Health Social Care and Housing Committee meeting
Friends of Lochend Park
Wester Hailes Fun Run 2015
Power of Food Festival
Eat Drink Discover Scotland
Although most of the reports produced for today’s meeting bear the name of Director Health and Social Care, Peter Gabbitas, there is some doubt over his future.
The Edinburgh Evening News reported last week that he had taken leave and may not be returning to his position in light of the overspend in this area of council finances.
The council’s spending in this area was about £9million more than budgeted for last year, but the effect over the full year was more than that at £16.5million. An action plan has been drawn up to reduce the pressure on council finances which will reduce the Health and Social care budget by £11.6million. This is one of the areas of council spending that is difficult to cut except by efficiencies, and of course the amalgamation of council and NHS which Mr Gabbitas was overseeing was one way intended to make major savings.
This matter has involved the Chief Executive, Sue Bruce, the Director of Corporate Governance and the Convener of Finance along with KPMG to try and unravel the budgetary problems. One of the recommendations is to extend the contract with KPMG by three months at a cost of £166,000.
You can watch this meeting online by clicking here.
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The Friends of Lochend Park own a police box and they will be opening it again on 20 June to allow the public to see inside. Here’s some of what you might see
Posted by Friends of Lochend Park on Sunday, 14 June 2015
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The 2015 Wester Hailes Fun Run on Sunday was indeed fun but it was very chilly. According to the Lord Provost who took part it was ‘excellent running weather’! He told us that he has now raised about £7,000 with all the runs he has taken part in which includes the London Marathon.
The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS Wester Hailes Fun Run from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.
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Something for you to think about for next weekend:
The Power of Food Festival will take place next weekend and will celebrate and showcase fabulous community garden initiatives across Edinburgh.
The purpose of the not-for-profit Festival is to encourage greater societal wellbeing, environmental sustainability and social justice through the promotion of inclusive community food growing.
The Festival is being hosted by community food growing partners around the city who will be opening their gates to the public.
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Scottish food and drink event, Eat Drink Discover Scotland, will make a welcome return to the Royal Highland Centre in 2015, Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink.
Taking place from 25th-27th September, Eat Drink Discover Scotland 2015 follows on from its successful launch in 2014, where it was billed as the ultimate celebration of food and drink in Scotland – a theme it plans to build upon this year.
The 2015 event will focus on emerging new Scottish talent, constructing a ‘hot list’ of the country’s most exciting and innovative new producers. It will also see the launch of brand new products to the market giving audiences a fresh line-up of exciting food and drink talent.
(Photo courtesy of Jane Barlow janebarlowphotography@gmail.com
m: 07870 152324)
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
