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Next Meeting: Thursday 29 January 2026

Scroll down for Current Issues, Events, Consultations and References:    

4 Dec: CEC Local Traffic Improvement Programme (LTIP): There is a 26 January 2026 closure on funding applications for small-project, local interventions to address neighbourhood traffic / mobility / safety improvement issues. There are comprehensive project sponsorship criteria and a precise application form. The LTI Programme is intended to improve local access for people walking and cycling in our communities and consider the introduction of small traffic schemes to mitigate or eliminate the impact of intrusive road traffic in residential areas. The key criteria covering proposed locations include (but not limited) to: hazards or obstacles to the progress and safety of people walking, wheeling and cycling, and the volume and speed of traffic. All applicants are asked to provide a bullet point list of the key issues that they would like to see addressed as well as a clear description of the location.

Community Councils can stand as project sponsors. You may wish to consider including your Ward Councillors in your conversations. Go to Menu Item 3 EACC Papers / Appendix for the LTI Project paperwork on criteria and applications. For more information, contact Anthony Carthy and the CEC Local Traffic Improvement Team at:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

4 Dec: Living Street Edinburgh Group (LSEG): LSEG is pressing for more Council money to be spent on improving sub-standard footways and pavements. In recent years, the Council has directed a higher percentage of overall spend to carriageways and a lower percentage to footways. From an agreed overall Council budget arived at in February, the Transport and Environment Committee (T&EC) will allocate its spend across road safety, active travel, road and footway maintenance etc.in April. Now is the right time to take a walk-round the difficult footway places in your area. Ask your Ward Councillors to come with you. Press them to press your case with T&EC members from here. Decisions are likely to be made in advance of that April meeting. (See also EACC Papers / Appendix for the Living Streets press release.)

2 Dec: Council Review of Sun Tan Centre Licensing Conditions: A review of the Public Entertainment Licence conditions framework in respect of Sun Tan Centres is now underway On 29 September 2025, the Council’s Regulatory Committee approved a consultation on a new set of conditions to be drafted specifically for Sun Tan Centres. This consultation is now open and you are invited to respond by 19 February 2026. The consultation can be accessed at: Sun Tan Centres - 2025 - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space . Supporting documents for the consultation are provided here: Report to Regulatory Committee on 29 September 2025: Sun Tan Centre Licence Conditions – Proposal to Consult

2 Dec: AGM 27 November Reports: Go to EACC Papers / 2025 AGM Papers for meeting detail and to EACC Papers / Meetings 2025 for the talk given by Cllr. Stephen Jenkinson, Convener, Transport & Environment Committee. 

26 Nov: Community Councils Elections Survey: Report to Culture & Communities Committee 4 Dec: The survey closed on 29 August. It was held open to community councillors and Elected Members. The survey report goes to Committee on 4 December. The papers are now available on the following link, Item 8.2, Page 235: Elections Survey

25 Nov: Training Modules from the CEC Community Engagement & Empowerment Team: Sign up here for the classes. A session on fundraising is also planned.

1) Engagement tools: Saturday 29 November, 10.30 – 12.30, McDonald Road Library. This session will explore tools and techniques that can be used to gather a range of views and ideas from your community. This will build on content shared in the Community Engagement Toolkit and offer opportunities to try these techniques out in a group setting.

2) Digital tools for engagement: Thursday 29 Jan, 18.00 – 20.00, Microsoft Teams. This online workshop will focus specifically on how to use online resources to promote opportunities and gather community feedback. We will adapt the content of this session to reflect participants skills and knowledge. Topics we might cover include using social media, hosting online community engagement sessions, and using online survey tools.

25 Nov: Conference Places for Community Councillors: From MacKay Hannah Ltd; complimentary places for two online morning events; 1] Tuesday 2 Dec, 2] Tues 9 Dec. quote code CC100 where prompted.

1]  https://www.mackayhannah.com/Cyber-safe-Scotland-understand-current-resilience-and-risks-for-your-organisation

2]  https://www.mackayhannah.com/The-Scottish-Government%E2%80%99s-new-longterm-conditions-framework-demand,-delivery-and-making-it-work

21 Nov: The Planning System: Community Involvement: We are entering the early stages of the city’s next Local Development Plan, City Plan 2040. Community groups are being asked to express their early opinions, for example through Local Place Plans. The pace of development in the city is quickening. The scope for differences in opinion on what constitutes ‘good’ development is widening, across the scale. For community groups pitched against planners and developers, the need is to be ‘up with events’ and current with how ‘the system’ works. (This is very much the case for community councils.) In particular, the hinge is what are to be regarded as ‘material planning considerations’.

Turn, please, to the help offered by Planning Aid Scotland and to the valuable information sheet resource on the website: https://www.pas.org.uk/resources/ Information sheet 3 covers ‘Material Considerations’. In a wider context, you will also find helpful a Midlothian Council publication: ‘The Scottish Planning System – A Handbook (2022). https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/downloads/file/4623/midlothian_planning_handbook

Go to the Menu and to Planning & Place for more.

10 Nov: CEC Planning Committee 12 Nov 2025 Meeting: Review of Scheme of Delegation: Changes to the Chief Planning Officer’s (CPO) authorities are proposed at the 12 November meeting in respect of the process for dealing with planning applications. One change would remove the trigger point on number of representations received (currently 20) before a planning application is referred to the Development Management Sub Committee. Read more on this in menu bar item, Planning & Place.

On 11 Nov, I was advised of Elected Member Group opposition to the proposals, with Amendments tabled from three of the groups for the 12 November meeting. A final agreed Amendment (passed 8 votes to 2) held that the trigger would remain in place for now, but would hinge on the representations being tabled as 'material planning considerations'. Community councils should keep sharpen their focus on what is 'material'.

3 Nov: Free Event: Navigating Energy Improvements for Historic Properties: On Sunday, 9 November, 2.30 to 3.30pm, at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (High School Yards, EH1 1LZ) – a free workshop covering the practical considerations and essential tools to begin and manage energy improvement projects in historic properties (listed buildings and those in conservation areas, including tenements). Get impartial advice and pointers to asking the right questions, getting reliable information and choosing the right professionals. Brought to you by Edinburgh School of Architecture.

31 Oct: District Heating Networks: Edinburgh University Community Plan 2025-30: Edinburgh Visitor Levy Participatory Budgeting: The slide packs, reference material and summary notes from the EACC 30 October meeting are now on this site. Go to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2025. You can watch a replay and cover the transcript here: 

EACC 30 October Meeting

31 Oct: Edinburgh Poverty Commission - A Just Capital: 2025 Call to Action: Edinburgh Poverty Commission today published its latest report. The underlying picture is becoming increasingly complex and experienced poverty is deepening. There is a wide spectrum of factors behind the build in pressure. The 2030 poverty reduction targets remain some way off. There can be no ‘solution’ to the challenge without the resolution of the city’s housing and homelessness crisis. At grass roots level, community groups and organisations, if possessed of the right resource and resolve, have a valued part to play. Read the report here: EPC 2025 Calls to Action

30 Oct: Anti-Social Bike Use Event: Dr Scott Arthur MP: Thurs 13 November: Dr Arthur is leading this event to give local residents a chance to share their experience of dangerous dirt and trail bike rides and to discuss ways to combat the situation across the city. He will be joined by local councillors and community police. The event takes place at 7pm at Space@Broomhouse Hub. Sign up here to book a place: https://forms.gle/JnGXRmjJiSNsGUuh8

30 Oct: City Plan 2040: ‘What do you think about where you live?’: City Plan 2040 is the next local development plan and it’s now underway. How you feel about where you live, your ‘place’, is a fundamental part of it. Just what makes ‘a good place’ for you to live and work in, for kids to play and grow up in? The Council Planning Department have opened a questionnaire on the Consultation Hub. They want to know how you feel about your homes, local shops and services, healthcare, public transport, open space, play space, community space and jobs. This goes to the heart of your city and neighbourhood life. The questionnaire, open until 5 Jan 2026, is here: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/place/

Look out for the drop-in events at Waverley Court (3 Nov, 14.30); Gyle Shopping Centre (8 Nov, 12.00); Kirkliston Parish Church (11 Nov, 15.30); Sighthill Library (12 Nov, 16.00); Oxgangs Library (17 Nov, 16.00); Drumbrae Library (18 Nov, 15.30); Magdalene Community Centre (19 Nov, 15.30); North Edinburgh Arts Centre (21 Nov, 16.00).

