EACC: Home Page Links
1) Keep up-to-date with this link to the CEC Consultation Hub . (Use the 'search' functions for quick access.)
2) View the current CEC Webcasting Diary on Home - City of Edinburgh Council Webcasts (public-i.tv)
3) Community support from The Improvement Service: https://www.improvementservice.org.uk/about-us
4) Community support from Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC): https://www.scdc.org.uk/who
5) Follow the Scot Gov Democracy Matters programme.
6) Download material on recent EACC Meetings here .
Hold the Front Page:
Next Meeting: Thursday 25 January 2024 (18.50 for 19.00) on Microsoft Teams, and put the 'live' Saturday 17 February meeting (at City Chambers) into your diary now.
>>> Headlined Events, Consultations, References and Articles. Scroll down for full Article texts:
29 Nov: Reference: Planning Democracy blog on getting to grips with the preliminary Evidence Gathering Stage of the next round of Local Development Plans. Edinburgh's City Plan 2030 awaits a Report of Examination from the Scot Gov Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA), with a view to adoption in mid-2024. See this update on progress. Now attention is turning to City Plan 2040 and the Evidence Gathering Stage is underway. You need to plan how to participate. This Planning Democracy blog, (linked here, It's Plandemonium!) carefully and comprehensively takes you through the steps. Well worth a look!
29 Nov: Consultation: Edinburgh's City Plan 2040: How do you want to be informed; how do you want to be involved? Planning Edinburgh have opened a preliminary Participation Statement Questionnaire to preface this next Local Development Plan. You can find it here on the Consultation Hub.
28 Nov: Reference: CEC (along with other local authorities) must produce a Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) in 2024. Edinburgh's proposed LHEES goes to the Policy & Sustability Committee in mid-December. The grand design will designate Heat Network Zones, identify a preferred delivery model and look to shape the planning framework around a new city infrastructrure. The scale of the project is massive, the delivery of a decarbonised Edinburgh for net zero a big, big challenge and the ramifications for communities significant. Take a look at the outline of the LHEES in EACC Papers >> Appendix. Look to download Clean Heat CEC LHEES Outline 22 Nov 23.
28 Nov: Reference: Clean Heat Edinburgh (CHE) is a community led forum for all those seeking a rapid transition to zero carbon heating in the city. CHE supports the low carbon energy transition that delivers affordable heating solutions. The forum is a place where local communities, local academics, local industry and local politicians can discuss ideas to support better decision-making. Zero carbon heating calls for big vision. CHE member, SAV-Systems, shares some of that vision in the idea of central Scotland interconnected heat highways. Find out more by looking at Clean Heat SAV Wast Heat Highways 22 Nov 23. Download it in EACC Papers >> Appendix.
24 Nov: Article: Edinburgh Licensing Forum (ELF): Roger Colkett (Tollcross CC and EACC Members' Board) sits on the ELF. He will table a number of recommendations to the next ELF meeting, suggesting improvements in procedures for representations and objections in the context of Premises Licence Applications. This is an EACC Discussion Paper, from the Members' Board. Read an extract in the Article below (scroll down). You can find the full paper, (Licensing: RC submission to ELF: Oct 23, for download) in EACC Papers >> Appendix.
17 Nov: Invitation: The call goes out (16 Nov) from CEC's Planning Edinburgh blog to get your Local Place Plan sketched out, prepared and registered (with a Sep 2024 close). It's a sizeable undertaking but the door is open. There is a lot of background here: https://planningedinburgh.com/ Guidance on what to think about in advance, from Planning Democracy: https://www.planningdemocracy.org.uk/2023/local-place-plans-why-bother/
17 Nov: Reference: 'Understanding Scotland's new planning system': An excellent webinar presented by the Principal Reporter at the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division of Scot Gov: How to begin to find your way around National Planning Framework 4 and Local Place Plans. There are three more in the series, hosted by Planning Democracy and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (6 Dec, 17 Jan, 31 Jan). Find the slides and lots of links in EACC Papers >> Planning 2023. More detail on the webinars here: Winter Webinar Series
17 Nov: Reference: Community Councils at 50. The Scottish Parliament Local Goverment, Housing and Planning Committee, following its May 2023 hearing, exchanges correspondence (8 Sep, 25 Oct) with Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance, on the effectiveness of CCs and the challenges they face. There is a clear call from the Committee for improved support. The Minister isn't drawn, but points to the support that is out there already, and to another way for community councils to make their pitch: "The Democracy Matters national engagement is an opportunity to propose models of community democracy that will enhance collaboration and ensure that communities benefit from all of the skills and capacity available to them." Find the exchange in EACC Papers >> Community Council Support. The Scot Gov consultation is here:
https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/democracy-matters/ .
17 Nov: Reference: Douglas Rogers (Marchmont & Sciennes CC) made a deputation to the Planning Committee on 15 Nov, following-up on his work with the Conservation and Adaptation Consultation Working Group (see below; 4 Sep). He is pursuing his proposals for handbook guidance on insulation for homeowners in heritage (pre-1919) and conservation areas. This link, Planning Committee 15 Nov 2023 , carries the report by the Executive Director of Place on the Conservation and Adaptation Consultation itself (Page 133). You can find Douglas Rogers' deputation paper on this site by going to EACC Papers >> Planning 2023.
17 Nov: Licensing: Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS); October 23 Newsletter; includes items on the Minimum Unit Pricing Consultation, Healthcare in Remote and Rural Areas, Labelling of No- and Low-Alchohol Alternatives and the Cross-Party Group on Improving Scotland's Health. The latest news from Alcohol Focus Scotland (mailchi.mp)
31 Oct: Article: Scheme and Boundary Review: Steve Kerr, (EACC Chair) has commented on several occasions on the skewed 'size by population' spread of Edinburgh's Community Councils. There is a distortion here that needs corrected in the current Boundary Review? Scroll down to read more in the Article below.
31 Oct: Reference: Action on Poverty and the promotion of Wellbeing are central to the anchored-by-CEC Edinburgh Partnership's mission. The mission in turn will shape the direction of Locality Improvement Plans, frameworks in which Community Councils can play a key role, if they have the scope and commitment to do so. From EVOC's October News update, read about the End Poverty in Edinburgh Annual Progress Report 2023; read also about Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership's drive to develop its Prevention and Early Intervention strategy. The link is here.
31 Oct: Reference: Bill Rodger (Trinity CC) looks at the role of District Heating Networks in local energy strategy. Go to Environment & Energy.
27 Oct: Reference: Slides and notes from the 26 Oct meeting on City Plan 2030 / Local Place Plans. Go to EACC Papers >> Meetings 2023, including links to community mapping tool resources. See also the following link to a very useful Planning Democracy primer (Nick Wright, author) on how to preview the build of Local Place Plans .
19 Oct: Invitation: Planning Democracy has announced (15 Oct) a short free webinar series on Understanding Planning: Local Development Plans (LDPs), National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and Greenbelts. The series begins on 15 Nov, is followed on 6 Dec and continues in Jan 2024. The programme is opened by Alasdair Edwards, a Principle Reporter at the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division of the Scottish Government (DPEA). What is the LDP process? How are LDPs influenced by NPF4? How can community councils get involved? Do you have a local campaign issue in mind? Click here for the Winter Webinar Series .
18 Oct: Reference: Within the Democracy Matters conversation, Scot Gov wants 'as many voices as possible to be heard to help shape future local democratic systems and processes'. 'You can respond as an individual, an organisation or you can hold a conversation and respond as a community.' The link to that consultation is here .
