Tag: Edinburgh Labour MPs

Edinburgh MPs initiate dialogue between tenants and Places for People

THREE Edinburgh Labour MPs – Tracy Gilbert (Edinburgh North and Leith), Dr Scott Arthur (Edinburgh South West), and Chris Murray (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) – came together with Places for People Scotland and tenants from across the city on Wednesday to build on joint engagement activity addressing housing queries.

After being elected, Tracy Gilbert MP noticed a trend in complaints and organised this meeting to support both tenants and Places for People Scotland.

In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, the Edinburgh MPs arranged the meeting with Places for People Scotland and Edinburgh Tenants Federation to support local tenants to proactively seek support on matters relating to their communities.

The meeting is a further step in the work Places for People Scotland has undertaken in the past 18 months in increasing customer engagement across the city.

The meeting covered matters raised by customers including understanding service charges, heating, and repairs and maintenance, as well as customer engagement.

By bringing all parties together, the MPs sought to bring together tenants’ voices to continue open, constructive, and effective dialogue.

Tracy Gilbert MP said: “Tenants deserve to feel heard and supported by their housing provider. As Edinburgh MPs, we were pleased to facilitate this meeting so residents could raise their concerns directly and begin to build stronger channels of communication.

“A lot of the issues raised centred on the transparency of bills from factors and the lack of clarity in communications.

“We hope that over the coming months these matters can be resolved, giving residents the confidence and reassurance they deserve.”

Dr Scott Arthur MP added: “Tenants in Edinburgh South West have understandably lost confidence in the service provided by Places for People Scotland.

“I’m therefore pleased that this meeting offered a chance to reset the relationship. It’s now in everyone’s best interest to work together constructively to rebuild trust and deliver the high-quality services that residents rightly expect and deserve.”

Chris Murray MP said: “I welcome Places for People Scotland’s commitment to an open, engaged, and transparent relationship with their tenants – demonstrated by our community meeting tonight.

“However, an engaged, transparent, and supportive housing provider and property factor should not be an exception, but an expectation.

“I will continue to work alongside residents, my fellow MPs, and Places for People Scotland, to ensure this is achieved.”

Kelly Brown, Director of Places for People Scotland, commented: “We recognise that there have been times in recent years where our communication with customers should have been better and we have taken the appropriate steps to improve this.

“Yesterday’s meeting marked another positive step forward, demonstrating what can be achieved when we work together.

“We are always listening. Over the last 18 months, we’ve worked closely with our customers and local MPs to improve the overall customer experience. For those whose homes are powered by a district heating system, we’ve brought in an internal expert to review all tariffs and procure a new partner.

“We remain committed to driving further improvements to ensure we provide a service that our customers can be proud of.”

Housing is a matter devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

Champagne Socialists?

Scottish business, community and political representatives join Lumo to celebrate Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2024

Chris Murray, MP for Edinburgh East & Musselburgh and Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West joined Scottish business leaders and members of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce on Friday at Lumo’s sustainable cocktail event to stir-up support for Edinburgh Cocktail Week.

In addition to supporting Edinburgh Cocktail Week, the event sought to mix mocktails and connect key decision makers within the city and beyond, to serve-up cocktails and conversations around driving environmental and economic growth within local communities.

The event, held at Juniper Bar within Hotel Indigo Edinburgh – Princes Street was hosted by open access train operator, Lumo, which provides popular rail services connecting Edinburgh with Newcastle and London along the East Coast Main Line.

The event was in collaboration with Flawsome! Drinks, a company committed to sustainability by repurposing surplus ‘wonky’ fruit for soft drinks and sold onboard Lumo’s fleet of fully electric trains.

Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Lumo, said: “We’re proud to support Edinburgh Cocktail Week, an event that not only showcases the city’s renowned arts and dynamic culture scene but also promotes sustainable choices.

“Lumo’s partnership with Flawsome! Drinks is a reflection of our shared goal to reduce waste and advocate for a more sustainable future.

“We are also deeply committed to supporting the local communities we serve and are excited to have submitted plans to expand our services to Glasgow. This expansion will strengthen ties between two of Scotland’s key cities, fostering even greater opportunities for collaboration and a greener future.”

Attracting more than 25,000 visitors across 10 days, Edinburgh Cocktail Week showcases the city’s vibrant hospitality scene while significantly contributing to the local economy, something that Lumo aims to support through connecting customers along the East Coast route with the Scottish capital. 

Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, said: “I am absolutely committed to the UK hitting its net zero targets whilst also growing the economy in a way which helps create a fairer society. Sustainable public transport links connecting Edinburgh to key economic centres, like those offered by Lumo, are a key part of that. 

“Whether people are drinking cocktails or mocktails, Edinburgh Cocktail Week is also a great opportunity to help boost our tourist economy. 

“I am proud that Edinburgh attracts people from far and wide, and after a route of beautiful views, arriving in the city’s heart by train will always mean that visitors are emotionally stirred, not shaken.”

Lumo’s partnership with Flawsome! Drinks began earlier this year, introducing a refreshing twist to Lumo’s onboard refreshments with juice’s made from ‘wonky’ and surplus fruit, offering passengers a guilt-free, eco-friendly choice.

The cocktails at the event all included juices supplied by the sustainable drinks company with a range of spirits.

The event was supported by a range of organisations from across Edinburgh and Scotland, including the Holyrood Distillery which distils the whisky served on Lumo’s services to and from Edinburgh.

Lumo is celebrating three years of running services this month and has an approach to customer service that’s far from old-fashioned, recently serving-up a 96% customer satisfaction score.

With over 100 venues participating in Edinburgh Cocktail Week this year, including bars, restaurants, and hotels, the event not only boosted footfall but also provided a platform for venues to increase staffing and manage the surge in demand.

In addition to the bars and restaurants benefitting through direct involvement with Edinburgh Cocktail Week, local hotels and short-term lets also see increased bookings, as the influx of visitors drives demand for accommodation, providing a boost to the hospitality sector and supporting the wider local economy during the 10-day event.

The partnership between Lumo and Flawsome! reflects both companies’ commitment to sustainability, with a focus on reducing food waste and encouraging responsible consumption. The collaboration exemplifies how businesses can work together to address environmental challenges in practical and creative ways.

Lumo was the first long-distance train operator to replace plastic bottles onboard with sustainable alternatives and was named ‘Green Innovation Business of the Year’ at the recent North East Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.