21 Oct: Community Empowerment & Engagement Team: Engagement Training Modules: The CE&E Team have lined up three sessions: Facilitation Skills: 25 Nov: 17.30 to 19.30 at Leith Community Centre / Engagement Tools: 29 Nov: 10.30 to 12.30 at Mcdonald Road Library / Digital Tools for Engagement; Online: 29 Jan: 18.00 to 20.00. Here is the Sign-up Form

21 Oct: EACC Forum at City Chambers: 11 October: See the slide pack with short notes added. Go to the menu bar and to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2025. Look for "Rpt 25_10_11 EACC Forum.pdf"'. There is an important supplementary paper on Information Guidance which covers records management, records protection, the handling of personal data, document control, record retention periods, record disposal and a compliance checklist. This is well-worth reviewing. Look for "Rpt 25_10_11 EACC Forum Info Guidance Paper.pdf".

14 Oct: EACC Annual General Meeting: Thursday 27 November: Online 18.45 for 19.00: The guest speaker at the AGM will be Cllr. Stephen Jenkinson, Convener of the Transport & Environment Committee. He has a pivotal policy role at a pivotal time for the city. We look forward indeed to hearing from him. 

This particular update focuses on the AGM itself. The EACC Members' Board comprises four Office Bearer posts plus positions on the Advisor Panel, which can carry up to twelve names. All positions are up for renewal. A place on the Board is by way of nomination and appointment by election. Here is a link to the Nominations Form.The procedure for nomination and appointment is set out on Page 2 of the Nomination Form. 

As a Community Councillor, please begin now to consider if you would wish to take on an appointment. If you wish your name submitted for election, please arrange to have your nomination supported by two named Community Councillors, as your Sponsors. In turn, as a Sponsor, you can nominate a person from your own Community Council, or from another. The Notes on page 2 of the Nomination Form set out the procedures. 

This is the first in a series of communications about the EACC 27 November AGM. The MS Teams meeting link, the Agenda, Office Bearer Reports and so on will follow in the coming weeks. Please do get in touch with any questions.

Documentation will be held on menu item EACC Papers, under 2025 AGM Papers.

14 Oct: Planning Democracy: Scotland's Planning System: Time for a radical overhaul: On 27 November (6 to 8.30pm) Planning Democracy launches a powerful manifesto to transform Scotland's planning system in order "to truly serve (the country's) people and places"; to re-shape it to deliver "stronger community power, rights-based planning, environmental protections, affordable sustainable housing, and land reform". There will be a host of expert speakers presenting the case at Augustine Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL. Here is the Sign-up Form. Here is the Manifesto Summary  Here is the Planning Democracy Site.

This looks to be a very strong initiative. It's a standard complaint of community councils that they don't have a loud enough voice in planning debates. This event could open new opportunities. You should patch into this. There is an unfortunate clash of dates with the important EACC online AGM on 27 November, but if you organise things well across your group, you can cover both.

8 Oct: Edinburgh University launches Community Plan 2025-30: To Edinburgh University Futures Institute this evening, to welcome the launch of the University’s new ‘Community Plan 2025 – 30’. Led by the Principal, Sir Peter Mathieson, here is a telling recommitment to widespread and meaningful civic support, to enable community-driven change for the better; to bolster new opportunities for community improvement and wellbeing; to promote educational and life-improvement partnerships that will challenge social and economic disadvantage in the city and beyond. Community access to grants; community access to University facilities; community access to knowledge and skills. Take a close look at the story here: Edin Uni Community Plan 2025-30

3 Oct: Community Council Induction Information and Resources: A reminder that you can find the full resource pack on the CEC website at this link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-councils/5 . The link includes a recording of the in-person Induction event on 12 May 2025. Within the resource pack, we'd very much recommend you take another look at the guidance notes on Information Management and Data Handling. If you need to find out more on any issues arising there, please contact Governance. 

2 Oct: CEC Community Wealth Building (CWB) Initiative: Discussed at the 25 Sep EACC meeting. (Go to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2025 for slides and transcript.) In the UK, CWB as a 'community re-generator' has its genesis in the 'Preston Model'. A link to the background follows. Go to Health and Wellbeing on the menu bar for more information on societal impact.  https://cles.org.uk/community-wealth-building-in-practice/community-wealth-building-places/community-wealth-building-in-preston/

1 Oct: CEC Planning: Publishes new Code of Conduct for Responsible Construction: Go to Planning & Place on the menu bar for more on this. 

30 Sep: CEC Roads & Infrastructure: Morningside CC: Chair, Alastair Webb:  Here is a follow-up to Alastair's presentation on the communication issues surrounding CEC's roadworks programming:

30 Sep: CEC Roads & Infrastructure: Road Maintenance Programming: In September, Morningside CC hosted, from CEC, Cliff Hutt (Head of Roads and Infrastructure) and Sean Gilchrist (Transport Manager - Asset and Performance). They offered a detailed presentation on the CEC Transport Asset Management Plan (TAMP), the programme managing investment in, and service standards for, the suite of Road Assets and Transport Assets. Slide extracts are carried in EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2025. Refer to Rpt 25_09_25 MCC Hutt Slides.

26 Sep: EACC Meeting 25 September: Go to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2025 for slides and transcript. View the event here: EACC Video and Transcript 25 Sep 2025

25 Sep: CEC Planning publishes new Design Guidance: Non-statutory planning guidance to support the policies on City Plan 2030 and National Planning Framework 4 is now live. The suite covers Edinburgh Design Guidance / Guidance for Householders / Guidance for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areaas / Student Accommodation Guidance. See Planning & Place on the menu bar. 

23 Sep: Communal Bin Review (CBR) Update: Published 19 September by the CBR Project Team. 'The Autumn works package will enable improvements to the waste and recycling service for approximately 5,000 households. Starting in just over 1 weeks’ time (Monday 29 September) and expected to last 4 weeks, these works will see bin hubs installed in the Old Town, South Morningside, Newington & Prestonfield, Queensferry Road @ Ravelston and streets within Greenways. There are also some bin hubs from earlier phases which could not be installed due to other works. The full plans showing all bin hub locations are available online.' Here is the link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/bins-recycling/communal-bin-review/6

19 Sep: The Edinburgh South Suburban Line ('South Sub'): Tram Trains for Edinburgh (TTE) is a group recently formed to promote new proposals to bring back public transport on the South Sub. It's a vision of direct and fast connection between east and west sides of the city, complementing the envisioned new tram route from Granton to the BioQuarter.

