review has been delivered in partnership with COSLA and was launched to give local communities more say about how public services in their area are run.
We are encouraging everyone to get involved and help strengthen democracy in a way that makes Scotland a better place for all. If you want to stay in touch, you can sign up to our newsletter, email us at democracymatters@gov.scot and follow us on Twitter @CommEmpower.
Following its inception in November last year, the first evidence collected by the Edinburgh Poverty Commission (above) has been published. Continue reading Edinburgh Poverty Commission: initial findings published
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is seeking your views on their plans to help keep communities even safer. Continue reading Have your say on Fire and Rescue service strategic plan
A major public consultation will be launched on a radical programme to transform Edinburgh’s city centre if, as expected, it is approved by city councillors next week.
Continue reading Council to consult on city centre ‘transformation’
Local community councillors have been invited to attend a Waterfront consultation meeting at Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus tomorrow. Continue reading Community councillors invited to Waterfront event tomorrow
Share your thoughts, consider the opportunities, shape your waterfront. All are welcome!
Edinburgh College, 350 West Granton Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1QE
Saturday 11th May, 10am – 2pm
Building on what you told us previously, Collective Architecture and the City of Edinburgh Council would like to invite you to come along and comment on the ideas for the future of Granton Waterfront developed through the first two stages of consultation.
