Thousands of people each year experience severe financial difficulties. If you have ever been in that situation, a Scottish Parliament committee wants to hear from you to find out how the process could be improved.
The Bankruptcy and Diligence Bill will, among other provisions, create a “mental health moratorium”, meaning enforcement action against someone with serious mental health problems can be stopped.
The Bill will also make changes to the process for recovering money for creditors, including a requirement for creditors to provide a debtor with information about debt advice before enforcement.
Now the Economy and Fair Work Committee wants to hear your views on this Bill – especially if you have lived experience of the issues it covers.
Committee Convener Claire Baker MSP said: “The stress and worry of severe financial difficulties is something that all too many people are facing. The Bill aims to make changes to the bankruptcy process, but we want to know what impact these changes will have on those people affected.
“By sharing their insights, people from across Scotland can help shape a fairer and more compassionate system that addresses the challenges faced by individuals in financial distress.
“We particularly want to hear from people who have been in this situation and experienced significant mental health challenges on the difference the proposed moratorium would have made.”
YESTERDAY the Boundary Commission for Scotland released its proposals to redraw the boundaries of Scottish Parliamentary constituencies (writes Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton).
As Scotland changes, this review is mandated of the commission, so that population growth in some areas and decline in others is reflected in how areas are represented in the Scottish Parliament.
The proposals for West Edinburgh redraw our constituency entirely, with the communities of Kirkliston, South Queensferry, Cramond, Cammo, Barnton, Davidson’s Mains and Muirhouse all removed from Edinburgh Western Constituency and combined with the towns of Linlithgow, Broxburn and Uphall to create the new constituency of Edinburgh Forth and Linlithgow.
Corstorphine, East Craigs, Craigmount and Drylaw and Blackhall will remain in Edinburgh Western and the seat will expand East to include Inverleith, Stockbridge, Murrayfield and Ravelston. Part of South Gyle will now move to Edinburgh Pentlands.
The Commission has now embarked on a 4 week consultation of the proposals. I’m keen to reflect the views of my constituents as best I can so please let me know what you think in the comment thread below (Mr Cole-Hamilton was posting this information on local community council Facebook pages).
As I’m posting across 12 groups, I won’t be able to respond to comments, I’m afraid but I will take note of them all.
Additionally, please make your views known to the Commission directly through their consultation website:
Residents and visitors to Craigmillar and Niddrie are being invited to share their views on improving the look and feel of Niddrie Mains Road and its ‘high street’.
This is the latest project within Edinburgh’s 20-Minute Neighbourhood strategy, which seeks to deliver better community-focussed places where everyone can meet most of their daily needs within a short walk, wheel or cycle from their home.
A community coffee morning with play activities available for younger children, was held yesterday (Saturday 13th May) at Greengables Family Centre, where people had have the opportunity to discuss the projects in more detail, share feedback and ask questions.
People can also share their thoughts either online or in person at Craigmillar Library. The online survey is available until 7th July. Paper copies of the survey and feedback cards are available to fill in and submit by the community board at Craigmillar Library.
Plans for the local area also include proposals for a new primary school in Greendykes. This project brings exciting opportunities to explore ways the new school can provide extra use and community benefits for the local area. A specific survey for the proposed new Greendykes Primary School is also open, where people can give views on the location of the new school and potential for the wider community.
Councillor Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener, said:“Our 20-minute neighbourhood strategy is about working together to make the local area better at serving the daily needs of the local community and businesses.
“Schools are a key part of this and we want them to be at heart of their local communities. Projects like the proposed new primary school in Greendykes provide the opportunity to rethink how community facilities can provide wider use and benefits for everyone to live well locally.
“Our high streets and local centres are also places that bring people together and provide excellent opportunities to live, work and spend time. Craigmillar has benefitted from some fantastic regeneration in recent years, but the High Street still has a lot of potential to become a more vibrant, attractive and inclusive space for everyone.
“We are calling for local people and businesses to share their views so we can develop a plan for school provision in the area, improved public spaces and to encourage people to access the high street, local facilities and greenspaces by active and sustainable travel.”
Michael Melton, Grant Manager for Sustrans, said:“Creating safe and accessible routes to schools and businesses is a core part of what we do, and is at the heart of the plans to further regenerate the Craigmillar area.
This exciting project will not only tailor convenient walking, wheeling and cycling options to the needs of the local area, but will also help develop the Niddrie High Street into a more relaxed and attractive setting for residents to socialise and spend time in.
“We strongly encourage everyone living and working in the area to share their views on the plans for the area to help ensure the project is as successful as possible.