'The route of the South Sub would link Fort Kinnaird, Cameron Toll, Morningside, Tynecastle, bringing in some poorly served residential areas and also providing onward connections to commercial, employment, medical and leisure destinations beyond the route itself. In addition, encouraging people onto public transport reduces traffic congestion, provides new economic opportunities and helps achieve our sustainability objectives. The proposal is not intended to compete with the City Council’s North-South tram route but rather would be complementary to it.'

Read more about the proposal here by going to EACC Papers >>> Appendix.

Register on Eventbrite to attend a launch meeting on 7 October (19.00) at City Chambers (253 High Street): https://citychambers0710.eventbrite.co.uk

Contact Rob Falcon, Chair of TTE, with any queries, at tihs address:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

19 Sep: Marionville Fire Station: The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service consultation, on the proposal to close Marionvillle Fire Station in East Edinburgh, closed on 16 September. Northfield & Willowbrae CC has led some impressive last-minute work to place objections to the SF&RS proposal, drawing in Ward Councillor, MSP and MP support. The NWCC objection is set out here on the website. Go to EACC Papers >>> Appendix.

9 Sep: One-Day Course on the Planning Process: 1 November - Planning Applications; a User's Guide. This was brought to my notice today by the course tutor. 'This is an introduction to the town and country planning system in Scotland, to look at when a planning application is needed, who takes the decisions, what factors they can take into account and opportunities for the public to influence decisions.' The event (part of the new Adult Education Programme) takes place at Inch House, Gilmerton (10.00 to 16.00). The standard fee is £31.75, with concessions at £21.00. There are 16 places initially available. Booking closes on 19 September, I believe.

This sort of thing is what I'd expect to see included in the CEC training support programme for community councillors, if and when that programme appears. Here is the Adult Education Programme link. 

https://adulteducationedinburgh.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/EVSESENQ?SETLVL=&RNI=105057

8 Sep: Community Grants Fund: Second Funding Round Close 30 September: The Community Grants Fund (CGF) is a small grants scheme provided by the Council. Grants of up to £5,000 can be awarded to constituted voluntary organisations or community groups for local community activity. The purpose of the fund is to support local groups to try new things and develop small scale activities that will benefit or add value to their community. 

CEC is now accepting applications for our second funding round this year from Monday 18 August to Tuesday 30 September 2025. Organisations will be able to apply for projects in neighbourhood areas where there is money remaining. This includes Almond, Forth, Inverleith, Morningside, Pentlands, South West, Southside Newington, Western. Funding for the Leith neighbourhood will be distributed through LeithChooses. View the background and the procedural detail here: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-grants-fund

8 Sep: Improving the Community Council Election Process: CEC Governance recently completed its survey on the community council election framework and process. We wait for detail on the outcome. The procedures followed in the Q1 2025 elections caused disquiet in a number of community councils. The inability to link up with new community councillor candidates, as existing members withdrew, left gaps in normal service and in continuity. David Houston of Colinton CC led a deputation at the Dec 2024 Culture & Communities to frame the election support needed, and he responded at the outset of the CEC survey with proposals for a revised election procedure. He has offered an update to EACC. Go to EACC Papers >>> Community Council Support for the detail of what he has in mind. 

27 Aug: The Council's Business Plan 2023-27: Progress Report 2024-25: The reference point here is: CEC Policy & Sustainability Committee, 19 August 2025; Item 8.1 Council Business Plan Progress 2024/25.

I want to bring to your notice this progress report (for Apr 2024 – March 2025) on the Council’s delivery of three declared strategic priorities and on its work-in-progress to deliver ten targeted outcomes.

By its nature this is a deeply complicated long-term programme and the deep detail in this report illustrates the challenges and difficulties. In large part, this is a report on ‘service delivery’. The Appendix to the Council paper, ‘Progress Update 2024/25’ marks the card on the ten targeted outcomes (and related ‘milestones’) covering core services and deliveries across the span of the city realm.

Status indicators stand as Pending / In Progress and on track / In Progress and off track / Completed / Closed.

I make no attempt here to summarise the report. It is a statement against which you, as a city resident, taxpayer, and service consumer will want to make your own judgment on ‘delivery against promise’. Before rushing to judgment, however, you will want to at least review how the Council judges its own performance. 

Download the document using this link: https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s86771/8.1 Council Business Plan Progress 2024_25.pdf .

25 Aug: The Edinburgh South Suburban Line: In January 2025, six final-year civil engineering students at Heriot- Watt captured the headlines with their call for the integration of a revitalised South Suburban Line into the city’s tram network, to open a new transport corridor for a fast-expanding Capital. https://www.hw.ac.uk/news/2025/call-for-edinburghs-south-suburban-rail-line-to-reopen-to-passengers-after-60-years

The students have moved on to their career path. However, their case has been taken up by a small group of seasoned rail enthusiasts under the banner of ‘Tram Trains for Edinburgh’. The core case is that developments in light-engineering and battery technologies, alongside the now existing tram network, make for a serious argument in favour of imaginatively revisiting the South Suburban Line proposal. A number of local community councils have declared interest in the work the Tram Trains Group intend to undertake. We’ll keep you informed as we learn more.

16 Aug: City-wide Emissons Reporting 2023-24: Here is an update on Edinburgh’s city-wide emissions following publication of the 2023 dataset by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). There is always a two-year lag for this data set which provides UK emissions broken down by local authority and sector. Edinburgh’s city-wide emissions in 2023 were 2,149,173 tonnes of CO2e. This is 3.3% lower than 2022 levels.

In line with previous years, the two largest sources of emissions are the energy from buildings totalling 57% (combined domestic (27%), commercial (16%), industrial (8%) and public sector (6%)), followed by transport emissions (32%). Other sources are Waste Management (5%), LULUCF (3%) and Agriculture (2%). (LULUCF = Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry.) Here is the link to the detail, carried in the Public Reports Pack of the Policy & Sustainability Committee, 19 August 2025.

https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=135

14 Aug: Edinburgh 900 Programme: People’s Procession: Sunday 14 September: The Edinburgh March Riding Association is organising a People’s Procession between Holyrood and Mercat Cross, High Street, to mark the conclusion of the Edinburgh 900 celebratory programme. The procession will take place in conjunction with the Edinburgh Riding of the Marches event, setting off from Holyrood at 2.30pm.

Community councils are invited "to take part in the procession with, for example banners or representatives in uniforms or costumes that illustrate the contribution community councils make to the life of the city today.   A key theme of the Edinburgh 900 programme has been ‘City of David’ celebrating Edinburgh’s journey as a self-governing community. With Community Councils being a recent addition to the governance of Edinburgh, representing local people’s views, it would be really good (to) involve the Community Councils in some way in this concluding event to the year of celebrations."

You’ll find more information here: Edinburgh 900 - Riding of the Marches 

5 Aug: Forthcoming Council Consultation: Edinburgh's Trams - North to South: This news was released on 1 August by the 'Future Trams Project Team' at CEC. On 25 August, CEC will open a 12-week consultation on the proposed new tram routes from Granton through to Royal Infirmary / Edinburgh BioQuarter and beyond. The consultation, supported by public events, will contribute to the development of a 'Strategic Business Case' for tram expansion, which will go to the Transport & Environment Committee in 2026. There will be 'further information ... in due course'. The exercise will be hosted on the Council's Consultation Hub. There will be stacks of detail to digest as the business case is shaped. At the end of the day, this will not be an issue for residents or neighbourhoods to duck. 

