Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has claimed that almost 160,000 people across Edinburgh and the Lothian’s would benefit from increasing the council tax discount for single occupancy households, from 25% to 35%.
Figures obtained by SPICe, the Scottish Parliament research department, show that there are currently 159,490 households across Edinburgh and the Lothian’s who receive the single occupancy household discount. Of which 98,000 are in Edinburgh, 17,218 in East Lothian, 13,967 in Midlothian and 30,305 in West Lothian.
A central Scottish Conservative council election manifesto pledge is to increase the discount for single person households from 25% to 35%.
The average property in local authorities across Scotland is band D. This means that the average single person household in Edinburgh would save an additional £138 per year, in West Lothian £131 per year, in Midlothian £144 per year and East Lothian £134 per year.
The total saving for single occupancy households in Edinburgh would be approximately £13,524,000 in West Lothian £3,969,955 in Midlothian £2,011,248 and in East Lothian £2,307,212. Across all four local authorities the savings for single household properties would be £21,812,415.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“Increased council tax and the rise in the cost of living, all hit single person households the hardest, with more and more people struggling to get by.
“The Scottish Conservatives have committed to and will continue to push for single occupancy households to receive 35% council tax discount, a 10% increase from the current discount of 25%.
“Across Edinburgh and the Lothian’s this would benefit almost 160,000 people, alleviating some of the pressure from council tax hikes.
“Single parents, young professionals and elderly people living alone would all benefit from an increase to the single occupancy household discount.”
Tables for tax bands in each local authority and savings per tax band:
Council candidates across the political spectrum are being asked to sign a pledge to support veterans, military personnel, and their families in their communities.
More than 80 politicians have already signed the #PoppyPromise, a commitment to ensure that current and former servicemen and women are not disadvantaged when accessing local services.
Poppyscotland is urging voters to ask the local candidates in their council area to support the five-point plan in the Scottish Local Elections next week (MAY 5th).
The charity is concerned that many members of the Armed Forces community are struggling when it comes to accessing housing, transport, education, and benefits, due to the unique nature of their military service.
Scottish veterans often face health problems, with a large number affected by long-term illness, disability, or mental health issues. Research suggests that veterans experiencing homelessness are more likely to have multiple, complex problems, while Scottish Government data shows they are more likely to have experienced rough sleeping.
Children from military families can also face challenges such as disrupted education if they move between schools.
David Dickie, who served in Iraq with the Royal Highland Fusiliers, found himself homeless more than a decade after he was discharged. He had been living with his sister in Inverness, but lost his home and his job after her sudden death.
After returning to Kilmarnock, he submitted a homeless application to East Ayrshire Council, but was concerned about staying in a hostel since he suffers from PTSD and finds it difficult being around people he does not know.
Thanks to Poppyscotland’s advocacy, Mr Dickie was offered temporary housing in a one-bedroom flat and was supported to apply for benefits. He now lives in a council house in Kilmarnock and has returned to work as rope access safety supervisor.
Mr Dickie said: “It can be hard when you come out the Army, and a lot of people find it difficult to settle into civilian life. Councils need to be more aware of some of the issues affecting veterans.”
“Local councils play a huge role in helping serving personnel, veterans, and their families, who rely on public services such as housing, education, transport, social care, and benefits. But some members of our Armed Forces community, such as Mr Dickie, can still find it difficult to access these due to a lack of understanding of their specific needs.
“We believe no one should be disadvantaged after serving their country. With just a few days left before we go to the polls, we’re encouraging voters to ask their local candidates to sign our #PoppyPromise. This demonstrates their commitment to listen to the voices of the Armed Forces community and ensure they are treated fairly when it comes to delivering local services.
“We hope that candidates seeking office will take this opportunity to recognise the service of our Armed Forces community by promising to act decisively to help them lead healthy, successful, and fulfilling lives if elected.”
An alliance of leading children’s service providers has warned that Scotland faces a potential “lost generation” of children and young people with additional support needs (ASN), heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis.
