“Is Community Council only for older people?”
Absolutely NOT! We need voices from ALL ages and backgrounds:
Parents (school safety, play areas, youth services)
Young professionals (transport, local businesses)
Older residents (accessibility, community safety)
Students (affordable housing, local amenities)
New residents (welcome to our community!)
Different perspectives = better decisions for EVERYONE
Join us Monday, 23rd February, 6:30 PM – Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
Community Councils, have you signed up for our next free webinar yet?
On 25th February at 6pm we welcome Scottish Government Local Governance Review team who will be providing an update on Democracy Matters policy development.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions on the process and next steps.
Community Councils can register for this free event using the link below:
We should decide what happens in West Pilton/West Granton 
come along to learn more.
This event is being put on by myself (Jessica Fenn) and Chris Cullen – we live here, we aren’t an outside organisation, and we want other locals to join us
The city council has added a further Drop-in Session on the North-South Tramline Consultation Proposals following a request by Drylaw Telford Community Council.
More than 40 people attended last week’s community council meeting to discuss tram line options for the area, but planned guest speaker Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, the city council’s Transport and Environment convener, was unable to attend and submitted his apologies on the afternoon of the meeting.
The council is proposing a north – south tram route which would run from Granton, through the city centre, out to the Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh via Cameron Toll, and potentially beyond into the city region.
The meeting – the best-attended community council event for some years – went ahead and called for a local drop-in event for Drylaw Telford residents in line with those staged at Blackhall Primary School, Granton Station and North Edinburgh Arts.
The community council has also submitted a list of questions raised by residents at the meeting for a council response.
As a result, another local Drop-in will take place on:
Tuesday 28th October
from 4 – 7pm in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
There will also be another opportunity see what is being proposed and to make comments at Bristo Baptist Church on Wednesday 29 October from 4 – 7pm.
Leith Central Community Council has now agreed its final position on Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) developments.
Leith already has two-thirds of all PBSA beds in Edinburgh – 6,332 out of 9,873 citywide. Despite this, developers keep proposing more blocks, even though Leith has no university campus and our area gains little direct benefit.
We believe further PBSA expansion:
– takes up land that should be used for affordable homes for families and key workers
– adds pressure on local transport, health services and infrastructure
– undermines community balance and diversity
– conflicts with Edinburgh’s wider housing strategy
Leith is proud to welcome students as part of our diverse community, but the scale of PBSA development is now out of proportion and unsustainable.
LCCC is calling for a moratorium on any new PBSA developments in Leith.
We want future developments to focus instead on affordable, family-friendly and mixed-use housing that supports long-term residents and the local economy.
We’ll continue to work with other community councils, housing organisations and Edinburgh Council to make sure Leith’s voice is heard as part of the city’s Local Housing Strategy and upcoming planning guidance on student accommodation.
You can read our full position paper here 
https://tinyurl.com/jvntj3cm
LEITH LEFT-WINGER NOMINATED FOR AWARD
40 local councillors from across England, Wales and Scotland have been shortlisted for the 2025 LGIU and CCLA Cllr Awards, the only national awards ceremony dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary work of councillors.
Only one – Katrina Faccenda – is a City of Edinburgh Councillor. Leith councillor Ms Faccenda is nominated in the Innovator of the Year category.
Now in their 16th year in England and 8th year in Scotland, the Cllr Awards highlight the vital contribution of councillors, often the unsung heroes of local democracy.
From championing residents’ interests to leading innovation in public services, councillors play a crucial role in shaping communities and improving lives, and they do so while giving up their time and energy for what is often a voluntary, unpaid role.
This year’s competition was extremely tight with more than 400 nominations received across five categories that celebrate the wide-ranging work of councillors: Community Champion, Leader of the Year, Young Councillor of the Year, Innovator of the Year and Lifetime Legend.
The full England & Wales shortlist is available here and Scotland shortlist can be found here.
Winners in England & Wales will be announced on Tuesday 18 November at the Guildhall in London while winners in Scotland will be revealed on Wednesday 5 November at the Glasgow City Chambers.
The Cllr Awards judging panels comprise senior councillors and leading stakeholders from across the sector. These are the only national awards to celebrate and showcase the work of individual councillors. This year’s awards are made possible thanks to the generous support of founding partners CCLA.
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) said: “Our annual Cllr awards demonstrate the best of local government. With more thn 400 nominations, competition was extremely tight with inspiring stories of councillors up and down the country going the extra mile to 2improve their local area.
“Councillors are at the heart of local democracy, working tirelessly to support their communities and drive change. These awards are about celebrating the often unseen but hugely important contribution councillors make every day.
“This year’s shortlist is a testament to the dedication, creativity and leadership shown by councillors across the country.
“Congratulations to all the councillors nominated and shortlisted and I look forward to announcing the winners in November.”
Lee Jagger, Local Government, Relationship Manager, CCLA said: “Every one of the councilors on the Cllr Awards shortlist this year has had a significant and positive impact on their communities and on the lives of their individual residents.
“That’s what the councillor role is all about – ordinary people trying to make the places that we live and work better.
“CCLA is very proud to have supported these Awards from the very beginning and to be part of this important celebration of the best of local government.”
Community Council Elections 2025 – Notice of Results
THE results of the Community Council elections are now available to view on the Council’s website.
The Declaration of Results includes the names of all successful elected members who will be duly elected to community councils when the new term commences from 28 March 2025.