31 Jul: Community Wealth Building (CWB): CEC has today written to all community councillor Office Bearers with an invitation to an 'online workshop' on 28 August (on Teams, at 19.00). What are the CWB opportunities in a community or locality? How can they be encouraged and supported? What role can CEC play? This meeting complements the current CWB Consultation which is open until 26 September. (See https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/the-city-of-edinburgh-councils-community-wealth-bu/ )

Localities are characterised by their 'place, space, amenity and wellbeing'. The new Local Development Plan, City Plan 2040, will, in essence, shape place and space. Community Wealth Building could be a pivotal opportunity to help shape amenity and wellbeing. Community councils, by their very nature as neighbourhood forums, have a fundamental obligation to be seen to play that part in both programmes. Here is the link to get started on CWB: Sign up at Eventbrite . (The Microsoft Teams Meeting ID is 345 873 524 037 1 and the Passcode is Pp9XQ7jQ Find out more below. 

25 Jul: Community Wealth Building: I'm expecting the CEC Policy Team working on CWB to approach community councils directly on how to take forward the emerging CEC plan. Go to EACC Papers >>> Appendix to download an outline of the early framework. You will find more in the papers for the 27 May CEC Policy & Sustainability Commitee, Page 139 of the Public Reports Pack, in this link: https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgChooseDocPack.aspx?ID=7347

24 Jul: EACC Survey of Community Councils: In our 22 July update to EACC paprticipants, we led with the outline of the very brief (10 minute) questionnaire which we are asking Chairs / Secretaries to complete and return by the end of August. That is more than enough time to give us an assessment of how you think your community council is placed four months into the new four-year term. CEC offered an intensive Induction Event on 12 May, but that isn't 'job done'. Community councils need ongoing practical support, from CEC and from one another. This survey should succinctly highlight where the current difficulties (and opportunities) lie. Make a point of completing it, please. Remember, the more we share with each other, the better off we are in the round, the better placed we are to move ahead.

As a reminder, here is a CEC link to the Community Councillor Induction Pack May 2025 and to the Community Engagement Toolkit - May 2025. The Induction Event on 12 May can be viewed here: https://edinburgh.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/989553 . Other support resoruces for community councils were set out in a 2 June email from Governance to individual community councillors. Please take a look.  

22 Jul: Community Wealth Building (CWB): This is another CEC Consultation Hub survey which almost passed me by. It was brought back to my attention yesterday. CEC is keen to pursue community council interest in what is an outline approach to CWB - the channelling of resource and effort into local economy build and subsequent wealth retention in the community.  

This is a Scot Gov-led initiative, with the introduction of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill on 20 March 2025. Local Authorities are obliged to produce CWB action plans, anchored around local public sector partnerships and private sector alliances. The drive is to energise those organisations with the most economic agency to lead on local, neighbourhood business and employment build, at any level. Here is the link to the recently-opened CEC survey: CEC Community Wealth Build Survey - close 26 Sep 2025

There must be something here for community councils to pick up on and take forward. Here, surely, is the framework of an ongoing community engagement and bonding enterprise. Community councils could step out on their own, or double-up on this, or bring in co-opt help, or whatever. It could point to 'empowerment'. This is what we say we're in pursuit of, after all. We would all benefit. Why would we ignore this? Give this some thought and come back to me with some early ideas and suggestions.

22 Jul: EACC Meeting at City Chambers, Saturday 11 October 09.30 to 14.00: This planned event takes the place of the 31 May meeting, which we chose to cancel upon the news of the death of Cllr. Val Walker. The programme is still in its early stages. Community Empowerment and Engagement, and the Governance Survey of your experience with the Q1 community council election process are on the agenda so far. More on this to come later, though.

22 Jul: The CEC Governance Survey on the Community Council Elections: Opinions on how the whole election process panned out were wide and varied. You can really help Governance and future community councils by responding to the Survey. Note that it closes on 29 August. Here is the link: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/7fe8bca2/ .

15 Jul: Firework Control Zones: The current consultation on areas being considered for firework control zones this November closes on 29 July. In firework control zones it’s illegal to set off fireworks anywhere, even on private property. These zones can help reduce noise, stress, littering and antisocial behaviour caused by fireworks. Some streets in these areas are being considered: Balerno -- Calton Hill -- Corstorphine -- Gracemount -- Longstone --Moredun -- Niddrie -- Seafield -- Sighthill

Go to the CEC consultation here: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/firework-control-zone-2025/

15 Jul: CEC Forthcoming Consultation and Engagement Programme: CEC has recently published a summary of planned future public consultation and engagement activity. It provides details of the activities taking place, the expected date, the area of the city they are relevant to, and details of those leading on the activity. It stretches into H1 2026. While this represents the best available information, it is subject to change based on many factors and may be incomplete. You can view the draft programme here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xZnv9v2zSBx73CfyL6YXEkjuVQ2N4W8S/edit

For more information, on public consultation and engagement activities conducted by the Council, please refer to the CEC Consultation Hub. 

15 July: The Process for Electoral Boundary Changes: An independent review is considering the process for implementing changes to electoral boundaries, in particular options for a form of automaticity, the processes which underpin boundary reviews, such as engagement and consultation with the public and elected representatives, and the supporting structures and resources. It is led by the former chief executive of City  of Edinburgh Council, Andrew Kerr. 

'Automaticity' is a system where the recommendations of the body that reviews electoral boundaries take effect automatically, without needing approval from the legislature. Forms of automaticity now apply to changes to electoral boundaries in the UK Parliament and the Senedd Cymru, as well as in other legislatures internationally. It would represent a significant change to practice. A consultation has opened as part of the review. It is open until 7 August. You can participate here: https://consult.gov.scot/elections/electoral-boundaries-process/ . You can also attend an online public event on the proposals at Tuesday 22 July at 6pm, via this link: Microsoft Teams Event .

11 Jul: CEC / Edinburgh Partnership Board: Surge in City Drug Overdose Incidents: Council Leader, Cllr Jane Meagher, convened an emergency meeting this morning to review the recent (Q2) surge in drug death / near fatal overdose incidents in the city. There was a wide representation from health and social care agencies, front-line voluntary agencies and the police service. Individuals who are homeless or with harmful street lifestyles are at particular risk, easily preyed upon by criminals. The two telling features of the story which emerged were 1] where incidents were occurring - in the street and across the public domain, and 2] the malign power of the substances being used - many, many times more powerful than opiates. The two telling reports on the uphill struggle to help came from 1] the Police - front-line officers equipped as a matter of course with the antidote Naloxone, and 2] the Simon Community - a small number of outreach workers stretched to the limit, 6am to 8pm.

The root circumstances are homelessness and deprivation. The root symptoms are the incidence of substance abuse by children and young people, a story which then unfolds over time and through their own journey. The solutions are a complicated and unfunded mosaic of actions by a whole host of players. This meeting shone a light on some of them and the commitment they bring to what they do. If you or your community council have something to add to their endeavour, get in touch. 

27 Jun: EACC Meeting of 26 June: The meeting papers (slides and text) on Community Policing and on challenges to Community Engagement are now available. Go to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2025 or use this link: https://www.edinburghcommunitycouncils.org.uk/index.php/eacc-papers?folder=Meetings%2B2025 . You can watch the webcast covering community policing here: Partnership Superintendent Paul Gillespie .