In its Manifesto for the council elections, the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), which campaigns to improve services for vulnerable children and young people, has called on incoming town hall administrations to put their needs at the very heart of future policy commitments.
ASN provision in Scotland is under severe pressure due to increasing demand, against a backdrop of staff shortages and inadequate services. These have been exacerbated by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw many of those with ASN miss out on the care and support they needed, as well as increasing mental health problems and the ‘cost of living crisis’.
The SCSC has called on incoming council administrations to renew their focus on services for children and young people with ASN, such as those with dyslexia, autism, mental health problems and are care experienced, and work with the Scottish Government to increase resourcing of these.
It notes that 232,753 children and young people in Scotland’s publicly funded primary, secondary and special schools are classed as having ASN, amounting to just under a third (33.0 per cent) of pupils. This represents an almost doubling (97.2 per cent) increase in the number of those identified with ASN since 2012.[1]
However, the provision of services has not kept pace with this demand. Since 2012, for example, the number of specialist ASN teachers in council primary, secondary and special schools has fallen by 503, from 3,389 to 2,886 (full-time equivalents), equating to a cut of 14.8%. [2]
The SCSC has called for increased resourcing and staffing to deliver a greater provision of those such ASN teachers and pupil support assistants, as well as educational psychologists, mental health professionals and other support services, supporting the closure of the educational attainment gap.
Key recommendations include:
Increased resourcing and staffing: There must be greatly increased resourced and staffing to support those with ASN and care experience. Councils must work with the Scottish Government to ensure the delivery of these.
Better training: There must be better training of teachers, social workers, health professionals and other practitioners, including continuing professional development, so that they can adequately identify and support children and young people with ASN.
· Supporting mental health and wellbeing: Services must have the resources to identify children and young people with mental health problems, helping them get early support. There must be substantially increased investment in community level support, ensuring waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are drastically reduced.
· School-based counsellors: All schools must also have access to a qualified and appropriately experienced counsellor, providing support to troubled and/or distressed children and young people, including those with mental health difficulties.
· Introducing a local health champion: Councils should elect one member as champion for mental health. Once a councillor becomes a champion, their role will then include raising awareness of mental health problems in the development of council policies and strategies and in public forums, leading discussions on mental health with NHS organisations in their local area, and speaking with schools, businesses and community groups about mental health.
Right to independent advocacy:Care experienced children and young people must have access to independent professional advocacy, ensuring that they make informed decisions on matters which affect their lives, and this must be made statutory.
· Implement The Promise: Ensure that councils work the Scottish Government to deliver on The Promise, which came out of Care Review, ensuring that children and young people who are or become care experienced are loved and supported to fulfil their potential.
· Training and employment opportunities: there must be greater investment in training and employment programmes by councils to benefit those with ASN and care experience.
Increased specialist provision for children and young people: The educational needs of some children and young people with complex or specific needs, are often better met in specialist settings. The number of special school/unit places available, on a wider geographic basis, and these places may be provided by the local authority or independent sector.
Greater partnership working: There must be greater partnership working and integration between the public sector and private and third sector service providers, so that the needs of the child or young person can be properly supported in the most appropriate setting.
A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “The Covid-19 pandemic and ‘cost of living crisis’ are having a devastating impact on the lives of many of our children and young people, exacerbating already existing staff shortages and inadequate services.
“That is why it is essential that incoming council administrations put services that benefit the lives of our children and young people at the very heart of policy commitments.
“We are conscious that councils are facing an incredibly challenging financial environment, but they play a critical role in supporting those children and young people with ASN, or we are in danger of facing a ‘lost generation’ of vulnerable children and young people.
“If Scotland is to be one of the best places in the world for vulnerable children and young people to grow up in, we would urge our councils to work with closely the Scottish Government and other agencies, across the public, private and third sectors, to ensure that we can turn this vision into a reality.”
With the elections for Scotland’s local authorities happening on May 5th, it is important to emphasise the vital role councils play in helping blind and partally sighted people to live as independently and inclusively as possible.
