Five things you need to know today
Council Meeting – City centre MSP backs Marriage Bill – Armed Forces Day – Jobs in Portobello – Supper in the Square tonight!
The council meets today for the last time until August as the councillors enjoy a recess for the summer. This does not mean that they do nothing however and there are many projects underway which will continue during July.
The council papers for the meeting are online and the meeting will be webcast, but we will be running a liveblog here to give you some extra insight into the proceedings.
There is a tram report before the council which will set out the way the council will integrate the buses and trams into one council-owned company.
Keith John Robson will be a new face on the Labour group benches following his success at the by-election in Liberton/Gilmerton last week.
One of the other matters which the council will be asked to vote on is the restructuring of one of the council’s companies, EDI. This is the property development company run by the council which is to be moved out of its own premises at Dolphin House and into Waverley Court along with most of the other council workers.
The 15 members of staff will now work for the council rather than an arms length company if the recommendations are passed.
***
Marco Biagi, SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central, has welcomed today’s launch of the Marriage Bill.
“Marriage is a recognition of love and commitment between two people. Whatever their gender, they deserve equality before the law.
“My support for equal marriage has always been clear. For me this phase will be about the how of equal marriage rather than the whether.
“The bill the government has put in front of parliament always had to be lengthy and detailed. It’s now down to us as MSPs to ensure the bill successfully does what it says on the tin.
“The bill needs to maintain the freedom of religion for faiths who disagree, while also granting religious freedom for the first time to those faiths – like the Quakers – who have long wanted to perform same-sex ceremonies and have been forbidden from doing so.”
Marco Biagi is Deputy Convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee (he comments in a personal capacity), openly gay and has spoken at Pride Scotia in each of the last three years as local MSP.
***
Our photo today shows the Scots Guards marching down the Royal Mile after being granted the Freedom of the City at the end of last month.
This Saturday is Armed Forces Day when the city will honour all Armed Forces personnel with a packed programme of events.
The flag was raised above the City Chambers on Monday having been escorted down the Royal Mile by the National Standards of the Royal British Legion Scotland and presented to the Capital’s Deputy Lord Provost by the Chairman of Veterans Scotland, Colonel Martin Gibson OBE DL.
Deputy Lord Provost, Councillor Deidre Brock, said: “This city has a long and proud tradition of supporting the Armed Forces and today we have raised the flag above the City Chambers to serve as poignant reminder of all those who have fought on our behalf.
“We owe a huge debt to both serving personnel and veterans for the risks that they take to keep us safe and I’m looking forward to Armed Forces Day this Saturday where we can show our gratitude.
“We’re hoping to welcome thousands of serving personnel and veterans to Princes Street Gardens for a fun, family-friendly event in celebration of these men and women’s bravery and dedication to duty.”
Joining the Deputy Lord Provost at today’s ceremony were representatives of the Armed Forces: Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie, Commanding Officer, City of Edinburgh University Officer Training Corps; Commander Mark Buchan-Steele Royal Navy, Chief of Staff for Royal Naval Headquarters (Scotland & Northern Ireland); Squadron Commander Jerry Riley, RAF Leuchars; and Colonel Philip Bates, Commander of Edinburgh Garrison.
Saturday’s events start at 1pm with a combined Veteran, cadet and military parade from the Grassmarket to the Ross Theatre in Princes Street Gardens.
A packed afternoon of family entertainment then kicks off with various performers taking to the stage. These include the Royal Scots Association Band and Lowland Band of the Royal Regiment, highland dancers, drill display teams and live music.
The programme concludes at 5pm with a 30-minute Ceremony of Beating Retreat by the Royal Scots Association Band, 3 Rifles Bugle Band, the pipe band of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada and Lowland Band of the Royal Regiment.
***
A job for some of you in Portobello during the summer:-
***
And something in St Andrew Square for you after work today….