25 Jun: Purpose-Built Student Accommodation: City officers have been asked to explore options for a ban on controversial purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) projects, and present them to the city’s Planning Committee in September for a decision. A majority of councillors backed the motion calling for a ban to be explored. (Edinburgh Live)

20 Jun: Purpose-Built Student Accommodation: The Chair of Leith Central CC has kindly made available their current position paper on PBSA developments in Leith. This is a valuable contribution to the debate as we wait for the outcome of the recently-completed CEC Consultation on PBSA. Developers push on with their PBSA plans but opposition is taking on a more cohesive shape. You'll see that Leith Central CC wants to build a coordinated front to challenge ongoing PBSA developments that impose a burden on localities and disregard community needs. Whatever the argued benefits, PBSA at scale imposes local infrastructure and neighbourhood amenity costs. You can read the position paper here: 

https://63gp3.r.a.d.sendibm1.com/mk/cl/f/sh/6rqJfgq8dIb4hfy2DQwhLHMXkEV/WiZxmcOQcvPV

17 Jun: Event: A policy plan for clean heat in Scotland:: We featured the emerging Heat Network Strategy for the city on 6 June (below) and the partner role assumed by the Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum (CHEF) on 20 May. Nesta is 'The UK's innovation agency for social good' ( https://www.nesta.org.uk/ ), working since 1998 to push innovative change in the country's social and scientific fabric. Closely aligned with the themes of low carbon heat networks, Nesta is convening an online webinar on 24 July 2025 (12.00 to 13.00) to present its new report on a clean heat future for Scotland, and to flag the way to a 'workable solution to the clean energy transition' across the country. Change is coming. Register for this event here .

13 Jun: Reference: Edinburgh Partnership (EP): The Edinburgh Partnership (EP) held a quarterly meeting on 12 June. The EP is the community planning partnership for the city. It brings together public agencies, third and private sectors with local communities to improve the city, its services and the lives of people who live and work here. EACC has a place on the forum. 

A lot of work goes on in the background here. Under a review programme of how the partnership works, it's possible that community councils will be invited to become more directly involved in community planning. If they choose to do so, they will need to find the right people to resource any commitment they make. That is something to begin thinking about. 

In the meantime, it is worth taking a look at EP's wide span of interest. Here is a link to the EP site: https://www.edinburghpartnership.scot/. It's more helpful, however, to view the recent meeting papers. You can access all of CEC's committee work here:  CEC Committee Links. The link to the recent EP meeting is here: EP 12 June 25 Meeting. Take a look in particular at Item 6.1, the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2024, and Item 6.2, the EP Poverty Prevention Programme Update. They give you some idea of the depth of undertaking in community planning. 

13 Jun: Reference: Edinburgh Licensing Forum (ELF): This is a CEC advisory body, set up under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. It comprises representatives from the licensed trade (on- and off-sales), Police Scotland, Lothian Health Board and Council Officers, alongside five community council repesentatives and the EACC. The ELF is not a Council committee. It reports to the Edinburgh Licensing Board, reviewing the operation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 within the city and the exercise by the Licensing Board itself of its functions. The ELF meets around six times per year. 

ELF's work goes well beyond 'opening hours'. It brings into consideration trading standards, community wellbeing and important issues of public health and welfare policy. There could be something here for you. This link tells you more: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/volunteer/become-member-edinburgh-licensing-forum. If you want to go further, you can download an expression of interest form here: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/14303/edinburgh-licensing-forum-recruitment. Return it by 10 July 2025 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

6 Jun: Issues: The Herald of Glasgow has taken a hard and in-depth look at ‘The Future of Edinburgh’ this week. It is well worth reading. The reports speak, amongst many other things, of a ‘sea of debt’; ‘radical change …. needed to achieve financial stability’; of dislocation by visitors; the housing shortage; the future of the city centre and the potential prize of West Edinburgh. It’s a sharp reminder that the Council’s work on budget build for 2026 / 27 will begin in a few months. Budget and funding sit at the heart of everything. It can’t be anything but a dark picture for ongoing spend and project spend, irrespective of the fabled Visitor Levy.

6 Jun: Reference: Heat Network Strategy: We profiled below the work being done by the Edinburgh Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) Team. At the 27 May Policy and Sustainability Committee (PSC), it was concluded on Heat Networks in Edinburgh (Item 7.7) that further work should be done on models for project delivery. There will be a deeper assessment of options for community or co-operative ownership structures and options for heat networks integrated with neighbouring Lothian regions. This will take place over H2 2025. We’ll look to follow what emerges. These are big-ticket plans in outline, raising all the sorts of question that big-ticket plans do.

20 May: Reference: Heat Network Strategy: The Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum (CHEF) is preparing a 'community response' to CEC's latest take on Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES). This update will go to the Policy and Sustainability Commitee on 27 May. The paper to the Committee is a comprehensive review of the programme for heat network development in the city, the delivery vehicle, the Council's financial involvement and the service and protection undertakings for heat network customers. This is the link to the Council submission: Heat Network Paper . 

There is a lot of reading here. The recommendations include the proposal for a joint venture model of delivery, with the Council carrying a minority interest. There is brief mention of a possible 'community involvement' in that joint venture. Appendix 1 to the paper carries a legal appraisal of delivery options. Appendix 2 considers a Customer Charter committing to standards of heat delivery to consumers. Appendix 3 maps the potential infrastructure for heat networks. (You'll want to look at this.)

CHEF is meeting at 1pm on 22 May at Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, HIgh School Yards, 12 Infirmary Street, EH1 1LZ. Register here to go along and find out more: https://chef22may.eventbrite.co.uk/ .

20 May: Reference: CEC Community Engagement Toolkit: In the wake of the CEC Governance-led community council Induction Events, the Community Empowerment and Engagement Team have just published this comprehensive guidance paper on 'building ... confidence and skills in carrying out community engagement'. Find it here: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/13203/community-councils . This is a well-presented and wide-ranging document. It will cover your grandest ambitions. However, 'big engagement' means big IT commitment and hefty expense, amongst other things. Many (if not most) community councils are under-resourced on these counts. It's an on-going challenge.

In the link above, pay particular attenton to the 'Managing your information guide' (which should be due an update). If you attended the Induction Events, you'll have been struck by the very detailed prescriptons on data protection. This is the background documentation. I hadn't come across it until now. Please consider it carefully.

15 May: Battery Energy Storage Systems: Location Creep: Very interesting letter (9 May) from the Chair of Cockenzie and Port Seton CC on the developer rush to site Battery Farms against a planning legislative backdrop that (it is argued) is weak in policy and regulation. The Chair has opened a Scottish Parliament petition (https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2157) to pursue improvement in national guidance on location and consents. Is this an area of interest for you? Do you know people with the expertise to help  communities here? Go to this EACC site link to read the full text of the letter: Environment & Energy. 

15 May: Consultation: Edinburgh Partnership (EP) Review of Third Sector Support: The Edinburgh Partnership is conducting a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations in Edinburgh. This includes how it delivers grant funding and commissioning, how it asks third sector organisations to monitor and report on what they do, and what in-kind support EP provides. A well-functioning third sector is essential for Edinburgh. 

This review is happening now to allow the findings to influence decision making processes for Edinburgh Partnership organisations for the next financial year. Results will be shared with participants and the wider third sector, and with the Council’s Policy and Sustainability Committee in August. If you have any questions about the review, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Find the consultation document here: Third Sector Support Review - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space. Closing date 22 Jul 25. 

15 May: Edinburgh Licensing Forum (ELF): Wide Remit; Short of Members: The licensing focus here is on liquor. The remit is to keep the licensing system in the CEC area under regular review, in the context of local data and statistics, periodic consultations and possible legislative change. If you could help here, take a look at the Expression of Interest Form. There is further information on the following two links.