.... If you feel your community would benefit from financial support to hold Democracy Matters conversation, grants of up to £300 are available to help with anything that would be required to get a conversation going. For example, hiring a venue, printing costs, facilitation or to help with costs of those with additional needs to participate.' Use this link to find out about the Community Engagement Fund 2023/24 : https://impactfundingpartners.com/current-funding/democracy-matters-2023/ .
13 Oct: Article: Democracy Matters - Phase II of the Scot Gov's 'national conversation' on local community empowerment. Your Community Council has nothing to lose by offering a few home-truths. The consultation is open until 28 Feb 2024.
13 Oct: Invitation: On 9 Oct, CEC's Sustainable Development Team issued a direct invitation to Community Councils to propose community 'place-based' projects for funding by the Council's 'Place Based Investment Programme' (PBIP) in 2025 / 2026. There is an overall £1.2m budget. Nominations, to be submitted before 31 March 2024, go to the Council's Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee. The CEC contact is Kyle Drummond (Programme Development Officer). Read the background in this 8 August Committee Paper: https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s59555/7.3%20Place%20Based%20Investment%20Programme%20allocations.pdf
13 Oct: Events: Two November webinars to look to catch, part of the current series hosted by the Improvement Service: Wednesday 15 November (6pm) on the opportunities and challenges for community-led Participatory Budgeting; and Tuesday 21 November on structuring Local Place Plans (with Planning Aid Scotland as co-host). See the Events-November menu at the Improvement Service. (https://www.improvementservice.org.uk/about-us )
13 Oct: Article: Resourcing a Community Council; some pointers for the Scheme Review.
12 Oct: Consultation: CEC Governance has confirmed (6 Oct) the programme for the Community Council (CC) Scheme and Boundary Review, moving into 'a second statutory period of consultation' which closes on 18 December, with detail released early February. A final consultation takes place next May and implementation follows. Many CCs will have taken part on the recent preliminary consultation. However, whatever you felt then could well stand to be reinforced now. In other words, don't miss this further opportunity to have your say. Here are the key issues: Your CC is (likely) short on key people; is stretched on proper admin / web / media support; is weak on 'reach'; doesn't have the funding that could be directed to make a widely-perceived difference; is maybe working in a 'silo'; often feels sidelined or 'ignored' when it looks to speak to CEC (at times to the point of exasperation); and concludes that CEC (and wider) 'support' for CCs just doesn't live up to its billing.
I will say a sizeable number of CCs elsewhere in Scotland feel the same way. So, get on to this Scheme Review consultation and make your point! If kept objective and constructive, you have nothing to lose in doing so and maybe something to gain. Find the Public Notice and details on participation at https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-councils/2 .
12 Oct: Consultations: Important: CEC has published (9 Oct) an update of its heavy current / forthcoming consultation programme. There will be something there for you. Here is a sample:
Licensing of Street Trading and Market Operators ** Preparation of a new Statement of Licensing Policy ** Shaping participation in the preparation for City Plan 2040 ** Consultation on Social Housing rents ** The proposals for the Lothian Road Boulevard to Tollcross ** The shape of a possible Workforce Parking Levy ** Edinburgh's Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy ** The future provision of older people care and support ** Vehicle use in Old Town streets ** The Community Council Scheme and Boundary Review.
Go to the CEC Consultation Hub for more detail: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ . If you need more information, go to Pamela Curran, CEC Senior Policy and Insight Officer:
12 Oct: Article: Opinion piece from Tommy McLean (Corstorphine CC, 25 Sep) on Community Council Involvement in Locality Improvement Plans. CC's have a central to play. Here is what you should be planning to do.
2 Oct: Reference: Notes from the 28 Sep meeting on District Heating Networks. Go to EACC Papers >> Meetings 2023.
26 Sep: Event: The Scot Gov Democracy Matters conversations are back on track. The Improvement Service announced on 14 Sep that it is hosting two webinars (5 Oct, 15.00; 10 Oct 18.00) featuring members of the Scottish Government Community Empowerment Team, there to lead a conversation on 'new and inclusive democratic processes' to best help our towns, villages or neighbourhoods, as it is styled. Go to this Improvement Service link for more detail. There is an important Local Governance Review Democracy Matters Phase 2 Consultation document, on which responses are invited by 28 February 2024. The link to that consultation is here .
26 Sep: Licensing: Notes from the 12 Sep EACC Licensing Sub-Group Meeting. Go to Licensing.
26 Sep: Article: CEC Scheme and Boundary Review - Outline Consultation Plan and Timeline (published 15 Sep). See also Consultations.
12 Sep: Reference: The Joint Forum of Community Councils in West Lothian now invites formal participation in the Scottish Forum of Community Councils (SFCC), following on from the Scottish Conference in June. Here are the SFCC Terms of Reference. There is a lot of additional and interesting background material in the first Scottish Forum Newsletter (facilitated by The Improvement Service) and you'll find the sign-up form there too. A second online SFCC Conference is planned for late-October. For the moment, SFCC's sign-off is, "We would be grateful if you could discuss this at your next meeting and decide if your Community Council would like to be involved".
4 Sep: Reference: Douglas Rogers, member of Marchmont & Sciennes CC, has offered their submission to the CEC Conservation & Adaptation Working Group; 'Insulating Homes in a Conservation Zone' is posted at EACC Papers >> Planning 2023.
4 Sep: Reference: The slides from the 31 August EACC Meeting ('Locality Improvement Plans' and 'Housing - Energy Adaptation') are now posted on the site here. Go to EACC Papers >> Meetings 2023 >> EACC Rpt 23_8 ...
31 Aug: Reference: Scot Gov Energy and Climate Change Directorate: 21 Jul 2023 publication of response to Consultation: Target for the combined supply of thermal energy by heat networks in Scotland set at 7 TWh minimum by 2035: To be tabled in Parliament by 1 Oct.
30 Aug: Reference: EACC Survey of Community Councils Report (9 Aug). Go to the site menu: EACC Papers >> Appendix. The city's Community Councils report varied health, mixed morale and a general frustration with CEC. It makes for a weak foundation for the 'vibrant local democracies' championed by Holyrood.
30 Aug: Article: Heat Pump Use in Scotland - an evidence review - an Oct 2021 paper from the Edinburgh-based Climate X Change (CXC). Heat pump trials and pitfalls, and a very useful tech primer.
16 Aug: Reference: Planning Democracy - 'for Equality, Fairness, Accountability, Transparency'. If that strikes a chord with you; take a look at three recent articles on Blog – Planning Democracy . 15 July: Developers game the appeals system to push through housing plans on unallocated sites. 22 July: Scot Gov refutes Planning Democracy complaint to UN's Aarhus Commission over lack of public appeal rights on planning decisions. 5 August: Local Place Plans - the pros, cons and the sheer commitment in becoming involved - what you need to know at the outset.
15 Aug: Event: Scot Gov launches its Democracy Matters Phase 2 conversations in late August; SCDC to host two free webinars in October for community councils. Check with SCDC on dates. See the SCDC site for current 'communications tips' on giving your community council some social media profile.
28 Jul: Consultation: CEC Planning launches three consultations on West Edinburgh's growth and community development over the next 25 years. Towards West Edinburgh 2050 (close 10 Oct); West Edinburgh Placemaking Strategic Masterplan (close 4 Oct); Broxburn to Maybury Public Transport and Active Travel Improvements (close 5 Sep). Go to the CEC Consultation Hub for the Proposal Documents. ( Consultation Hub )
Site Upgrade work meant a service interruption late-Jul to mid-Aug.
