Council budget meeting – Portobello consultation – Rape Crisis Centre facing cuts – Better transport plans – Book club

The full council meet today to discuss the administration suggestions as to how the council will spend its money (All £1bn of it) over the next year. You can watch the proceedings live on the council website here. All of the council papers are here. 

Read our eve of budget article here.

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12,000 responses have been made to the Council consultation on the proposed Private Bill to allow the council to use POrtobello Park as a site for a new school.

Councillor Paul Godzik, Education Convener said:- “We have had a tremendous response to the consultation. I want to thank everyone who took the time to contribute their views. This is an extremely important project and obviously a subject that many people feel passionate about. The responses will now be reviewed in detail and a report will be taken to Council on 14 March to advise the outcome of the consultation process and the recommended next steps regarding the proposed Private Bill.”

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The Journal reports that the rape crisis centre in Leopold Place will face cuts when its Lottery funding runs out in May. Although it will continue to exist, it is in the position that it will have to seek other funds elsewhere.

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The Council is currently consulting on its new transport plans for the next five years, but we would suggest you read Edinburgh journalist, Rob Edwards’ blog about the action which he thinks is needed to get people out of their cars. Although we commend  his article to you (and his blog in general), it is the first comment in this case that we find very interesting. Glasgow City Council appear to have found a way to use the Better Way to Work scheme to tempt people onto bikes and The City Car Club combined. This would in our view  be a great innovation here in the capital.

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Are you in a book club? It is a good way to force yourself to finish something you might otherwise throw back on the bookshelf! Looking Glass Books have started a book club and they next meet on 12 February 2013. They meet on the second Tuesday of the month at Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson Loan, Quartermile, Edinburgh. This month they are reading Albert Camus…..

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