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/volunteer/become-member-edinburgh-licensing-forum

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/14303/edinburgh-licensing-forum-recruitment

15 May: The Edinburgh Visitor Levy Forum (VLF): This body is mandated by the Scot Gov legislation enabling the Visitor Levy and it has a Chair, Julie Ashworth, as of 8 May. We can expect it to get down to work in the coming weeks. (https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/14203/edinburgh-appoints-visitor-levy-forum-chair) At the heart of the programme will be the advisory recommendations on delivering the proceeds of the VLF to the benefit of "everyone living, working in and visiting Edinburgh, making sure big decisions are taken in a way that supports the whole city", said Council Leader Jane Meagher. The final decisions themselves will be taken by councillors. Your community council will want to have its say in the how the benefits are shared across the city. Keep in touch with what happens as the VLF begins its work. 

15 May: Post Election, Post Mortem: The community council election process was bureaucratic and cumbersome. A good part of that is down to Scot Gov strictures on process. Irrespective of the roots, a CEC Governance consultation on how people felt about the procedures is in the pipeline. One prompt has certainly been the call by Cllr. Margaret Graham (now the new Convener of the Culture & Communities Committee) for 'officers to understand how community councillors felt' about the whole business. Make sure your community council puts its point of view across when the consultation opens. Remember that an under-resourced Governance team did well to get the election programme across the line and to follow up with two very detailed preliminary Induction Programme meetings (comprehensive papers expected to follow). However, the election process was bureaucratic and cumbersome. 

6 May: CEC Community Council Election Process: On 5 May, CEC Governance sought to calm the disquiet in some quarters arising from the request ('mandatory requirement') to sign the Declaration of Acceptance as a condition of taking up a community councillor post. The requirement has been dropped (until the next Scheme Review). More pertinently, Governance will be consulting soon on the wider election process, 'to collate any lessons learned for the future'. Notwithstanding the deep vein of bureaucracy which runs through the whole structure of community councils in Scotland, there will be gentler ways of running the appointment programme next time around. 

1 May: Communal Bin Hubs: Changes to Bin Hub criteria, agreed by Councillors in November 2024, lead now to a review of Bin Hubs, with a June start and outcomes to be reported back to the Transport & Environment Committee. The review is based on an updated framework for Bin Hub locations, without compromise to resident access to waste and recycling services.

There is a list of 184 existing Bin Hubs for priority review. (Bin Hubs not yet installed, or where changes are pending, fall outwith this review, principally because their locations clash with the Traffic Regulation Order process surrounding them.) This priority review list can be added to now.

From the CEC Project Manager, Michael Richardson: “If there are bin hubs in your area that you want added to the list for priority review, please let us know by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before Monday 2^nd June. We only require the location and/or bin hub ref to add the hub to the list. We do not require details on why the hub should be reviewed and we do not need the request to be co-signed or endorsed by anyone. We also do not need a suggestion of an alternative location (although this is welcome).”

See also: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/bins-recycling/communal-bin-review/5

1 May: Edinburgh Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES): The 27 May Policy & Sustainability Committee will decide on a report on Heat Network Delivery Models. Expect CEC consultation on prospective Heat Network Zones. The proposals should be available to view soon on the interactive Edinburgh LHEES Map. Feasibility studies on heat network routing are another part of the jigsaw. There, the current focus is on 'North East Edinburgh' and 'Old Town and Southside'. Interesting excerpt from a University of Edinburgh Business School student project on loan finance options for homeowner energy efficiency upgrades and clean heating systems: Loans from 'major banking institutions ... typically offer interest rates which make any financial savings from energy efficiency measures difficult to achieve'. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. 

1 May: Online Safety Act (OSA): The implications of the OSA for community council comms people have prompted some correspondence with EACC. I asked on two occasions for 'guidance' from Governance and from Scottish Community Councils at the Improvement Service. I didn't get much in return. The pivotal issue is community council use of social media on 'user-to-user' platform structures which could allow the introduction of malicious or illegal content to the compromise of the community council as messaging promoter or originator. The OSA is clearly aimed at big social media players, not community councils. Nevertheless, I'd offer the opinion that the outside possibilty of harmful content just creeping in to a community council's social media pages does reinforce the need to check against that threat on a regular and (internally) reportable basis.  

1 May: Governance Induction Events: The rescheduled events are now in the diary for Monday 12 May (at City Chambers, 17.00 to 21.00) and Tuesday 13 May (Teams, 17.00). Let us know how you feel about them on content and give us a few words on your opinion of the whole election process. Reply to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

18 Apr: Contact - Important: The EACC distribution (contact) list has been heavily pared back with the withdrawal of many names from community council involvement. Contact me now (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with a note of your office bearer names and the names of those who will take on leads in plannng, licensing, transport and so on. It won't take you long to do this. I may slowly get the office bearer names from Governance. I won't get any other lead names, though. If we don't know your people, we can't speak to them. That's not the general idea.

18 Apr: Transition - the aftermath: The election process has closed. The Induction events planned for 26 and 28 April will be rescheduled on account of the death of Cllr. Val Walker (see right). The second call for the formation of community councils has added one to the current list of 39. The new term has had a mixed start in some quarters. Contact from current office bearers to new names was inhibited by Governance procedures. New community councillors came to inaugural meetings bare of practical 'quick reads' on their council's make-up and procedures. They weren't patched-in on roles that need to be filled or reinforced. Some of these first meetings were rushed by Returning Officers eager just to get all the right paperwork completed, office bearer boxes ticked and the inaugural agenda put back in the folder. If your group got off to a firm start, well done. If it didn't and there are a lot of loose ends, all I can say is 'be patient'. 

Actually, I can add to that. Write to me (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to set out your thoughts on the election process and procedures. What went well? What went badly? (Keep it to 'one page'.) A small group from the Members' Board will be meeting soon with the Head of Governance, Gavin King, and with the Council CEO, Paul Lawrence. We'll be able to pass on the gist of your stories. 

8 Apr: TRANSITION : The baton pases from old community councils to new. There is a lot to stitch together; from the  awareness of the formal undertakings of a community councillor, through renewed lines of contact with your community, to a rebuild of connections with other community councils in the city by way of EACC. The first big event on the agenda is the 26 April community council 'Induction' event held by CEC Governance at City Chambers. Make sure your community council is represented. You have to have a constructive working relationship with CEC; this is the occasion to start. (There will be an online repeat of the Induction meeting on 28 April. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details of the meetings.)

After that, it's time to build out your community council's own competencies and plans. Remember, where you still have space for Elected Members (against your quota), you can move to bring in Co-opted Members. Local Interest Groups can continue to apply to join you and to bring in Nominated Representative Members. 

One of the big gaps that has to be filled relates to training and support for community councils (new people, new roles, new interests). EACC has tabled ( 2 April) a comprehensive wishlist in that regard with CEC's Community Empowerment & Engagement Team. We don't expect it to be delivered all at once, but we do really hope for firm pointers to be profiled by the time of the Induction Meetings, with detail added at the 31 May EACC morning event, also at City Chambers. (We are working on the agenda at the moment.)

Beyond that, take a look around the site here; especially the comprehensive EACC Papers files. Use the Home Page Important Links above to reach into what goes on at CEC and to extend your media reach. Remember, EACC doesn't speak for community councils; it speaks of them. When you have something to say, you can broadcast better by letting EACC help get your story out to the rest of this community.

19 Mar: Online Safety Act and CC Social Media Engagement: Community council hosting of a social media page, where there is reciprocal, interactive exchange of posts and comment, looks as though it may now (as of 16 March) incur obligations (guided by Ofcom) in respect of on-going monitoring, risk assessment and record-keeping. You can make a preliminary assessment here: Check if the Online Safety Act applies to you - Ofcom . I have asked for guidance from CEC Governance and from Scottish Community Councils at the Improvement Service. You may wish to take an interim stance on this matter. 