14 Jul: Article: Communal Bin Hubs: Don't let them sneak up on you.
5 Jul: Consultations: Important: Future CEC consultation and engagement activity: Check on detail at the CEC Consultation Hub .
West Edinburgh Placemaking Masterplan (12 Jul) / Broxburn to Maybury Transport and Travel Improvements (12 Jul) / West Edinburgh Spatial Strategy (12 Jul) / Workforce Parking Levy (Sep 23) / Physical Activity and Sport Strategy (Sep 23) / Bowling Green change-of-use in Victoria and St Mary's Parks (Sep 23) / Activity Park in Leith Links (aug, Sep 23) / Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (Autumn 23) / Lothian Boulevard - shift in shape (Nov 23) / Old Town streets - shift in emphasis (Nov 23) / BSL Plan and the deaf Community (ongoing) / Climate Ready Edinburgh (tba) Future provision for older people care and support (tba).
CEC contact for more detail: Pamela Curran, Senior Policy and Insight Officer;
3 Jul: Article: Clean Cities Campaign: European rankings: Edinburgh 38 out of 42:
3 Jul: Consultation: 11 Sep close: CEC has opened its annual consultation on Community Payback Orders (CPO), inviting your views on the contribution unpaid work by offenders makes to communities and inviting ideas on where the programme might be applied. Here is the link to the consultation form. Community Payback Consultation 2023 - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space .
The background to CPOs is here; Scottish Sentencing Council community payback orders .
26 Jun: Article: Lothian Buses: At odds with their travelling public.
16 Jun: Article: West Lothian CC Joint Forum calls for 'Scottish Forum of Community Councils'.
10 Jun Article: Scot Gov Consultation on Permitted Development Rights, Phase 3.
9 Jun: Article: Moving Edinburgh to Low Carbon District Heating.
8 Jun: Article: Scottish Community Development Council (SCDC) on community engagement.
8 Jun: Article: CEC Spatial Unit: Air Quality Action Plan Workshop.
7 Jun: Article: Use of Public Spaces for Events and Filming: Meeting with CEC Public Spaces Team.
6 Jun: Article: Alcohol Focus Scotland publishes its latest Local Alcohol Profile Map for Edinburgh.
30 May: Article: Scottish Parliament evidence session on Community Councils in their 50th year.
26 May: Consultation: 10 Aug close: CEC's Regulatory Committee is conducting a public consultation on the terms of a proposed Best Practice Guide for HMO Licence Holders and Agents, with the objective of raising HMO Standards. (The prompts are issues arising on application notices to co-residents, on emergency contact details being made available and fly-tipping and abuse of resdential waste facilities.) More information here:
19 May: Article: Challenges in North-West Edinburgh: Keith Giblett: Queensferry & District CC.
15 May: Article: CEC Public Spaces Team offer update on Use of Public Spaces for Events and Filming.
15 May: Article: CEC consultation pops-up on Edinburgh's Christmas with a closing-date of 31 May.
10 May: Survey: 31 Aug close: A CEC Place Directorate survey, Amplification of Sound in Public Places - Busking, launched on 9 May, asking for Edinburgh residents and businesses views on whether and how they feel the impact of busking. The survey findings go to the Culture and Communities Committee in October 2023. Here is the link to the survey. See also the CEC Consultation Hub.
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/amplification-of-sound-in-public-spaces/
9 May: Article: Planning Democracy celebrates win on community rights of appeal.
19 Apr: Article: Edinburgh's transport future; the door opens on a major public consultation.
13 Apr: Article: CEC Waste & Cleansing Contact List.
12 Apr: Article: Strengthening Participation Requests survey (via the SCDC).
12 Apr: Article: National Performance Framework review of National Outcomes.
12 Apr: Article: Future CEC Consultation and Engagement activity.
12 Apr: Article: National Standards for Community Engagement (via the SCDC).
30 Mar: Article: Communal Bin Review Programme: Update.
13 Mar: Article: Transition Edinburgh: District Heating Forum: Key links.
10 Mar: Article: CEC Placemaking and Mobility Team Draft Action Plans in support of the City Mobility Plan: Workshop Dates.
3 Mar: Article: Edinburgh Community Climate Fund: Voting open 3 - 12 March for community grant awards.
22 Feb Article: Community Map Scotland: The Improvement Service: Build your own Local Place Plan.
22 Feb Article: Communal Bin Hubs: a Heritage Impact Assessment: New Town & Broughton CC.
3 Feb: Article: National Planning Framework 4: Planning Edinburgh: ‘A spatial plan for Scotland to 2045’.
30 Dec: Article: City Plan 2030: Tony Harris, Grange Prestonfield CC.
29 Nov: Article: EACC AGM 2022: Elections to the Members’ Board.
24/11/23: Licensing: Bringing more clarity and fairness to Licence Applications
Roger Colkett of Tollcross CC sits on the EACC Members' Board. He has many years experience of dealing with licensing issues raised at his community council. He is about to submit (as a member) a paper to the Edinburgh Licensing Forum making a series of recommendations which he feels would benefit both sides to the licence application review process; those parties making an objection and those parties making a representation. His paper will be marked as an EACC Discussion Paper. You can find the full paper (for download) on this site EACC Papers >> Appendix. Here is some of what he has to say on recommended improvements:
Clarity and Accessibility:
The process of responding should be much more user-friendly, particularly for first-time respondents.
1. Until a better online system is available, each response received by the Licensing Department should prompt a routine reply, attaching copies of the relevant operating and layout plans (in the case of major variations both current and proposed).
2. Layout plans are sometimes on very large sheets, details of which can be difficult to decipher from the provided copy. Respondents should be made aware that originals can be viewed at the City Chambers. If possible, respondents, if they need to, should be able to view originals at a local council office.
Fairness:
3. Before they speak to their response, the Convener should ask each respondent if they wish to make any points in addition to those included in their submitted response. If so, the additional points would be noted separately and the applicant would be given the opportunity to ask for the application to be continued to a later meeting to give time for any amendment required.
4. Having had to speak first without prior knowledge of the applicant’s argument, the respondent should be asked after the applicant has spoken whether they wish to say anything more.
5. In support of respondents having to speak first, I’ve heard it argued that the convention is compatible with the presumption that applications should be granted unless there is an exceptional reason to refuse. If so, in the interest of fairness and logical consistency, when an application relates to premises in an area of overprovision (in which case the presumption is reversed with the default being to refuse), the applicant should be required to speak before the respondent. Moreover, if the requirement for the respondent not to deviate from the submitted response were to stand, the same requirement should apply to the applicant’s published application in an area of overprovision.
Recognition:
6. When respondents want to say something after the applicant has spoken, the Board and its convener (recognising that respondents are usually seeking to contribute to the process, not to frustrate it) should politely ask them to be brief, thank them for their contribution, take on board the points made and if what they have said fails to comply with the law or the Board’s policy, clarify how and why that is the case.
Convenience:
7. Of course, it’s difficult to anticipate how long the assessment of each application will take, and one doesn’t want the relevant application to be dealt with before the respondent is due to appear. However, all applications for which responses have been submitted could be brought to the earliest possible point in the meeting and arranged in ascending order of complexity and/or likely controversy, ideally with allocated timeslots, so that unpaid volunteer respondents would have had as little of their time wasted as possible.