The surveys are an initial opportunity for people to give their views. It will inform the development of an initial plan for school provision in the local area, and for encouraging people to access an improved high street, local facilities and greenspaces by active and sustainable travel. The Council will continue to work with the local community and businesses as this develops.
The 20-Minute Neighbourhood strategy was launched in June 2021. Its vision is to enable a net zero Edinburgh where everyone can live well locally.
The city needs this level of ambition to achieve a significant shift towards sustainable transport. Increased walking, wheeling cycling and using public transport can all help to cut congestion and reduce emissions. It will help to create more social, inclusive and accessible places. This will also support physical and mental wellbeing and help to end poverty in Edinburgh.
The City of Edinburgh Council has been awarded Places for Everyone funding to develop a concept design for an improved high street in Craigmillar. Places for Everyone is an active travel infrastructure fund backed by the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans. The Places for Everyone programme provides support and expertise to help deliver walking, wheeling, and cycling improvements across the country.
People are being asked for their views on how the planning system can support healthy, thriving and connected communities as part of a consultation launched by the Scottish Government.
As part of implementation of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), draft guidance has been prepared to support people to meet the majority of their daily needs within a reasonable distance of their home, preferably through active travel or by using public transport.
The local living and the 20 minute neighbourhood concepts contained in NPF4 will help the planning system to deliver sustainable and resilient places, deliver net zero ambitions, reduce social isolation, promote active travel, and provide access to green space.
Planning Minister Joe FitzPatrick launched the consultation at the Scottish Young Planners Network annual conference in Stirling.
Mr FitzPatrick said: “Local living and 20 minute neighbourhood policies will deliver many longstanding ambitions for the planning system by supporting thriving communities and providing multiple benefits for people and the environment.
“We want to help people to meet their daily needs within a reasonable distance of their homes, while helping them to live healthier lives and contributing towards the achievement of our net zero targets.
“We can really get to the heart of what matters to people by working with them to shape our towns and communities of the future.”
Euan Leitch, Chief Executive of SURF – Scotland’s Regeneration Forum, said: “SURF warmly welcomes additional guidance on how we develop the value of local living and how planning, third and private sectors, public services and our transport systems will deliver this.
“Well maintained, easy to navigate places can be at the heart of community wellbeing and guidance should give communities the assurance that decisions made will improve their sense of control and enhance their quality of life.”
A six-week consultation is asking residents, businesses and other interested groups how they think Seafield could be transformed and regenerated into a vibrant new 20-minute neighbourhood.
The consultation is being run by the City of Edinburgh Council and Seafield: Connecting Coastal Communities*.
The local community is being invited to attend two events where they can give their views in person. Those attending will be asked what they like best about the area just now, what kind of housing they would like built there in the future and how the existing promenade could be improved.
The consultation is also seeking to get views from the local community on what other facilities they would like in the area such as health centres, schools and shops as well as how public transport could be improved.
Thursday, 27 April between 3pm – 8pm at The Ripple Project Cafe, 198 Restalrig Road South, Craigentinny.
Saturday, 29 April Between 12:30pm – 3:30pm Bellfield (Celebration Foyer) 16B Bellfield Street, Portobello.
Cllr James Dalgleish Planning Convener said: “This part of our precious coast in Edinburgh has been highlighted as an area which can be greatly improved and regenerated in our draft City Plan 2030, currently with Scottish Ministers for approval.
“We’re at an early stage looking at how we can use sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood principles at Seafield, a new way of thinking for us in Edinburgh. We want to make Seafield more sustainable, with improved access to quality services.
“This is the start of a conversation with the local community to empower them to help us to make this happen. A 20-minute neighbourhood in Edinburgh is about living well locally, giving residents the ability to meet most of their daily needs by walking, cycling, wheeling or taking public transport. Residents will be able to live, shop, work and travel more easily and enjoy well-connected spaces with and improved greener public transport.
“I’d encourage everyone with a link to Seafield to come along and tell us how what kind of homes and other facilities they would like to see built at Seafield for future generations to come. If you can’t make the events please do fill out our short survey as it’s really important we hear from as many people as possible about this important regeneration project for the city.
“The next stage is for the Council to share a draft vision for feedback before consulting on a draft masterplan for Seafield this summer. This will then be presented to the Council’s Planning Committee for approval.”
*Seafield: Connecting Coastal Communities is a group made up of the following community councils:
‘Gathering views from our communities and businesses, alongside data and technical evidence, will be critical to these decisions’ – Transport Convener Cllr Scott Arthur
A major consultation to help shape the way people move around, to and from Edinburgh is now underway.