People with a visual impairment are more likely to depend on services from their local council, for information that’s readily available in alternative formats, public transport that’s accessible, streets and thoroughfares that allow people to walk safely and without obstacles, education that allows every child to reach their full potential, and employment that’s informed by a better understanding of what those with sight loss can do.
Around 178,000 people are currently living with a significant degree of sight loss in Scotland, of whom over 4,000 are children and young people. Our ageing population and the increase in sight-theatening conditions such as diabetes means this number will, inevitably, grow.
Let’s make one positive legacy of the upheaval we’ve all been through a resolve to make sure we re-emerge as a society in which no one is left at the margins.
Our local authorities are absolutely key to this.
James Adams
Director, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland
Environmental campaigners say the upcoming council elections are going to be significant in tackling the climate crisis, and are calling on all parties to make policies on transport and waste management a priority.
The councillors elected across Scotland in May will be in their position for five years in what is a vital decade for action to avert climate breakdown.
The UN climate conference in Glasgow was a key moment for international action, but the powers held by Councils makes them pivotal when it comes to tackling Scotland’s emissions and building on the legacy of COP26.
Transport is the primary source of carbon emissions in Scotland, making up around a third of the total. While progress has been made in other areas, this has barely changed in the last three decades.
Councils have the power to set up publicly-owned bus companies which could make a significant difference here. They also receive funding, which will be increasing in the coming years as part of the SNP and Greens agreement, for cycling and walking, which some councils currently make use of more than others.
Scotland is now burning almost as much of its household waste as it is sending to landfill, while household recycling rates have fallen by 2.9% to 42.0% between 2019 and 2020. This means Scotland now has the poorest recycling rates in the UK. Councils are in charge of designing and providing waste collection systems for households and therefore have a key role to play in reducing the carbon impact of household waste.
Mary Church, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “These elections are being contested against the backdrop of a climate and nature emergency. Many of the powers to drive action on the climate crisis sit with local councils, which is why this vote matters so much.
“Councillors must put people and the planet at the heart of all of the decisions they make. This means making it easier and more affordable to take public transport by running services in the interests of passengers rather than shareholders, helping people to reduce and recycle their waste, and planning for the vital phase out of incineration.
“Over the coming weeks, people can get in touch with candidates to hear what they have to say on these climate-critical issues and build pressure for ambition and urgency at the local level during the next five years.”
Friends of the Earth Scotland has set out a programme of priorities for climate action they want parties to champion, which can be downloaded below:
Official figures reveal that council taxpayers in Edinburgh pay on average £587 a year less than they would in Tory-run England and £398 less than in Labour-run Wales.
Across Scotland, council tax payers get the best deal in Britain. The figures also demonstrate that the savings for Scottish council tax payers in comparison to what those in England and Wales will pay is going to be even greater next year.
The research shows that Band D council tax payers in Edinburgh pay £1,379 which is £587 less than the equivalent in England and £398 less than in Wales.
Council tax across Scotland is lower than in England – for 2022/23, the average Band D Council Tax bill in Scotland is £1347 compared to £1966 in England and £1777 in Wales.
For 2022/23, the average charge for all property bands, including E, F, G and H, is between £413 and £651 lower in Scotland than England.
The average council tax increase in Scotland for 2022/23 was 3.0%, compared with 3.5% in England and 2.7% in Wales.
Commenting, SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald said: “Council taxpayers in Edinburgh are paying £587 less than they would in England. In fact, council taxpayers across Scotland get the best deal in Britain.
“On top of the £150 council tax rebate announced last month by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, this demonstrates that the Scottish Government is doing all it can within its restricted powers and resources to keep as much money as possible in the pockets of Scottish families.
“Council tax bills in Edinburgh are so substantially lower because the SNP has such a strong record of delivering the best value. For an entire decade the SNP Scottish Government froze the cost of council tax – despite Westminster continuing to slash the Scottish budget.