End/KR
31/10/23: Scheme Boundary Review: Size distribution of Edinburgh Community Councils 2011
Community Council population size; based on 2011 Census.
| Leith Central | 25,099 |
| Corstorphine | 23,387 |
| Gilmerton/Inch | 20,319 |
| New Town/Broughton | 18,136 |
| Merchiston | 17,834 |
| Grange/Prestonfield | 15,700 |
| Leith Harbour and Newhaven | 14,580 |
| Craigmillar | 13,799 |
| Northfield/Willowbrae | 13,235 |
| Southside | 13,148 |
| Liberton and District | 13,073 |
| Stockbridge/Inverleith | 13,052 |
| Morningside | 12,788 |
| Drum Brae | 12,429 |
| Craigentinny/Meadowbank | 12,420 |
| Granton and District | 11,813 |
| Portobello | 11,581 |
| Marchmont and Sciennes | 11,539 |
| Gorgie/Dalry | 11,273 |
| Tollcross | 10,859 |
| Wester Hailes | 10,848 |
| Leith Links | 10,351 |
| Murrayfield | 9,553 |
| Queensferry and District | 9,479 |
| Fairmilehead | 9,309 |
| Craigleith/Blackhall | 8,920 |
| Trinity | 8,721 |
| Old Town | 7,875 |
| Firrhill | 7,716 |
| Hutchison/Chesser | 7,702 |
| Sighthill, Broomhouse and Parkhead | 7,568 |
| West Pilton/West Granton | 7,509 |
| Currie | 7,494 |
| Colinton | 7,213 |
| Cramond and Barnton | 6,953 |
| Stenhouse, Saughton Mains and Whitson | 6,282 |
| Craiglockhart | 6,076 |
| Balerno | 5,927 |
| West End | 5,810 |
| Muirhouse/Salvesen | 5,168 |
| Drylaw/Telford | 4,563 |
| Silverknowes | 4,309 |
| Juniper Green | 4,242 |
| Longstone | 3,968 |
| Kirkliston | 3,660 |
| Ratho and District | 3,346 |
| Total | 476,626 |
13/10/23: Democracy Matters - The Scot Gov 'national conversation'
Two Scottish Government officials led a recent Improvement Service webinar (10 Oct) to promote directly to Community Councils the new consultation phase of the government's Democracy Matters local governance review. The consultation document is here . The very earnest endeavour is to give people the opportunity to come together in their communities to imagine how new and inclusive democratic processes can best help their town, village or neighbourhood.
I attended the event. What follows are my personal impressions.
There was no doubting the sincerity of the Scot Gov speakers. However, their somewhat evangelical tone was somewhat undone by the reaction from the floor. (There were around 30 Community Councils represented.) Some long-standing issues emerged.
Read more: 13/10/23: Democracy Matters - The Scot Gov 'national conversation'
13/10/23: Resourcing a Community Council
A good number of Edinburgh Community Councils presently feel they are in straitened circumstances, low on participants and finding it difficult to meet their support needs on admin and, notably, on IT and media. The City Council and, at a higher level, Scot Gov have a long-declared commitment to the nurture and support of 'local democracy', led by Community Councils. On the context of the now-current Scheme Review, there is every incentive for a Community Council to make clear its concerns, opinions and needs. On the issue of practical support, here is a repeat of part of the 6 August EACC update, which covered the early stage of the Scheme Review.
Resourcing of a community council (2019 Scheme, Paras 11.9 and 11.11):
- Contemporary ‘support needs’ for a well-functioning community council nowadays centre on IT, on website maintenance and repair, on technical assistance with AV equipment for hybrid meetings, all alongside the minuting and reporting of community council proceedings.
- The absence of such support blunts a community council's effectiveness in its core role and its ambition, especially when 'something goes wrong'.
- The need for CEC operational support now goes well beyond 'additional support services/resourcing, such as photocopying and distribution of community council minutes and agendas and (also) free lets of halls for community council meetings', as offered in the 2019 Scheme Review.
- There is a case for a (much) stronger CEC commitment to dependable, core operational back-up of community councils' governance and administration work.
- What new avenues of operational (and financial) assistance can CEC look to introduce in this current Scheme Review?
END / KR
12/10/23: Community Council involvement in Locality Improvement Plans (LIP) 2024-2039
Tommy McLean of Corstorphine Community Council offers (25 Sep) his opinion on the central role CCs should be looking to play here:
City of Edinburgh Council’s (CEC) Helen Bourquin, from the Community Engagement & Empowerment (CE&E) Team, spoke to EACC on 31 August about the LIP programme. (Here are the slides from the meeting.) I set out below my thoughts on how Community Councils can meaningfully participate. This is an excellent opportunity for Community Councils to be involved in identifying and shaping community priorities within the compass of their own LIP, working alongside CEC and other statutory Partners.
The current plan (covering 2017 to 2023) was justifiably criticised because local communities felt they were not given much opportunity to determine what they considered to be local priorities. The Edinburgh Partnership have asked CEC to engage with communities more effectively this time.
The CE&E Team is leading on this. In the North West Edinburgh Locality (the first plan to be worked on this time) CE&E have led several meetings to engage representatives from local groups (including Community Councils). The joint meetings have proved useful, encouraging and drawing involvement from a broad spectrum of community interests and networks. I understand a similar model of engagement will be used in each locality.
Simply put, Community Councils have a central position within their communities. It’s important that the knowledge and experience that sits there is fed into the LIP process to help develop programmes that are meaningful, realistic and useful for our communities and that make improvements to the lives of people living in them.
Possible roles for EACC:
- Act as a general point of contact and information exchange between CEC and Community Councils to aid effective communication
- Support better communication between Community Councils in different localities so that good practice can be exchanged and knowledge gained can be shared.
- Broadcast updates from the CE&E Team on ongoing work and stay involved in reviews of the effectiveness of the LIPs, to identify changes or improvements where required.
Possible roles for individual Community Councils
- Look for interested Community Councillors who will be the main point of contact for the CE&E Team.
- Have your LIP on the agenda on a regular basis and route feedback, comments and suggestions on priorities and actions needed to CEC. LIPs themselves will only be effective if they are used as living documents and if they improve community work in the areas where we live.
- Make sure representatives attend the review and planning sessions in your locality convened to draw up your new LIP for 2024 to 2029
- Use your own networks to encourage local organisations and individuals to contribute to and participate in the LIP; encourage them to help make it relevant to their community.
- Stick with it once the LIP is in place; take part in ongoing review and evaluation to make sure the plan remains relevant to your local community and is delivering exactly what is agreed and intended.
END / TMcL
26/09/23: CEC Scheme and Boundary Review: Outline Consultation Plan and Timeline
On 15 Sep, CEC Governance Team published the intended timeline for consultations on draft changes to the Community Council Scheme and on proposed amendments to community council ward boundaries. Community Councils are requested to bring the Governance Team up-to-date with relevant contact information by reviewing current details held on the https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/32741/list-of-office-bearers document.
" We are also keen to keep you updated on timescales involved in the Scheme and Boundary Review and would ask that you share this information widely with all interested parties.
Please find the outline consultation plan below and note that following feedback we have modified the first and second consultation periods. This will allow 2 additional weeks of consideration by relevant parties of the draft Scheme and any amendments to boundaries. This timetable is indicative and subject to change depending on a requirement for a second statutory period of consultation. The outline consultation plan and timeline will be presented for approval at the Special Council meeting on 28 September 2023.
