Tag: consultation

‘Empowering communities’: help transform the planning system

Views sought for planning modernisation

Plans for major changes to the Scottish planning system have been published. Planning Minister Kevin Stewart launched the consultation during a visit to the Pennywell regeneration development yesterday.

The Scottish Government has set out 20 proposals for revamping the system, which will support economic growth, delivery of houses and increase community involvement in planning decisions. They form a consultation which will pave the way for a planning bill to be brought forward this year.

The proposals build on recommendations of an independent review carried out by a panel of experts last year. Key changes include zoning more land for housing, promoting self-build and removing the need to apply for planning permission for more types of development. The consultation also seeks views on new rights for communities to produce their own plans for their local area.

The Pennywell project will deliver 719 new energy efficient homes for the area with 356 properties for affordable rent and 363 for private sale, and has been a catalyst for wider regeneration through providing infrastructure improvements, local investment, local jobs, training opportunities and community engagement.

Speaking during his visit to the development , Mr Stewart said: “Planning affects everyone’s lives, from making sure we have the right types of homes to driving forward regeneration.

“We need a strong and efficient system to support these aims and for long-term economic growth. I believe these proposals will mean we are better placed to make high quality development happen sooner and in the right places.

“I firmly believe that Scotland’s planners can lead the delivery of great places, empower communities and provide a stable environment for investment through the uncertain times we live in. I would encourage everyone with an interest in planning – developers and businesses, professionals and local authorities, communities and members of the public – to tell us what they think of our proposals for change.”

The consultation, “Places, people and planning” runs until Tuesday 4 April, and can be accessed at https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/planning-architecture/a-consultation-on-the-future-of-planning 

 

 

 

Have your say on locality priorities

There’s still time to complete our Locality Improvement Plan survey and tell us what your priorities are: everyone who lives in, visits or works in the North West area can now help shape what the LIP should focus on.

The link below will take you to a brief questionnaire where you are asked to identify what you feel is important to you, your family and your neighbours:

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/north-west-lip

Action on child poverty

Scottish Government support for Cash for Kids

There is overwhelming support for the government’s ambition to tackle the deep-rooted causes of child poverty, Equalities Secretary Angela Constance said during a visit to North Edinburgh Childcare yesterday – but the Scottish Greens argue that the latest government report shows the need for a budget to tackle the ‘scandal’ of child poverty. Continue reading Action on child poverty

And more on Localities ….

More opportunities to have your say in Forth and Inverleith 

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Work is now well underway in shaping the new 2017 – 2022 Locality Improvement Plan for North West Edinburgh and it’s important that you can tell us what you think needs to happen in the next five years (writes Elaine Lennon).

We are focusing on the themes of Place; Health & Social Care; Community Safety; Children, young people and families; and Employment. Some of you might have been involved already but you might have something else you think you wish to add to the process.

You can do this online by clicking on this link. Simply go to the North West link and thinking of the themes above, let us have your thoughts on how things should be in 2022. We will gather in all of the comments and look to see where there are similarities and then we will ask the communities of North West to rank those statements to help identify the future priorities. If you prefer, you can attend one of these focus groups to give us your views:

  • Health – An Inverleith specific focus group is on TODAY Monday 28th Nov, 2.30-4pm at LifeCare
  • Children & Young People – A joint Forth / Inverleith focus group looked at services for Children and Young People and a second one is planned on Tuesday to look specifically at Support to families and parenting- on Tuesday 29th Nov, West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre 10-12.
  • Place – A final Inverleith specific event will be held in Stockbridge Library on Monday 5th Dec, 2-3.30pm where the main focus will be on ‘place’ – environment, parks etc.

We hope that you can either join us at one of the above focus groups, or give your views on the link above. Please distribute this link throughout your networks.

Thanks

Elaine

Police priorities: have your say

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Police priorities consultation: digital way to have your say

Police Scotland consults with the public every year on what their priorities are for policing in their community. In the past this has always been by hard copy consultation questionnaires which were distributed by police officers within the community they work.

This year Police Scotland’s consultation process is widening and becoming more flexible. The consultation process is moving online to a digital format and consultation will be open all year.

Your View Counts

The public consultation is for you to tell us what is important to you in your community. Your opinion is valued – we need your opinion to inform our policing. Having your say in the decision making process of Police Scotland is a vital tool for residents of Scotland to be able to shape the way their public services should operate.

Everyone’s views across Scotland will be taken on board at a national and local level. We want you to help us focus on the priorities that will help communities most. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to local policing and all the needs and wants of individual communities will be considered.

This is the first time Police Scotland’s public consultation is being hosted on a digital platform. This allows us to reach a much wider audience than ever before ensuring that everyone can have their say.

The online consultation is open all year which allows you to take part when it suits you but also gives the flexibility of being able to re-submit the consultation if your priorities change.

It’s a very simple process that should only take a few moments of your time but will shape the way that policing is coordinated across Scotland and in your local community.

We will keep you updated on our  quarterly  results. The consultation will be a completely transparent process as it’s all about your priorities.

You can also visit a version of this page in Polish.

Take the survey here

Click here for a Polish version

 

Scottish Social Security consultation arouses strong feelings

Thousands of Scots share their views on the social security system

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The three-month consultation on building a Scottish social security system has ended – for now. Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman says the government will publish a report in the New Year and insists the dialogue will continue. Continue reading Scottish Social Security consultation arouses strong feelings

Council leader Andrew Burns urges citizens to have their say

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What’s great about Edinburgh? What could be better? What should the city be like in the year 2050? These are the questions we’ve been asking as we develop a ‘2050 Edinburgh City Vision’.

We have much to be proud of here in the Capital but we do need to start thinking seriously about what we want Edinburgh to look like in 10, 20, even 30 years’ time.

It’s important to note that this will not be a Council vision; rather officers’ role will be to facilitate and support citywide collaboration and debate.

Already, people from all corners and sectors of the city have been having their say. Our launch event at Cortex HQ, attended by more than 100 guests, has been reported widely in the media and continues to be hotly debated on social media. Indeed, #edinburgh2050 trended on Twitter, reaching more than a million people!

If you haven’t already, please have your say by answering our three simple questions at Edinburgh.org/2050 and on social media @edinburgh using #Edinburgh2050.
Councillor Andrew Burns
Leader of the City of Edinburgh
Council

 

Play your part in improving our services

Please help us to improve our services by playing your part in our public engagement, which runs until 18 November. You can do this by completing our survey and/or contributing your ideas via our dialogue page.

Thanks to your previous feedback, we have already agreed draft spending and saving plans for the next three years and this year’s engagement is focusing on three themes, namely: new ways of working, lean and agile services and working with partners.

Following the success of previous years, we are running another ‘Question Time’ event on 10 November in the City Chambers. This is designed to give you the opportunity to quiz our panel of senior councillors on the Council’s budget proposals for next year and beyond.

The proceedings will be chaired by Evening News, Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday Deputy Editor, Euan McGrory. It will also be broadcast live via the Council website. If you would like to put a question to the panel, or just come along and be part of the audience,please register online by 7 November.

Muirhouse Shopping Centre transformation moves to next stage

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A proposal to redevelop Muirhouse Shopping Centre and surrounding area to create a new civic centre in Pennywell and Muirhouse will be considered by the Council next week as the latest stage of the ongoing regeneration of the wider area. Continue reading Muirhouse Shopping Centre transformation moves to next stage