Five things you need to know today

Council plans 8,000 homes

Book Week Scotland 2015 

Robert Louis Stevenson Day 2015

Jazz for the World

Portobello Comedy Night

The City of Edinburgh Council has set out plans to build 8,000 homes in an attempt to address the shortage of affordable housing and tackle the impact of soaring housing costs in the private sector.

A report to the Council’s Health, Social Care and Housing Committee, on November 10th, will outline proposals to increase the Council’s house-building programme from 3,000 to 8,000 over the next decade.

The report represents a major change in the Council’s bid to meet growing demand for new affordable homes. Almost 150 households bid for every Council and housing association home available to let in Edinburgh, and the city’s population is set to grow by up to 30% over the next 20 years.

The Council has already committed to funding the construction of almost 3,000 new homes through the award-winning 21st Century Homes and working in partnership with the National Housing Trust.

The proposals are part of the Council’s ongoing budget consultation details, of which can be accessed here.

Councillor Cammy Day, Housing Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Expanding the Council’s award-winning house-building programme would be a bold and strategic response to the acute shortage of homes in Edinburgh. High quality, low cost, energy efficient housing is simply out of reach for far too many people in the city. We are determined to address that.”

At the Edinburgh Central Library on 28 November 2015 at 2.30 Ronnie Brown will speak about his autobiography ‘That Guy Fae the Corries’. One half of the duo who made Flower of Scotland famous, he is bound to have a lot to say. (Yes the other half Roy Williamson wrote it!)

Read more about this and other Book Week Scotland events here.

On Friday 13 November a multitude of events will take place across Edinburgh to celebrate the birthday in 1850 of Scottish adventure novelist Robert Louis Stevenson. These events are organised by Edinburgh City of Literature and this year’s theme is ‘Stevenson on stage and screen.’

The National Library of Scotland will hold a themed talk on the day when Curator Andrew Martin will explore the Alan Brecks, Jekylls and Hydes and Long John Silvers of vintage cinema. Sadly this event is fully booked but  from 11 – 16 November in the foyer of the National Library, there will be a small but varied display of materials relating to film versions of Stevenson’s work.

But there are lots of other RLS themed events from 9 November onwards. Read all about them here on the City of Literature website.

Jazz for The World: tonight at 7.30pm St Andrew’s and St George’s West Choir sings an innovative programme of contemporary and classical jazz, accompanied by pianist Chris Harding. The programme includes Will Todd’s Mass in Blue and music by Ellington and Fanshawe.

This is only the second Scottish performance of Mass in Blue;

‘Will Todd’s Mass in Blue is an upbeat setting of the Latin mass for SATB choir, soprano solo and jazz trio or ensemble. It is a brilliant blend of driving jazz grooves and clear, strong choral writing against which the solo piano and solo soprano voice weave and blend in a delightful aural tapestry.‘

Minister (and jazz aficionado) Rev Ian Y Gilmour introduces the pieces, and the concert will be directed by Brigitte Harris. FREE entry, everyone welcome. St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church is at 13 George Street.

Portobello Comedy Night is back! Yes, hilarity returns to Edinburgh’s seaside paradise tonight after a laughter break when the sun took over to provide the smiles. This month’s tremendous line-up includes Lee Kyle (‘Lee Kyle was in a league of his own…both quirky and original and had the crowd roaring’ – gigglebeats.co.uk), Nick Cranston (‘one of the north east of England’s most promising comedians’) and Marc Jennings, Hilarity Bites New Act of the Year Finalist 2014, with special guest Pete Gwynne and regular idiot Steven Davidson as MC! The evening kicks off at the Dalriada, 77 Promenade, at 8.30pm. Tickets cost £10 (transaction fee applies) and are available from Brown Paper Tickets here.

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