An update which includes details on the number of valid nominations received for each community council and the number of valid Local Interest Group nominations can be found below.
When nominations closed, 39 community councils received sufficient valid nominations to establish.
Insufficient nominations were received to establish 8 community councils:
A second call for nominations will be issued for the 8 community councils who did not achieve sufficient nominations to establish. Nominations will open on 31 March 2025 and will close at 4pm on 21 April 2025.
The city council’s webpages will be updated in due course with further information.
COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 4pm TODAY
LAST CALL FOR COMMUNITY COUNCILLORS!
As at 2pm yesterday (Wednesday 26 February):
25 Community Councils currently have the minimum elected members numbers to form. Vacancies remain on ALL CCs.
22 Community Councils still require more elected member nominations to form. Of these, seven CCs have received NO nominations.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE – DEADLINE TO APPLY IS 4pm TODAY
Form can be downloaded here:
http://edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/36320/2025-community-council-election-nomination-form
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY
IT’S looking increasingly likely that many areas across Edinburgh will not have active community councils following the current election process.
With just ONE DAY left before nominations close:
NINETEEN (of 47) Community Councils in Edinburgh have reached the minimum number of elected members numbers needed to form but 28 Community Councils still require more elected member nominations to form.
Muirhouse/Salvesen, West Pilton/West Granton and Davidsons Mains/Silverknowes are among eight areas across the city to have received NO nominations at all so far.
At time of writing no elections will be necessary in any community council area. Elections would only be necessary if more local people came forward than there are places available.
Community Councils are an important element in local and national community planning structures, but lukewarm support at best – and complete apathy at worst – will be a disappointment to those who hoped to see a renewed appetite for community participation.
The city council is currently reviewing community planning in Edinburgh.
Election organisers continue to urge members of the public to play a part in improving their local neighbourhoods – and there’s still time to submit a nomination form by the closing date at 4pm TOMORROW – Thursday 27 February 2025.
The quickest method to return completed nomination forms is by email to the Governance Team at community.councils@edinburgh.gov.uk
If you choose to return by hand or by post please ensure you have allowed sufficient time for the nomination form to be received before the deadline at 4pm on Thursday 27 February 2025.
Example completed nomination forms are attached – see below. All sections that must be completed are highlighted in yellow.
Nomination form – further clarification
We being persons residing in and appearing on the electoral register for the area of’ – ‘area’ means the community council area that you are being nominated for. Please ensure that you include the correct name of the Community Council and not the constituency or ward information. You can check the name of your community council on our website.
An individual can be both a single proposer and a single seconder, e.g. They could propose Individual A and second Individual B. They cannot propose or second any other individuals.
A nominees family member (e.g. Wife, husband, brother etc.) can propose or second them in compliance with the point above.
Please only submit 1 nomination form via 1 method of submission e.g. via email OR by hand OR by post. Please do not send multiple copies of nomination forms to the Governance Team as this creates additional administrative pressures.
The quickest method to return completed nomination forms is by email to the Governance Team at community.councils@edinburgh.gov.uk
Since nominations opened we have received a number of nominations which have been assessed as not valid. All candidates have been provided with advice on how to rectify and re-submit by the closing date of 4pm on Thursday 27 February 2025.
Common ‘not valid’ reasons
Below are common reasons why nomination forms have been assessed as not valid:
Below are common reasons why Local Interest Group nomination forms have been assessed as not valid:
If you need any assistance with completing a nomination form then please do not hesitate to contact the Governance Team at community.councils@edinburgh.gov.uk
It’s been over half a century since community councils came into existence in Scotland in 1973 – and in that time, we’ve seen over 1,200 established across the country (writes Culture and Communities Convener CLLR VAL WALKER).
These bodies are groups of residents who are passionate about their communities and play an important role in grassroots democracy.
Here in Edinburgh, the election period for our community councils has begun. Last week nominations opened to stand for election as a community councillor, this closes on 27 February. Following that we’ll hold an election only if there are more people nominated than places on the community council.
This is your chance to take a lead in your local area and make your community a better place. From campaigning on key local issues, organising meetings, chairing debates, looking out for vulnerable individuals and groups, to liaising with local and national representatives and much more – the life of a community councillor in the Capital is never ordinary.
I’m continually inspired by the stories I come across of community councils. In Lady Nairne, the Northfield and Willowbrae Community Council worked tirelessly to ensure that a solution was found when the previous 69 supported bus service ceased operations several years ago.
Following extensive engagement with ward councillors and Council officers a new route was implemented just in time for Christmas last year, which I know was a welcome gift to those residents who had long campaigned for its reinstation.
We’ve also seen Longstone Community Council lead a campaign to erect a new bridge to link their community to the Hutchison/Chesser community, as part of a new active travel project.
Initially a bridge was not part of these plans but following successful meetings with their ward councillor, Council officers and the developer some £170,000 worth of contributions were earmarked to support the delivery of the bridge. This will now go to consultation as part of the as the Longstone Link project.
These are just a couple of the many examples of the excellent work community councils are doing across our city every day. I’d encourage all residents to consider standing as a community councillor.
“From Pilton to Portobello, Muirhouse to Morningside and beyond, Edinburgh draws its strength from its people, and we need their views, ideas and expertise to move forward together.
Find out more about community councils and how to stand for election on CEC website.