Together, the Active Travel, Public Transport, Parking, Road Safety and Air Quality Action Plans aim to create cleaner, greener, safer, more accessible and affordable travel choices, while cutting congestion, reinforcing the Capital’s net zero 2030 goals and boosting the economy.
Each of the plans sits under the emerging Circulation Plan and its associated Streetspace Allocation Framework, which underpin the transition towards a less congested, more liveable, healthy and sustainable capital.
The city council is now seeking feedback on all the plans collectively, including via an online survey, public drop-ins, focus group and key stakeholder discussions and a toolkit to support community involvement.
The consultation will run until 9 July and outcomes will be reported to Transport and Environment Committee later this year, culminating in the finalisation of each plan.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said:“Edinburgh is a growing, evolving capital, facing the same challenges as cities around the world – from climate change and poverty to traffic congestion and poor air quality.
“We want to transform the way people move around the city, which we hope will go some way to addressing this, and we’re looking at how we can create safer, sustainable and affordable transport options. This is also about working to support economic growth and building people-friendly spaces across the city, while helping to end poverty and isolation. We’ve put people, particularly those with a disability, at the heart of these plans.
“The draft action plans set out a range of actions to achieve this, and we want to collaborate with people and businesses in Edinburgh to shape how we deliver these plans. Combining all the plans into one big citywide conversation means we can really capture the interrelated issues and ensure actions are mutually supportive of each other.
“As a city we know and agree that we must cut congestion, boost the economy and hit net zero. This consultation is a chance for people to both comment on our proposals and also make alternative suggestions for delivering these key policies. Doing nothing, however, is no longer an option as we have a duty to face these challenges.
“We need to balance different travel needs with the limited street space we have, and that’s going to involve some real dilemmas. I’m particularly pleased, however, that making public transport more accessible and reliable is at the heart of these plans.
“Gathering views from our communities and businesses, alongside data and technical evidence, will be critical to these decisions. Whether you’re interested in improved public transport links, better walking, wheeling and cycling routes or making our streets more accessible and pleasant places to spend time, I’d urge you to take part in our consultation.”
Residents and businesses can share their views on proposals and priorities in a range of areas, including making streets more accessible, improving public transport and enhancing active travel networks, as well as achieving ambitious accident reduction targets and creating people-friendly, thriving neighbourhoods and shopping streets.
These actions support Edinburgh’s City Mobility Plan and aim to help drive down the number of kilometres travelled by car in the city by 30% by 2030, reduce air pollution and improve public health.
Councils empowered to prioritise ‘homes for living in‘
Plans to enable councils to raise the amount of council tax paid on empty and second homes will be included in a new consultation to help increase housing availability.
First Minister Humza Yousaf will announce proposals at the Scottish Trades Union Congress today (Monday 17 April) which could give councils powers to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes from April 2024.
The proposed change would bring second homes into line with long-term empty homes from next year. The joint consultation with COSLA will also seek views on further powers to charge more than double rate on both empty and second homes in future years.
Latest figures show that in January 2023 there were 42,865 long-term empty homes in Scotland.
The consultation will also ask for views on whether there should be changes to the definition of when a property offering self-catered accommodation becomes liable for non-domestic rates.
The plans will deliver on commitments in the Scottish Government’s Housing to 2040 strategy and Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Green Party to enable councils to prioritise homes for living in and manage the impact of second or long-term empty homes.
Ahead of the consultation opening, the First Minister said: “We want everyone in Scotland to have an affordable home that meets their needs and this work to improve the availability of sustainable long-term housing opportunities is a core part of that.
“By recognising the important role councils have in considering local needs, these proposals aim to strike a balance between good housing supply and helping communities to thrive and benefit from tourism.
“I encourage anyone who is interested to respond to the consultation as we try to prioritise homes for living in, seeking a fair contribution to local services from everyone and recognising the benefits to local economies from self-catering accommodation and second homes.
“All responses will be carefully considered before legislation is introduced to the Scottish Parliament.”
COSLA Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmaan said: “Local government in Scotland is committed to supporting access for everyone in Scotland to an affordable home.
“That is why we are pleased to be launching this joint consultation, as we work to meet the shared aim of creating the right balance to increase the availability of housing and a taxation system that is fair for the tourism industry.
“We also welcome the greater fiscal empowerment for councils to reflect local circumstances this would introduce. Any additional funding created by these changes under consultation will enable councils to invest in local needs and support sustainable communities.
“We are pleased to be jointly working with the Scottish Government on this vital area of work and we look forward to considering the responses.”
Holyrood’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee want to hear from parents and employers on how child poverty could be addressed through parental employment.
Booking is essential: email the team at 