“The SNP Scottish Government is also rolling out a social security system based on fairness and respect. It has introduced the ‘game-changing’ Scottish Child Payment – which will deliver £25 per week per child for the lowest income families in Edinburgh – and we are increasing a range of Scottish social security benefits by six per cent.
“It is a glaring contrast with the Westminster Tory Government which, far from protecting hard-pressed families from the spiralling Tory cost of living crisis, it callously cut vital Universal Credit support by £20 a week for the poorest families.
“This is a real tale of two Governments and the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to send a message to Boris Johnson by rejecting the Tories in the local elections on May 5.”
‘A tale of two governments’?It’s worth pointing out that neither Boris Johnson nor Nicola Sturgeon will be standing in May’s LOCAL government elections. These elections are supposed to be about who runs our council services!
Edinburgh is currently under the control of an SNP – Labour ‘Capital Coalition’ partnership. Do you think Edinburgh taxpayers are really getting a ‘good deal’? – Ed. …
143 candidates will contest Edinburgh’s 17 wards in the Local Government Elections on Thursday 5 May.
Nominations for candidates closed om Wednesday 30 March. The nominated candidates for each ward are listed in full below and on the Council website:
Ward 1 – Almond
Workers Party of Britain – BAILLIE, Annemarie
Scottish Green Party – BROUGH, Andrew
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – GEDDES, Stewart
Scottish Labour Party – HESSLER, Fred
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – HILL, James
Scottish Liberal Democrats – LANG, Kevin
Scottish National Party (SNP) – WORK, Norrie
Scottish Liberal Democrats – YOUNG, Louise
Scottish Liberal Democrats – YOUNIE, Lewis James
Ward 2 – Pentland Hills
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – BRUCE , Graeme
Scottish Liberal Democrats – CHAPPELL, Michael William
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – FETTES, Richard
Scottish National Party (SNP) – GARDINER, Neil Thomas
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – GILCHRIST, Emma
Scottish National Party (SNP) – GLASGOW, Fiona
Scottish Labour Party – JENKINSON, Stephen Philip
Scottish Green Party – MULLER, Ross
Scottish Libertarian Party – ROWLANDS, Louis
Ward 3 – Drum Brae/ Gyle
Scottish Liberal Democrats – ALDRIDGE, Robert Christopher
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – BROWN, Mark
Scottish National Party (SNP) – HYSLOP, Euan
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – JOHNSTON, Eileen
Labour and Co-operative Party – OKORO, Nkechi
Scottish Green Party – SCOTT, Anne
Scottish Libertarian Party – SMITH, Gary
Scottish Liberal Democrats – THORNLEY, Edward John
Ward 4 – Forth
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – CAMPBELL, Jim
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – CAMPBELL, Linda Lenora
Labour and Co-operative Party – DAY, Cammy
Scottish Liberal Democrats – DIJKSTRA-DOWNIE, Sanne
Scottish National Party (SNP) – DOBBIN, Stuart
Scottish National Party (SNP) – GOOCH, Carrie
Women’s Equality Party – HEATHCOTE, Kerry Elizabeth
Scottish Green Party – O’NEILL, Kayleigh
Ward 5 – Inverleith
Scottish Green Party – BANDEL, Jule
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – HERRING, Stuart
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – HOLDEN, Phil
Scottish Libertarian Party – LAIRD, Tam
MCNAMARA, Stephen
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – MITCHELL, Max
Labour and Co-operative Party – MUNRO-BRIAN, Mhairi
Scottish National Party (SNP) – NICOLSON, Vicky
Scottish Liberal Democrats – OSLER, Hal
Scottish Liberal Democrats – WOOD, Malcolm Alexander
Ward 6 – Corstorphine/ Murrayfield
Scottish Liberal Democrats – BEAL, Alan Christopher
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – COLVILLE, Norman David
Scottish Liberal Democrats – DAVIDSON, Euan Robert
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – FINDLAY, Hugh
Scottish Green Party – HUGHES, Connal
Scottish Labour Party – PARKER, Richard
Scottish National Party (SNP) – ROSS, Frank
Ward 7 – Sighthill/ Gorgie
Scottish National Party (SNP) – DIXON, Denis