19 Mar: Leith Central CC: Student Accommodation: Leith Central CC is working on a paper detailing concerns about the impact of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Developments in North-Central Edinburgh. (The latest copy of the paper is attached here.) This issue has wide relevance and it is the subject of the current CEC Planning Consultation on Student Accommodation Non-Statutory Planning Guidance which is open until 23 May 2025. (See 2025 – Planning Edinburgh ) 

You are invited by Charlotte Encombe (Chair, Leith Central CC) to consider the working paper and to add your thoughts and contributions by 18 May. Contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  You'll find a copy of the paper in EACC Papers >>> Planning on the menu bar above.

18 Mar: Reference: Transition to new Community Councils: A statement from the EACC Members Board to community councillors set to take up their place on 28 March: the setting you will enter; the balance you will need; the importance of keeping in place the 'civic triangle. Go to 'Resources' in the menu table above.

11 Mar: Event: Induction for Community Councillors: 26 April: The first stage of the election process has completed (although there is at least one report of misplaced elected member nomination papers). The EACC Members Board attention fixed on the 'live induction event' proposed by Governance for 26 April, for two representatives per community council, with screen events to follow for others on 28 and 29 April.

We've written to Governance to say a single live networking event is wholly inadequate as a 'start of term booster' for community councillors, existing and new. With community councils in need of a strong networking relaunch, we've asked for two additional live induction meetings to be accommodated. The request has been copied to Cllr. Val Walker, Convener of the Culture & Communities Committee, to Gavin King, CEC Head of Democracy, Governance and Resilience and to Andrew Field, CEC Head of Community Empowerment and Engagement. You'll find a copy of the email dated 7 March in the site menu item 'Resources' above. You may wish to follow it up through your own channels. 

11 Mar: Reference: EACC Mailing List: With community councils now in transition, I want to make sure that you come off this EACC mailing list if you so wish but that you are not dropped off in error. I will look to pick up the new office bearer listings in due course. At this stage, however, if you want me to remove your name from further distribution of EACC material, contact me to let me know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

11 Mar: Consultation: Firework Control Zones: CEC is inviting community groups to nominate neighbourhoods they would wish to be deemed as firework control zones in November 2025. See http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/firework-control-zones.

11 Mar: Consultation: Edinburgh Local Housing Strategy: CEC's Senior Housing Development Officer, Robyn Barrie, advises the opening of an 8-week consultation on Edinburgh's Draft Local Housing Strategy, on its way to further review and completion in May 2025. The strategy covers the future delivery of all tenures and types of housing and is clearly fundamental in the city's proposed expansion. You can find out more at: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/lhs-phase-3

11 Mar: Event: Planning Democracy Workshop: 28 April: Planning Democracy has just launched what looks to be a pivotal programme to 'Help ... transform Scotland's Planning System.' This 'will shape our work for the next 5 years', with the organisation at a 'critical point in our journey'. An initial online workshop takes place on Monday 28 April at 6.30pm. See: https://www.planningdemocracy.org.uk/2025/transform-planning/.

11 Mar: Event: Mackay Hannah Webinars: The Scottish Community Councils team (Brian Davey, Emma Swift) is profiling half-day conferences promoted by Mackay Hannah (conference and webinar organisers) on 'Public Services Crisis (13 Mar); Scottish Transport Annual Conference (18 Mar); Scottish Climate - what's the plan? (29 Apr). To find out more, contact Gail Hannah at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A discount code (CC100) is made available.

5 Mar: Community Grants Fund (CGF) 2025/26: Deadline 20 April 2025: Right in the middle of community council transition, CEC's Community Empowerment and Engagement team opens the CGF to new funding applications for 'grants of up to £5000 for projects that benefit local communities'. The application must come from a constituted group for a community-based activity. Here is a link to the grant application form, with a deadline of 30 April  https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-grants-fund . Online information sessons are planned for 19 March (10.00 to 11.00 and 18.00 to 19.00) and 20 March (15.00 to 16.00 and 17.00 to 18.00). Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book a place or to table any questions.

5 Mar: Community Councils Election Update at close 4 March: 37 CCs have a quorate number of Elected Member nominations and 2 (Trinity CC and Cramond, Barnton Cammo CC) go to a poll with a surplus of nominatons. A second call (31 Mar to 21 Apr) for sufficient nominations to become quorate goes out in 8 areas: Craigmillar; Davidsons Mains & Silverknowes; Firrhill; Hutchison / Chesser; Muirhouse / Salvesen; Old Town; Portobello; West Pilton / West Granton. From Governance: "A formal declaration of results is being prepared and will be published on the Council's website in due course (we will let you know when this is available)."

5 Mar: Event: Edinburgh Science Festival: Wednesday 9 April: A focus on Clean Energy Communities and the potential of Heat Networks, led by Vital Energi and the Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum. Chaired by environmental scientist Laura Young at the Natonal Museum of Scotland. Go to https://www.edinburghscience.co.uk/ for detail and booking.

5 Mar: Event: Edinburgh World Heritage: Tuesday 25 March: A free information session on Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings in Edinburgh and on the Edinburgh World Heritage Climate Emergency Grant programme. See this link for detail and booking: https://ewh.org.uk/energy-retrofit-of-traditional-buildings-in-edinburgh/

21 Feb: Event: EACC Meeting with CEC Planning 20 Feb: Focus on the current Planning Guidance Consultaton; closing date on 3 April. Featured David Givan, Chief Planning Officer, and colleagues Lynne McMenemy (City Plan 2030); Julie Dewar (Edinburgh Design Guidance); James Allanson (Guidance for Householders); Blair Burnett (Listed Building and Conservation Area Guidance*) and Lindsey Robertson (Student Accommodation Guidance - consultation pending). See this CEC Consulation Hub link for consultation documents: Find activities - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space. *Refer also to the tandem Edinburgh University School of Architecture Project 'Giving Voice to Historic Property Owners' on this link: https://edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8DgohglwsGvTwkC . Go to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2025 for the full slide presentation pack.

18 Feb: Reference: Net Zero to Marchmont: Douglas Rogers of Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council continues to build his project to map the delivery of Net Zero to Marchmont tenements and flats. This is a very ambitious endeavour; it's pathbreaking. Douglas is working largely on his own, scoping the engineering challenges, looking at the legislative backdrop in the Scottish Parliament; beginning to set out the sheer practicalities. Understandably, he'd really like some help here. You could swap notes from your own experience; help with some research; do some legwork. You might know someone else who is interested. Even if you just want to find out a little more, email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. He is planning a first public meeting in the next couple of months. He really merits support. There are more questions than answers at this stage, but that's the nature of ambitious projects. See his past work in EACC Papers >>> Planning >>> 2023 Nov Energy Conservation Housing Rogers MSCC Deputation and 2023 Aug Insulating Homes in Conservation Zone Rogers MSCC.

14 Feb: Reference: Scottish Civic Trust: The Scottish Civic Trust is promoting its national My Place Awards which celebrate excellence in community-led placemaking in Scotland. There are two award categories: 1] Community-led projects, recognising transformational work on local buildings, street space or green space; 2] Community Champions, recognising individual leaders of local change. The closing date for entries is 30 April 2025. For more information, contact Erin Burke, Scottish Civic Trust communications Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it."