Read more: 26/09/23: CEC Scheme and Boundary Review: Outline Consultation Plan and Timeline
30/08/23: Heat Pump Use in Scotland - an evidence review (Oct 2021)
Climate X Change (CXC), based at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute at High School Yards, Edinburgh, is a Scottish Government-funded centre of expertise on climate change. CXC 'commissions research and analysis to support the Scottish Government as it develops policies on adapting to the changing climate and transitioning to net zero'.
I came across this October 2021 paper* (55pp) which offers a detailed assessment of where and why heat pump efficiency can vary widely across the heating season and in different buildings, domestic as well as non-domestic. One standout is that weak user understanding of how to operate heat pumps and weak or imprecise installation design, specification and commissioning can really impair how well they perform, albeit that heat pumps are a mature heating technology.
Poor performance, of course, hits user levels of satisfaction and user behaviour. Amongst the conclusions (at the time) from this piece of work; customer expectations need managed; strong customer support is needed from pre-sale to after-sale; the supply chain needs to focus more on tailored specification and installation, case-by-case.
Here is the Link to the CXC paper, which carries a very useful primer on heat pump technologies.
* Courtesy of the Grange Association, Edinburgh.
END / KR
14/07/23: Opinion: The Communal Bin Hub Programme
'Don't let it sneak up on you', says Bill Rodger, Trinity CC.
The Communal Bin Hub (CBH) project is rolling out in phases, skirting an earlier failed attempt to introduce it within the World Heritage site.
The core objectives of increasing effective recycling capacity and our overall recycling efficiency requires that each CBH carry twice as many bins. That means combining two sites into one larger site approximately 30ft long.
“Phase 1” covers the north east including Trinity. Phases 2 and 3 are underway and Phase 4 is under ‘consultation’ The following draws on Trinity’s experience. Despite having relatively few tenements and communal bins, the issues arising have prompted a significant response, have absorbed much Community Council and Elected Councillor time and have proved intractable.
Implementation started in December 2022 with bull bars installed in the roadway outside the new locations. Bins were combined inside the bars shortly thereafter. Deeply felt concerns were soon reported.
Complaints included:
- Lack of advance notice: Many residents claim that the sight of the bull bars was the first they know of the scheme.
- Consultation: Inadequate and, for some, non-existent. Benefits emphasised but with little acknowledgement of potential issues. Detailed maps were only available if a resident attended one of three in-person sessions.
- Noise: Especially acute where a bedroom faces the roadway with only a small garden. Sleep deprivation is an issue. Glass recycling is the worst especially with steel bins.
- Road safety: If a narrow street is also a thoroughfare, at peak times stressed drivers sometimes mount the opposite pavement to drive around a collection truck.
- Visual intrusion: Affects those residents facing a CBH, worsening their outlook and sometimes removing what had been an open view. Locations are determined objectively by algorithm but those directly impacted can feel arbitrarily unfairly affected, with particular concerns about their property’s market value.
- On-road parking compromised: A real issue if the residents are ageing and have mobility issues.
- Fly-tipping on the rise: The perception that a “communal bin”, now twice its previous size, is effectively a mini city dump is easily formed. Locations with a convenient stop, such as a disabled space, are especially prone.
Solutions might be found through practical conversations with CEC. However, Trinity residents have not found the project to be easily opened up to discussion and to solutions utilising local knowledge. The CEC process followed appears rigidly obstructive. A limited opportunity afforded in late 2022 to local Councillors to facilitate discussion, which did allow some progress to be made, was subsequently constrained by a report in 2023.
The main lesson to be learned by other CC areas ahead of CBH rollout is this: it's essential that those residents likely to be affected engage early with the consultation and look to understand properly their own situation. Urge them to do so and to take a close look. They should not take ‘general reassurances’ as being sufficient and all they need to know. Of course. it can be a challenge to engage those most affected ahead of problems emerging.
In this programme, CEC’s real objective shouldn’t be the principle behind the CBH project (which is commendable) but rather the search for practical solutions through proper engagement, so as to allow programme completion while minimising the impact on quality- of-life for those unfortunate individual residents staring out at their CBH.
END / BR
03/07/23: Clean Cities Campaign 2023 European rankings.
The Clean Cities Campaign is hosted by Transport & Environment, 'Europe's leading NGO campaigning for cleaner transport'.
A City Ranking survey across 42 major European cities ('the state of shared and zero-emission mobility) ranks on shared bikes and e-scooters, shared electric cars, publicly-available EV charging infrastructure (all per 1000 inhabitants, in Q1 2023) and the percentage of the city's urban bus fleet that is zero emission (data gathered ranges from 2021 to 2023.)
Copenhagen ranks 1/42 with a score of 87% and a grade A. Edinburgh ranked 38/42 with '12% and E', on a par with Birmingham. Glasgow ranked '30% and D'. (Edinburgh was 31/36 in 2022.)
UK city investment in zero emissions is lagging. The UK Climate Change Committee on 28 June rated government action on emissions 'worryingly slow'; 23% of all UK emissions comes from surface transport.
See City Ranking - 2023 focused edition - Clean Cities Campaign and Publications - Climate Change Committee (theccc.org.uk)
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26/06/23: Opinion: Lothian Buses; at odds with their travelling public.
Opinion: John Loudon, Cramond & Barnton CC, calls for change.
I have a long-standing personal and formerly-professional interest in bus services in and around Scotland. I believe Lothian Buses (LB) serve our city well; we are fortunate to have them. However, their handling of their recently-announced service changes saw them drop somewhat in my estimation and I wish to offer some personal views and suggestions in the wake of what has taken place.
LB is owned 100% by Transport for Edinburgh (TfE) which in turn is owned 91% by City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). There are four Elected Councillors on the Board, which is chaired by Cllr. Scott Arthur.
What has happened?
LB is quite properly run as a successful (and hugely important) commercial business.
It would certainly not be reasonable for Elected Councillors on the LB Board or sitting on, for example, the Transport and Environment Committee, to seek to micromanage LB services. However, I would expect they should be informed about important planned service changes so as to anticipate and then express local concerns. This doesn’t appear to have happened in advance of the May route changes, which came to them and to a good portion of the travelling public as a big surprise.
I sensed immediate dismay on the part of the Councillors and my mailbox began to fill with bus users’ dissatisfaction and resentment.
There is the clear perception of a communication breakdown here and of a poorly-handled attempt to mend it. I wouldn’t want to see this repeated.
The matter hinges on the recent termination of Service 41 and replacement with Service 47 following a new route south from its arrival in the West End. This had been subject to much rumour and speculation and it caused significant angst in and around my area in the north-west of the city, an area many would say is already poorly served by public transport in comparison with other parts of our city.
The public in North West Edinburgh, not least those who are old, infirm or who have young children, have lost reasonable access by the Service 41 to Princes Street, George St, the bus and railway stations, the Mound, the Festival Theatre, as well as the St James Quarter which the Council have actively promoted. For those that do go there, extra time is now involved plus a material cost to those individuals who have to buy two or more tickets. The Service 41 withdrawal has also had a marked impact on the travelling public in the South of the city. Councillors’ mailboxes have filled up there too.
In overall terms, the dropping of Service 41 came as a very unwelcome shock. Even our local Councillor Kevin Lang, who sits on the Transport Committee, was unaware of the planned changes, although CEC officials clearly knew about them well before the necessary application was made to the Traffic Commissioners. As I understand it, the officials made no negative comments. Again, one might ask why that was the case, given the impact of those changes on a sizeable portion of the city bus-user constituency and on prized ‘connectivity’.
