Council rent arrears – Edinburgh International Science Festival – Edinburgh Zoo nights – Virgin Money Fireworks Concert – Edinburgh Secret Society is back
It is clear that Edinburgh Council, in common with other local authorities across Scotland is bearing the brunt of some of the UK welfare reforms. The Health Social Care and Housing Committee will hear this morning that the rent arrears in the city have more than doubled in a year. The council believes that around 25% of this is due to under-occupation and a large part is also due to Housing benefit payments being delayed.
The council has a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) fund which it can draw on in certain situations and says it is trying to use this as much as possible.
It is noted in the reports for the meeting that the rent arrears figure has decreased in the last month by £406,077 and figures are showing a downward trend since November 2013, some of which has been improved by use of the DHP monies.
***
Wondering what the outdoor exhibition is at the foot of the Mound? Wonder no more – it is the exhibition of around 60 images from NASA to National Geographic and Harvard University introducing you to the world of bioluminescence.
***
There are several Edinburgh Zoo Nights arranged this year for adults only. If you are brave enough to go to the zoo after dark then you can get your face painted, enjoy a drink and eat some street food. One of the activities might mean that you want to have a drink afterwards but not before! The high ropes course will challenge the very daring. Tickets cost £20 or £17 for RZSS members.
***
The spectacular conclusion to the Festival The Virgin Money Festival Fireworks will have a particularly rousing programme of orchestral works this year including Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture performed live by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to a display launching more than 400,000 fireworks above Edinburgh’s stunning castle.
You can buy tickets now here.
***
The Edinburgh Secret Society are holding a seance on 26 April 2014. In common with other events that they organise tickets go on sale and are snapped up very quickly. So this is a heads up that the tickets go on sale at 10am on 9 April 2014. More information here.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