Scottish National Party (SNP) – FULLERTON, Catherine
Independent – GRACZYK, Ashley
Scottish Green Party – HEAP, Dan
Alba Party for independence – HENRY, David
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – HOOLEY, Mark
Scottish Labour Party – MCKENZIE, Ross
Scottish Liberal Democrats – SCOBIE, Devin
Ward 8 – Colinton/ Fairmilehead
Scottish Labour Party – ARTHUR, Scott
Scottish National Party (SNP) – BIAGI, Marco
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – CUTHBERT, Neil
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – LUCAS, Richard Crewe
Scottish Green Party – MCCABE, Helen
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – RUST, Jason
Scottish Liberal Democrats – SPENCE, Louise Watson
Ward 9 – Fountainbridge/ Craiglockhart
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – COWDY, Christopher
Scottish Liberal Democrats – GRAHAM, Fraser John Ashmore
Scottish National Party (SNP) – KEY, David
Scottish Libertarian Party – MASSON, Gregor
Scottish Green Party – MCHANEY, Megan
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – RAMSAY, Fraser Kenneth
Labour and Co-operative Party – WALKER, Val
Ward 10 – Morningside
Scottish National Party (SNP) – CLYDE, Mairianna
Alba Party for independence – GUNN BARRETT, Leah
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – MUNRO, Marie-Clair
Scottish Green Party – PARKER, Ben
Scottish Liberal Democrats – ROSS, Neil John
Scottish Libertarian Party – SIDOR, Peter
Scottish Labour Party – WATT, Mandy Helen
Ward 11 – City Centre
Independent – BOB, Bonnie Prince
Independent – CARSON, Pete
Scottish Liberal Democrats – FOXALL, Andy
Labour and Co-operative Party – GRAHAM, Margaret Arma
Independent – ILLINGWORTH, Kevin
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MCFARLANE, Finlay
Scottish Green Party – MILLER, Claire
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – MOWAT, Jo
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MWIKI, Marianne
Independent – PAKPAHAN-CAMPBELL, Maria
Independent – PENMAN, Paul R.
Independent – ROWAN, Norrie
Alba Party for independence – SHAW, Kevan
Ward 12 – Leith Walk
Scottish Liberal Democrats – CALDWELL, Jack
Labour and Co-operative Party – DALGLEISH, James
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – DEEPNARAIN, Niel
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – FOMBO, Bonus
Socialist Labour Party – JACOBSEN, David Don
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MCNEESE-MECHAN, Amy
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MUNN, Rob
Freedom Alliance. Real People. Real Alternative – PULLMAN, Jon
Scottish Green Party – RAE, Susan
Women’s Equality Party – RENTON, David
Communist Party of Britain – SHILLCOCK, Richard Charles
Alba Party for independence – SMITH, Joe
Ward 13 – Leith
Scottish Green Party – BOOTH, Chas
Scottish Labour Party – FACCENDA, Katrina
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – ISSERI, Jacqueline Mary
Independent – MACKENZIE, Andy
Alba Party for independence – MCGLYNN, Euan
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MCVEY, Adam
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – PERCHARD, Teresa
Scottish Liberal Democrats – REA, Robin Thomas
Ward 14 – Craigentinny/ Duddingston
Scottish National Party (SNP) – ASTON, Danny
Scottish National Party (SNP) – BROWN, Shelly-Ann
Scottish Liberal Democrats – FORD, Elaine Ruth
Labour and Co-operative Party – GRIFFITHS, Joan
Scottish Green Party – STANIFORTH, Alex
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – WHYTE, Iain
Ward 15 – Southside/ Newington
Scottish Green Party – BURGESS, Steve
Scottish Liberal Democrats – FLANNERY, Pauline
Scottish National Party (SNP) – KUMAR, Simita
Labour and Co-operative Party – POGSON, Tim
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – ROSE, Cameron
Ward 16 – Liberton/ Gilmerton
Labour and Co-operative Party – CAMERON, Lezley Marion
Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life – CHRISTIE, James Demare
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – DOGGART, Philip
Scottish Socialist Party – FOX, Colin
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MACINNES, Lesley
Scottish National Party (SNP) – MATTOS COELHO, Martha
Labour and Co-operative Party – MEASOM, Ishrat
Alba Party for independence – MERON, Abu