What needs to be done?
I believe we need some changes to governance and culture within Lothian Buses to ensure, insofar as commercial and operational constraints allow, that provision of bus services is more responsive to communities’ needs.
We need far better communication and explanation for alterations to services. In this case, I have seen nothing at all from the Head of Communications at TfE.
Councillor Lang tabled a Council motion on 18th May* (attached) which brought unanimous cross-party support for change. That was a welcome first-step. This is not about politics but our bus services.
Looking ahead, I’d suggest heed should be paid to the City Council’s Public Transport Action Plan, to reflect properly the need for connectivity and to make LB more accountable to City and regional residents for the services it provides.
We need improvement in live bus timetabling information and the introduction of integrated ticketing – to enable the purchase of a single ticket for an origin-to-destination trip and return if needed, which may require use of more than one bus service and possibly the tram and trains.
There is also a need for improved liaison between the City Council’s Roads and Public Transport staff, Lothian Buses and local communities, this to ensure that roads and active travel proposals (e.g., on-road cycle lanes) do not have unforeseen and / or unacceptable implications e.g., delays to commercial or public transport services.
How to move forward?
We require a concerted effort. I’d like Community Councils, working with the EACC, to put pressure on all of their local Councillors to highlight bus user concerns and the desire for change to Cllr. Scott Arthur, Convenor of the Transport Committee, and his fellow members.
Cllr. Arthur, on the Board of TfE, can speak directly to TfE CEO, George Lowder. They can establish what statutory changes are needed to allow the Transport Committee better to work with TfE in advance of important service adjustments, so that local polling and feedback can properly lay the foundation for big changes in routing patterns and the like.
It may be that the legislative structure of the LB – TfE – CEC relationship precludes this. I don’t know. However, in the first instance, the important step is to invite Cllr. Arthur to look into the situation and to report to the Transport Committee on how we get a better communications and public relations deal from Lothian Buses.
*Lothian Buses Lib Dem Motion 18 May 23 - See Menu, under Roads & Transport .
End/JL
16/06/23: West Lothian Joint Forum call for Community Council Reform
Event: 10 Jun 23: West Lothian Joint Forum (WLJF) of Community Councils:
The New Community Councils of 2023 and beyond:
A Blueprint for a New Form of Local Decision-Making and Democracy
The WLJF led a screen event to promote the launch of a BLUEPRINT for change in the way Community Councils relate to Local Authorities, Scot Gov and to their own communities.
“The Joint Forum believes that Community Councils should be more empowered and be given more resources."
Fifty years after their formation, there has been next-to-no change in their empowerment. The time for that change is now, argues the WLJF.
Read the detail in Consultations (see Menu Bar).
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10/06/23: Scot Gov Consultation: Permitted Development Rights Review - Phase 3
Phase 3 Consultation opens 31 May 2023 until 23 Aug.
This third phase of the Permitted Development Rights (PDR) Review has a close focus on new and extended PDR for domestic and non-domestic renewable energy equipment. The proposals (inter alia) would streamline the planning process for various zero and low carbon technologies, such as solar panels and heat pumps, and for certain flues.They also cover replacement windows for domestic and non-domestic properties.
There is a strong element of 'community relevance' here.
The full list of areas covered in the consultation is:
- Domestic renewables: solar panels; air, water and ground source heat pumps; wind turbines; and the removal of PDR for certain flues.
- Non-domestic renewables: solar panels; solar canopies in qualifying parking areas; and air, ground and water source heat pumps.
- Replacement windows for domestic and non-domestic properties.
- Electricity network infrastructure.
- Reverse vending machines.
- Temporary use of land for shooting ranges.
The consultation can be found here: Scot Gov PDR Phase 3 Consultation .
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09/06/23: Moving Edinburgh to Low Carbon District Heating
Event: 31 May 2023: Transition Edinburgh / Our Future Edinburgh:
Transitioning Edinburgh to Low Carbon Heat Workshop
Facilitated by:
Our Future Edinburgh* – Johanna Carrie: Home - Our Future Edinburgh
Transition Edinburgh* – David Somervell: Transition Edinburgh – Pathways to building a fairer, carbon neutral future
Ben Carter – Vattenfall Edinburgh
John Maslen – Independent renewable energy consultant
Edinburgh Climate Change Institute: Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) - Edinburgh Earth Initiative
This was a really worthwhile event because it opened up the wealth of expertise, experience and endeavour committed to implementing District Heating networks in the city. It is a long haul, but Aberdeen and Leeds are leading examples of how to move ahead here in the UK.
Here are some of the practical questions which struck us on the day.
(Go to the main report in the Environment & Energy Menu above to get a lot more detail on participants and references.)
The Practicalities:
- The technical knowledge is there, with the conceptual ambition. The engineering, science and organisational commitment continue to evolve here in the UK. (It is well established in continental Europe. The Greater Copenhagen District Heating (DH) network is the exemplar. It transmits through 54km of pipelines, supplying 250,000 households with district heating. That shows what could be done, but it has been a 25-year plus endeavour. English - CTR )
- The funding sources, the funding terms, the public-private share of risk, the protocols on how to lead and proceed (delivery partners), and the legislative frameworks are far from settled.
- However, the Scottish Government sees a significant future role for DH and here in Edinburgh there is a live programme and it is picking up pace. (There is a lot of catch-up to do compared to the likes of Aberdeen and Leeds.)
- In broad terms, the ‘bill’ to decarbonise buildings in Scotland is put at £33bn (just for that part of the ‘great transition’). The comprehensive ‘need for innovative funding’ doesn’t begin to describe the challenge. (There are deep fundamental issues: ‘Who are the ‘owners’ of the disparate programmes or ‘bits and pieces’?’: ‘Returns are insufficient to attract private investment.’)
- Edinburgh’s Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES), mandated by the Scottish Government, is due to emerge from CEC late in 2023. It will have a 5-year delivery plan and it needs to be a pathbreaker. Look for ‘consultation’ over the summer on new proposals, new prohibitions and on new alternatives.
- The city’s Net Zero 2030 programme, while widely heralded, needs ‘political leadership, organisational capacity, collaboration, tenacity and transparency’.
- ‘Someone’ has to ‘own the problem’. ‘Someone’ is going to have to take the ‘message’ to communities; to ‘scope and deliver public engagement at the local level.’ (Watch for the risks of misinformation.)
- Who is that to be? CEC officials? Elected Councillors? Community Councils? The private sector? With what support and guidance? What is the message? Who will be held to account?
- Sarah Boyack MSP was in attendance. She spoke with some energy at the end, saying she was going to get on the case at the Scottish Parliament. Let’s watch that space.
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08/06/23: SCDC: Meeting National Standards for Community Engagement
Event: 24 May 2023: SCDC Webinar on how best to secure strong community engagement:
At some point, your Community Council may become involved in something ‘big’ – community regeneration, placemaking, asset transfers, participatory budgeting, local health and social care support – and dealing with a number of counterparties.
In that event, two issues stand to be addressed at the outset:
1. You are going to be ‘fully engaged’, with local residents and businesses and with other bodies and agencies, both public and private;
2. Your ‘project’ is going to need very careful ‘management’.
SCDC offers good-practice principles to follow; a core checklist and some training opportunities.
See more under Meetings.
Meetings (edinburghcommunitycouncils.org.uk)
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08/06/23: CEC Spatial Planning: Air Quality Action Plan
Event: 7 Jun 23: CEC Spatial Policy Unit:
Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) Workshop:
(Ruth White, Placemaking and Mobility Strategy and Development Manager, CEC.)