13 Feb: Reference: The Edinburgh Reporter: Multimedia Content: I've been in recent correspondence with the Editor at the Edinburgh Reporter (ER) newspaper, Phyllis Stephen. She has issued an open invitation to community councils to contact her with anything and everything you feel is of relevance right now to your neighbourhood, community and city lfe. Contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Online every day; print each month; multimedia channels* on video, audio, Facebook, Instagram and X - "Literally, just ask" how she can use your community council story; as did Alan Gordon, Secretary at Longstone CC. He has recently recorded several interviews with Ms Stephen (carried on ER Spotify links) talking about local potholes, 'Junior Parkrun in the SW', the community council elections and the successful push for the 'Longstone Link' new bridge connecton to Hutchison / Chesser. This is a '"an engaging experience, .. a good format which we could ... share and use to promote our own community council activities and encourage people to come forward" in participation. Listen to an extract: https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/02/community-council-elections-longstone-cc-are-building-bridges/ . *Then think about how much extra reach and relevance this gives you.

11 Feb: Reference: ECCAN Community Heat Group: Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum (CHEF), a community-led initiative working on the transition to zero carbon heating in the city (which presented to EACC in June 2024), has announcd its partner role in the setup of the ECCAN Community Heat Group (CHG), working alongside Eala and EdinBRIC. The CHG objective is to help communities to create Community Heat Plans. See this Google Docs pack for background and for details of the CHG programme. 

11 Feb: Event: Training Webinars on Local Place Plans: The Scottish Community Councils Project (hosted at the Improvement Service) is making available a free six-part programme on how to scope, manage, prepare and project a Local Place Plan. This kind of exercise will be a feature of the emerging City Plan 2040 programme. The dates of the 1-hour sessions are February 12, 19, 26 and March 5, 12, 19. to find out more got to: https://www.communitycouncils.scot/events .

11 Feb: Reference: CEC Promotion of Elections: On 6 Feb, CEC Governance gave a summary of its community council election promotional work. This includes: lamppost wraps in high footfall locations; poster and flyer distribution to community councils, libraries and community centres; posts to CEC intranet and external partner noticeboards; posts to Linkedin and nextdoor.co.uk; a press release to local news agencies. A campaign digital toolkit has been distributed to community councils for download . Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a repeat. For full background on the elections, for nomination forms and for other support, go to: Community Councils – The City of Edinburgh Council .

31 Jan: Event: EACC 30 Jan Meeting with the Improvement Service Scottish Community Councils Project Team: Report on file. Go to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2025.

30 Jan: Planning Committee: Student Accommodation: The papers for the 29 January CEC Planning Committee meeting carry proposals for a Student Accommodation Consultation to follow approval of the drafting of non-statutory planning  guidance for Student Accommodation. The 12-week consultation and public engagement would commence in February. Here is the link to the Planning Committee Papers.

30 Jan: Leith Central CC: Student Accommodation: Charlotte Encombe, Chair at Leith Central CC, has issued a draft paper arguing against further expansion of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Leith. She asks it be passed on to EACC members. The paper has otherwise been issued to local Councillors, MSP and neighbouring community councils. It is intended to form the platform against further PBSA expansion in the locality. This is a hot topic; it cuts right into many communities. Your community council is invited to respond to offer your comments and suggestions on how to take forward the argument against forceful PBSA expansion. You will find the paper in EACC Papers >>> Planning on the menu bar above. Please give it your attention and reply to Charlotte Encombe at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

30 Jan: City Plan 2030: Design Guidance: With City Plan 2030 now adopted (Nov 2024), attention turns to updating and revising the guidelines that should shape the build of the city's 'place and space', the physical dimension of life in every community. There are three elements: Placemaking in new developments / Listed buildings and conservation areas / Guidance for householders. Public consultaion is now underway, with a closing date of 3 April:  https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/planning-design-guidance/.  The CEC Planning Team will present to EACC on Design Guidance at the 20 February meeting.

30 Jan: Historic Property Owners: Edinburgh University: Dr Victoria Lee, of Edinburgh University School of Architecture, has issued an invitation directly to community council members to participate in a Stakeholder Advisory Panel sitting within her ‘Giving Voice to Historic Property Owners’ project. The project will advise on revisions to CEC Planning’s Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas planning guidance, specifically to make ‘the guidance more practical and accessible for historic homeowners’. The Panel will meet three times (online, in late February, Q2 and Q3). Find out more detail on the project here: Expression of Interest. Ask questions or apply to take part at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

21 Jan: Reference: Cockburn Association October 2024 Responsible Tourism Event: Find the report on this link: https://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/openedinburgh/conference-report-responsible-tourism/

21 Jan: Reference: CC Elections and Nominations: Notice of election should be published, along with nomination papers for Elected Members, on 5 February. Nominations close on 27 February. Elections for membeship, where required, will take place on 27 March. New community councils form on 28 March. See more detail on the Governance webpages at  http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/communitycouncils (Section 3). Note the nomination requirements from the Scheme for Community Councils, Section 6.11: Individuals seeking election to a community council should be nominated by a proposer and seconder, both of whom must be on the electoral register for the community council area. Each elector may propose one nominee and second one nominee. Nominations require to be submitted with the candidate's consent. Self-nomination is not permitted.

Nominated Representative Members from local interest groups (resident, amenity charity, voluntary) are an important part of a well-functioning community council. They are appointed by the Council (via the Returning Officer) upon registration of the local interest group with the Council. See Schedule 2 to the Scheme for Community Councils. Registration is required ahead of this election by 27 February. Selection to the community council may be by ballot under the aegis of the Returning Officer. Make sure local interest groups in your area know the score.

21 Jan: Event: Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy: Two drop-in sessions coming up: Wednesday 29 January, 3pm to 7pm at Waverley Station concourse; Monday 3 February, 1pm to 5pm at the City Arts Centre, 2 Market Streer, EH1 1DE. 

21 Jan: Consultation: CEC Planning Dept: City Plan 2030: Revisions to Guidance Documents: Three new versions of Planning Guidance are in course of preparation, covering Edinburgh Design Guidance; Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Guidance; and Guidance for Householders. CEC Planning and Building Standards are hosting Stakeholder Workshops on 29 January (10.00 - 12.00) and 13 March (14.00 to 16.00). There is an online session planned for late February / March. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 23 January to attend the workshops and by 27 January to book an online place. Alternatively, book to attend a CEC Planning event at Edinburgh Architectural Association, 15 Rutland Square, on 28 January at 17.30 (see https://eaa.org.uk/events).

21 Jan: Invitation: The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Scotland (AMCS) Peace Symposium: 9 Feb: Dr Abdul Hayee, Regional President of the AMCS invites community council members to attend the 2025 Peace Symposium, to be held at Edinburgh Academy Senior School, 42 Henderson Row, EH3 5BL (16.00 to 18.30). The theme is 'The Critical Need for Peace'. Register online at https://amcscotland.eventcube.io/, or confirm attendance at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Find out more at http://www.loveforallhatredfornone.org/. 

15 Jan 2025: CEC Promotion of Community Council Elections, Phase 2: CEC Governance will shortly issue a further Campaign toolkit. A4 promotional posters and A5 flyers are in course of distribution to community councils, where requested. Additional copies can be ordered by contacting Governance at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The Governance programme of drop-in 'awareness events' continues; here is the current programme: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-councils/5 . Contact Governance to add your own event to the diary. Nomination Forms for election candidates should be available by the time nominations open on 5 February (for a 27 February close). Finally, check your community council's array of contact details held in the CEC directory https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory/10208/a-to-z . Contact Governance with any updates.