Scottish Green Party – NICHOL, John
Scottish Liberal Democrats – PLANCHE, Madeleine Rani Frances
Ward 17 – Portobello/ Craigmillar
Scottish National Party (SNP) – CAMPBELL, Kate
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – JONES, Tim
Independent – MCDONALD, Andrew
Labour and Co-operative Party – MEAGHER, Jane Elizabeth
Scottish Green Party – MUMFORD, Alys
Labour and Co-operative Party – PUGH, Heather
Scottish Liberal Democrats – REILLY, Jill
Scottish National Party (SNP) – SHEDDEN, Simon Clark
Alba Party for independence – TODD, Anne
Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for Edinburgh, said: “If you haven’t yet registered to vote in these Local Government Elections, it’s not too late. The deadline for registration is midnight on 18 April.
“Remember, due to changes to polling places to ensure we keep as many schools open as possible, you might have a different polling place this time. Check your polling card carefully or use the online tool to find out where to vote on 5 May.”
Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking is urging candidates in the upcoming elections this May to make walking and wheeling safer and easier, to help enable more people to choose cleaner and healthier ways to travel.
Cut the clutter and make walking easier for everyone.
A Manifesto for Walking sets out key asks of candidates, including a default 20mph limit in built-up areas, more car-free areas, and clutter-free pavements.
Latest figures show that pedestrians in Scotland accounted for 37 per cent of fatalities and 34 per cent of serious injuries on built-up roads. Whilst particulate air pollution alone causes almost 2,100 early deaths in Scotland every year.
Roberta Fusco, Interim Director of Policy and Communications, Living Streets said: “People walking and wheeling cause the least amount of road danger or pollution but are often left paying the price on our streets in terms of deaths on our roads and exposure to toxic air. It doesn’t have to be this way.
“By standing up for pedestrians, candidates can tackle road danger, air pollution and health problems, creating places where people can move and breathe easily.”
Living Streets is urging voters to call on their local candidates to improve streets for walking.
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, Cllr Kate Campbell wrote in yesterday’s Evening News about how the council’s housing budget is managed:
The council’s housing budget is entirely ringfenced from the rest of council spending. Tenant’s rent is only spent on housing: services for council tenants, repairs, large scale upgrades to existing homes – things like new roofs or lifts or windows – and building new council homes.
Every year we set a one year budget, which includes setting rent levels for the coming year; a ten year strategy which sets investment plans for new and existing homes; and a 30 year strategy which makes sure that the HRA remains healthy and that we can afford all of the investment we want to make.
And there is a lot of investment we want to make. We’ve proposed £2.9bn of investment in council housing over the next ten years. Much of this is about building desperately needed new council homes to replace the stock we lost through the Right to Buy policy, which has sadly seen many former council homes turn into unaffordable private lets.
We’ll also invest £850m in existing homes. Energy efficiency measures are a big part, improving the quality of life for council tenants and resulting in warmer homes that are cheaper to heat.
We’ll continue with improvements inside tenant’s homes but also spend money on communal areas and the wider estates. Tenants have said they want better bin stores, playparks, community growing spaces, benches, landscaping and planting. This will make outdoor space useable, safe and bring a wealth of wellbeing benefits.
We can’t compromise our ability to make these investments. They’re crucial to the quality of life for tenants. Which is why proposing a rent freeze this year was a hard decision to make.
Due to Covid, there have been delays to construction. At points sites were completely closed, but there have also been social distancing and health and safety requirements that have slowed work down over the last two years.