The draft AQAP sits in the delivery channel of the City Mobility Plan, alongside Active Travel, Public Transport, Road Safety and Parking Action Plans. The five sets of proposals are currently out for consultation until 9 July. ( Item 7.5 - Revision to the Air Quality Action Plan - Draft for Consultation.pdf (edinburgh.gov.uk)
In broad terms, there has been progressive improvement in city air quality standards over the past 15 years, but they are ‘nowhere near’ World Health Organisation standards and some ‘trouble spots’ in the city remain. There is increasingly solid recognition of the damage to environment, personal health and welfare arising from pollution. The main local pollutants of concern are nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), to a lesser extent carbon dioxide (CO₂), and fine airborne particulate matter, PM10 and PM2.5 (measuring less than 10 micrometres in diameter and less than 2.5 micrometres respectively).
The overarching legislative drivers come from the Scot Gov Cleaner Air for Scotland Strategy (CAFS) 2, from National Planning Framework 4 and from the National Transport Strategy (National Transport Strategy | Transport Scotland )
There are eight key themes under the AQAP proposals:
Low Emission Zone (LEZ) • Strategic Transport • Behavioural Change to Active Travel • Public Transport • Low Emission Vehicles • 2030 Climate Strategy • Integrated Policies and Guidance • Domestic Emissions.
There is a close convergence here with the broader City Mobility Plan (City Mobility Plan – The City of Edinburgh Council )
The high-cost elements are:
Implementation of the LEZ;
Incorporating AQ considerations into the Public Transport Action Plan, with support for projects to decarbonise the Edinburgh bus fleet;
Improving the St John’s Road / Drumbrae South corridor;
The development of net zero community heating projects;
The development of a Whole House Retrofit (WHR) programme for social housing in the city.
The ‘difficult’ elements relate to personal behaviour change, essentially in car use and in domestic emissions (open fires and wood-burning stoves and the like).
Set in the context of the Net Zero 2030 Climate Strategy, it is difficult to exaggerate the scale of change envisaged for the city. The easy thing is to be cynical about the intent and the effort. However, the direction of travel is clear. The success of the endeavour will rest on funding, human resource at CEC level, the progressive selection of the right priorities on the way, all alongside the right nudges to induce personal behaviour change.
See this CEC Consultation document: Actions to deliver Edinburgh’s City Mobility Plan - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space
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07/06/23: Use of Public Spaces for Events and Filming: Update Meeting
Event: 6 Jun 2023: Screen Meeting with CEC Public Spaces Team:
Update on Use of Public Spaces for Events and Filming.
CEC Place set in motion the development of a Public Space Management Plan early in 2020, overseen by the Culture and Communities committee. Key Principles for the use of public open space for events and filming were set out in September 2021. Consultations continued over the course of 2022. An Update on the Use of Public Spaces for Events and Filming was given to the Culture and Communities Committee in May 2023. Further work on the shape of the framework is taking place. A final report on the policy and associated guidance will be presented to Committee in October.
An update on the programme was offered to ‘stakeholders’ on 6 June. Joan Parr, CEC Service Director for Culture and Wellbeing chaired the session. The ‘scope’ of the overall programme has expanded appreciably, post-Covid, with a marked expansion of Filming Processes, for example. It was clear that the Public Spaces Team are under a good deal of pressure to wrap it up.
The essence of the programme is the distillation of 17 Key Principles (governing applications for, granting of, and conditions of approval) into the following four Key Policy Themes:
1. Process is transparent and accountable: Digital Platform to host all proposed and approved event information; open to the public.
2. Process and activities are proportionate: Event and Filming activities have to be 'proportionate' to their location and subject to 'area conditions'.
3. Activities must have a net positive effect: Measure across 'community wealth, cultural identity, reputation, quality of life or social value'.
4. Organisers will minimise their impact: Observing physical reinstatement; sustainability (net zero) principles; industry best-practice; stakeholder engagement.
Detailed ‘Guidelines’ to govern Policy ‘application’ remain ‘in the background’ (now somewhat lost from sight, in the opinion of one attendee, this after long gestation in past consultations with interested parties, including Community Councils.) They must be brought back into sharp focus.
From a Community Council perspective (principally Old Town, New Town and West End, but not exclusively), the points repeatedly made at this session covered:
Clearly inadequate pre-advice and consultation at present on ‘events and filming’;
Poor or no advance communication of dates and locations;
A lack of Council commitment to full financial transparency and reporting of the costs and benefits to the city of a now heavy (and growing) events and filming calendar.
For the moment, direct any queries to
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06/06/23: Alcohol Focus Scotland: May 2023 Edinburgh Alcohol Profile
Report: 6 Jun 2023: Edinburgh's Alcohol Profile Map
Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) is the national charity working to reduce and prevent alcohol harm. AFS campaigns on minimum pricing and on alcohol availability and licensing, with a special focus on the dangers of marketing exposure to children and young people.
AFS offers practical guidance for community groups in support of effective action to curb alcohol harm, crime and violence in their locality. If you would like to know more, go to:
Working To Reduce Alcohol Harm | Alcohol Focus Scotland (alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk)
In the meantime, AFS publishes regular Local Alcohol Profiles, mapping ‘Alcohol harm in your area’.
Here is the latest report for Edinburgh.
Edinburgh LAP May 2023 (alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk)
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30/05/23: Scottish Parliament evidence session on Community Councils
Event: 23 May 2023: Scottish Parliament committee Hearing
The Scottish Parliament Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee held a three-hour evidence session on Community Councils in their 50th year.
What's been achieved? What needs to be done?
EACC was represented by Steve Kerr (Chair), sitting alongside representatives from four other CCs, three other regional CC Associations, Cheshire Association of Local (Parish) Councils, The Improvement Service, the Scottish Community Development Council, and Dr Oliver Escobar (Senior Lecturer in Public Policy) of Edinburgh University.
See the full report under Consultations.
Consultations (edinburghcommunitycouncils.org.uk)
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19/05/23: Opinion: Challenges in North-West Edinburgh
19 May 2023: Queensferry & District CC Chair, Keith Giblett, highlights the pressure points.
North West Edinburgh was a late addition to LDP 1 (2016) and following rejection by the Scottish Government on the grounds that the number of new homes in Edinburgh had to be increased, a land bank for additional homes had to be found. Predominantly North West Edinburgh fulfilled a good part of the land bank needed.
Additional homes were to be built in Cammo, Cramond, Kirkliston, Ratho and Queensferry and so were added to LDP 1. A considerable number of objections were lodged from the locality, ward councillor’s, community councils and constituents to no avail. The main objections were a lack of improved facilities, schools provision, health provision, road improvements, and public transport improvements.
As we see these homes coming out of the ground and population increasing, what we don’t see, contrary to what the communities were told by Planning Officers, is the funding and commitment to improving the services.
Little thought was or has been given during these extensive consultations and subsequent planning applications as to how the actual plans are to be delivered. The development sites are solely housing with no surrounding land for building local businesses, facilities for local employment or for delivering council, health or essential services.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s objectives within 2030 City Plan (LDP 2), 20-Minute Neighbourhood and Low Emission Zoness are going to be extremely difficult to deliver for 2030 unless there is radical re-think with the strategy.
