Tag: Politics

Silent Slaughter: Capital braced for more council cuts

Another £3 million to be cut – but Council Tax set to rise again

“That’s the real effect of cuts. In local government, you cut the people, you cut a service.”

Council tax will go up and leisure services will be cut under the city city council’s budget proposals for the coming year. The SNP – Labour ‘Capital Coalition’ administration says no jobs will be lost, but service cuts are  inevitable despite a better than expected Scottish Government settlement. Trade unions say council services are being ‘silently slaughtered’ and year on year cuts threaten the council’s ability to meet its statutory duties.  Continue reading Silent Slaughter: Capital braced for more council cuts

Short Term Lets: Wightman publishes legislation options to tackle problem

Scottish Green MSP Andy Wightman, whose Homes First campaign aims to regulate the rapid growth of the short-term letting sector, today published examples of legislative change to show how the Scottish Government could help local Councils tackle the problem. Continue reading Short Term Lets: Wightman publishes legislation options to tackle problem

Local MSPs put politics aside to support Children’s Hospital Charity

Our local MSPs have joined forces to praise the work of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) and have pledged to support its work across Scotland. Acknowledging the vital work of ECHC, Edinburgh Northern & Leith MSP Ben Macpherson and Alex Cole-Hamilton, who represents Edinburgh West, are encouraging their constituents to back the charity and its essential contribution to children’s services across the country. Continue reading Local MSPs put politics aside to support Children’s Hospital Charity

FM announces action to improve women’s representation in politics

Projects to encourage greater representation of women in political roles at all levels of Scottish society are to be backed by a new £500,000 fund. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has set out the measures that will see grants provided for grassroots and local projects across the country to empower more women into politics.  Continue reading FM announces action to improve women’s representation in politics

Greens strengthen Social Security Bill

Scotland’s Social Security Bill will now be enshrined with a commitment to reducing poverty after a Green MSP’s amendment was passed by a committee. Green MSP Alison Johnstone says the commitment to reducing poverty means that Scotland will now be better committed to people in need, taking a different approach from the UK government. Continue reading Greens strengthen Social Security Bill

Short term lets report doesn’t address real issue, say Greens

Andy Wightman MSP, Housing spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said a report published yesterday by a Scottish Government expert panel falls short of critically analysing the impact of the collaborative economy on individuals and communities in relation to short-term lets.

The Green MSP is calling for local councils to be given powers to control the rapid growth of short-term lets to ease the pressure on already limited housing stock, and address constituents’ concerns about anti-social behaviour and loss of community.

Research for Mr Wightman’s Homes First campaign shows that many landlords are operating lucrative short-term letting businesses, and many are not paying non-domestic rates, depriving local authorities of funding for local services.

Mr Wightman said: “While the report contains some useful evidence and recommendations, those concerning short-term lets are framed very much by what is in the vested interests of the industry, AirBnB in particular. They fail to properly analyse and come up with proposals for the real problem which is the conversion of homes to commercial enterprises, and they are dominated by proposals to experiment, gather data, and explore viability when what is need is action very soon to stop any further loss of homes and community in Edinburgh.”

Collaborative Economy report

Homeless children figures are national disgrace, says Wightman

Andy Wightman, Housing spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, said figures released yesterday showing that the number of children living in temporary accommodation has risen by 10 per cent over a year prove that the situation is a “national disgrace”. Continue reading Homeless children figures are national disgrace, says Wightman