So there has been an underspend. This means that although over the ten-year plan we need the additional funding we would have got from a 1.8% rent increase, we don’t need it now. We can freeze rents and not affect investment as long as it is made up from slightly higher increases in later years.
And right now we have a cost of living crisis which is hitting people on the lowest incomes the hardest.
We’ve already seen the cut of £20 a week to universal credit – a loss of over £1000 a year to many families in Edinburgh. Energy prices have rocketed, with predictions that they’ll continue to rise.
Too many people face the stark choice between feeding their families and heating their homes. And from April 2022 there will be an increase in National Insurance contributions.
And the ONS announced last week that inflation is the highest it’s been for nearly 30 years. But while overall it’s 5.4%, essentials go up by much, much more. Again, hitting people already struggling far harder.
So a rent freeze in this exceptional year feels like a difficult choice, but the right one.
It surely goes without saying that the rent freeze has nothing at all to do with the Council elections coming up in May, of course! – Ed
Edinburgh SNP has launched its campaign to elect 27 Councillors in the Capital and be the largest party in City Chambers for the first time. The SNP in the Capital are fielding their largest ever number of candidates in an STV Council election with the most diverse group of candidates yet.
There are ten women among the 27 candidates and the group includes EU nationals, BME, LGBTI and disabled candidates all proud to be standing for the SNP.
SNP Council Group leader Frank Ross said: ““In standing 27 candidates in Edinburgh for the upcoming Council elections, the SNP are showing more ambition than any other political grouping.
“We have assembled a group of exceptionally talented individuals which blends the experience of sitting councillors and the fresh talents of our new candidates.
“In 2012 the SNP were the only party to have representation in each of the 17 wards across the city and we want to build on that success to win the Council election in Edinburgh onMay 4th.”
Among the new faces is Kate Campbell, who is running for Portobello/Craigmillar. Ms Campbell, who’s priority is to improve housing across the city, said: “As a first time candidate I feel incredibly excited about what we can achieve. Housing is one of the areas where I want to make a big difference.
“This city desperately needs a dramatic increase of affordable homes.
“Sadly, we have too many people in temporary housing and too many in insecure tenancies that they are struggling to afford. An SNP-led administration will address this and I hope that I will be able to play my part in driving this forward.”
Another prominent candidate is Pentlands candidate Ernesta Noreikienek. Ms Noreikienek, who was born in Lithuania, said: “As an EU national in Edinburgh I know that many people are concerned with the direction the Tories are taking our City and our country. Edinburgh Council has a strong role to play in standing up for all its citizens, regardless of where they come from. I would love to have the opportunity to be part of that effort.”
SNP candidate for Liberton and Gilmerton, Derek Howie, is registered blind and he has spoken out about how he believes his experiences will add to the team: ““I have a lifetime of experience that I’m hoping to make use of if elected to the Council. During the campaign I’ve been speaking to hundreds of voters in Liberton and Gilmerton and I’d relish the chance to represent my community. It’s important that the voice of people with disabilities is heard loudly and I’ll be a strong voice ensuring that our city is accessible for everyone.”
Small business owner Simon Hayter is an SNP candidate in Sighthill/Gorgie. He said: “I’ve been proud of the SNP’s achievements on the council in the last 2 administrations. I’m hoping to be elected to represent the people of Sighthill/Gorgie and bring my experience to help find additional ways the Council can support small businesses which provide the backbone of our city’s economy.”
At the last council elections in May 2012 Labour was returned the biggest party with twenty seats, narrowly holding off a strong SNP challenge – the SNP returned 18 councillors. Both parties gained five seats and the Greens doubled their representation from three to six councillors. The big losers at the last election were the Lib Dems, whose fall from grace was quite remarkable. The Lib Dems, who had led the administration in partnership with the SNP, crashed from 16 seats to just three.
The turnout in 2012 was 42.6%. It will be interesting to see if those heady heights can be reached again next month.