More recently, we have seen business with suitable sites for housing development moving into the city centre with loss of local jobs and making it necessary for employees to travel. An example is Ove-Arup, a business that has worked out of Queensferry for some years, with 80 employees. The buildings they occupied are to be developed into 23 luxury homes.
Presently CEC are holding consultations about school provision; a new West Edinburgh High School was to be built but there are no plans as yet. The preference from the consultation is that Kirkliston has its own High School built. In the interim pupils from Kirkliston will go the Queensferry High School, but CEC don’t know how they will be accommodated once the school reaches 1200 pupil’s capacity. Primary school education is another problem with a new school to be built, but plans are not even being discussed so temporary buildings are being added to existing schools.
We are seeing businesses ‘future-proofing’ commercial and retail property sites by seeking change-of-use from office accommodation to housing. CEC Planning advise that there is nothing that prohibits this kind action. I’m aware that this is a city-wide problem.
Public transport in North West Edinburgh is a serious problem. Few services have changed over the years and the statement made that an increased population would increase and improve public transport hasn’t been reflected in delivery. Through Covid it has been necessary to consolidate public transport; the recent changes being made to the bus service for Cramond is an example. Bus services are built around profitable routes unless they are supported from S.75 monies or are council-supported; so, unless the service providers see profit in a route then little will change. North-West Edinburgh patients will be directed to St John’s hospital for medical treatment and there are very few bus services to take you there. The other factor is that generally bus services take you into the City Centre and not across the city so to travel by bus from West Edinburgh to Sighthill or further south is difficult.
End/KG
15/05/23: Use of Public Spaces for Events and Filming: Update Report
15 May 2023: The CEC Placemaking Directorate has issued a short update report, presented to the Culture and Communities Committee on 11 May. It offers 'an indication of the future shape of the proposed policy and supporting guidance', this ahead of a final report scheduled for October. Here is the update link, (Any questions to
8.3 - Use of Public Spaces for Events and Filming_Final.pdf (edinburgh.gov.uk)
15/05/23: Edinburgh's Christmas: CEC Consultation Update
15 May 2023: Following the 2021 Winter Festivals consultation (some time ago), a report is due shortly for submission to the CEC's Culture and Communities Committee. There is a short consultation update window, open up to 31 May, where participants in the 2021 survey are asked for any fresh views they have on the delivery of the Edinburgh's Christmas event and the broader Winter Festivals programme from 2024 onwards. Are there festive community events you would wish to see included and / or any changes you would wish to have introduced.
The contact point I have for this at CEC is
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09/05/23: Planning Democracy: Community rights of appeal.
9 May 2023: Edinburgh City Council votes unanimously in favour of community rights of planning appeal.
Planning Democracy is celebrating the 4 May CEC decision to back community rights of planning appeal in a motion led by Cllr. Ross McKenzie.
Cllr. Cammy Day will now request of the Scottish Government's Planning Minister, Joe Fitzpatrick MSP, a review of the rights of appeal, along with a request for extension of the current time periods for the determination of applications in certain circumstances.
At the heart of the issue is a drive by Planning Democracy and other groups to ensure that the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 cements the right of communities to influence local planning authorities' development plans in the course of the preparation of their own local place plans. Access to a right of appeal, on a par with the facility presently open to developers as a matter of course, would dismantle the 'privileged position' developers enjoy in determining the shape of communities, it is argued.
There is more on this story here: http://www.planningdemocracy.org.uk .
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19/04/23: Edinburgh Transport: Action Plans Consultation
19 Apr 2023: Edinburgh's Transport Future; the door opens on a major public consultation.
Cllr. Scott Arthur, Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee, calls it 'probably one of the biggest and most important consultations' undertaken by the City Council. It runs from 17 April to 9 July.
What is the goal?: To effect the transition towards 'a less congested, more liveable, healthy and sustainable capital' with a buoyant economy, all within the big-picture goals of the City Mobility Plan 2030 and Edinburgh Net Zero 2030 strategic targets. Projected delivery is by way of five Action Plans covering Active Travel, Public Transport, Parking, Road Safety and Air Quality.
I attended a consultation session yesterday. Don't brush aside or understimate the commitment, thought and endeavour that are going into this massive change project, even if it's not all to your liking. Make a start by getting involved in the consultation programme. Here is the online link to begin with.
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/cmp/
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13/04/23: CEC Waste & Cleansing Contact List
13 Apr 2023: CEC Waste & Cleansing Key Contacts List
Compiled by Angus Murdoch, Technical Coordinator, CEC Place Directorate: 30 March 2023.
Initial reports or enquiries
Use the website where possible. There are a range of webforms for the most common things that people want to do and that’s the best and quickest way to get to the correct team first time.
www.edinburgh.gov.uk is the council website.
The waste landing page lets you do a range of things from reporting a missed bin or request a replacement bin, to register for the garden waste collection or book a special uplift or visit to a household waste recycling centre.
The recycling landing page also has features such as what to put in each bin and our recycling sorter to look up what to do with common items you’re not sure about.
Important Guidelines
Why is waste a problem? sets out why it’s important to reduce waste and, in really simple terms, why recycling is important.
Our waste prevention page provides links to support people reduce their waste production in the first place.
Our real nappies guide provides advice to people considering alternatives to disposables;
Our home composting guide offers advice on how to get started here.
What goes in each bin links to guides, videos, and stair posters for the different services and different bins,
while getting the most from your recycling gives simple advice about common things we’re often asked about or issues we experience;
What happens to your recycling explains where our main recycling and waste streams go and what happens.
The plastics page looks to ease the confusion that exists around those materials, and be clear what you can put in our collections, It also provides advice about other plastics and the various retailer takeback schemes. The soft plastics page give specific information about the retailer takeback schemes for plastic bags and wrappers;
Note also the national recycleyourelectricals website run by the electricals industry. It has a postcode search which gives methods of recycling different items where you live.
Alternatives to website
For many people and many queries, the website is a great resource but we do recognise that some people can’t do that or don’t want to, and we also provide email and telephone contacts:
0131 608 1100 is the phone number for various environmental services (not just waste related enquiries) at the Contact Centre.
Escalated and Formal complaints
The vast majority of enquiries and informal reports and complaints are resolved first time, but sometimes problems persist. The Council also has a two-stage complaints process which lets residents make a formal, logged and reference-numbered complaint.
The contact points for this are:
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12/04/23: Scottish Community Development Centre: Participation Requests Survey
12 Apr 2023: Introduced six years ago, Participation Requests (PR) are part of the Community Empowerment Act, serving to strengthen community participation with the public sector and to improve public service provision. The way they are being used is now being reviewed by the SCDC through a brief consultation (31 March to 19 April). Community bodies are being asked to consider how the PR process might be strengthened and how an Appeals process might be introduced.
This link will take you to the online survey and to a PR resource pack guide.
Strengthening participation requests - survey | SCDC - We believe communities matter
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12/04/23: National Performance Framework (NPF): 2023 Review
12 Apr 2023: The NPF is the template of collective wellbeing in Scotland, setting out ‘an overall purpose and vision’ for the country through embedded behavioural values, targeted National Outcomes and detailed National Indicators. The present set of National Outcomes was decided at the time of the last NPF review in 2018. Much has changed since then. A new NPF review opened on 23 March, as required by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
With so much change underway, business, social, community and family strains are very evident, across the board. This consultation is asking if the existing National Outcomes are still the right ones and what revisions are needed.
Your own community has a big say in this and is invited to participate. Here is the entry point to the consultation:
Review of the National Outcomes - Scottish Government - Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot)
together with an information pack:
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