Council elections 2022 – Anne Scott – Drum Brae/Gyle Ward

• Name: Anne Scott
• Political Party – Greens
• Ward: Drum Brae / Gyle 

What is your story/career history?

I’ve lived in Edinburgh all my life and moved to the Drum Brae / Gyle area over 20 years ago, where my husband and I are raising our family.  After graduating from Napier University in the mid 1990s, I moved into Financial Services and now work for a global investment firm.  My role requires good people skills, negotiation and diplomacy, as well as a can-do approach and attitude to getting things done.  I’m proactive and engaged about creating a workplace that is fair and progressive for everyone, and have recently been appointed co-chair of our Mental Wellbeing community, promoting a healthier culture and influencing policy change. I’m a champion of corporate responsibility and connect regularly with charities and community groups to promote change and support their work. I enjoy working with others to help more women into business, where gender and social diversity is still a massive challenge.  

Main issues you will campaign on?

I’m secretary of our local school Parent Council and it’s an active and engaged group.  The issues we see and try to address as part of that group are my real points of focus for the local campaign because I see first hand how these issues impact the children and families in the area….so it’s things like safer routes to school, availability of extra curricular sport and good quality food during the school day – we can’t expect to raise a healthy, educated population for the future if we keep stretching education resources or don’t prioritise them.  On road safety, I see the real need for systemic change – most schools in the city have issues with car congestion, poor parking behaviours or access problems for those that really need it, which suggests we are getting something wrong at source.  I’m advocating for planning and design that resolves these issues up front.  The climate crisis demands that we change our habits and are more thoughtful about how we use resources, and I genuinely believe we can make decisions that improve our daily lives. 

Party achievements during last council?

Having Green voices at all levels of decision making has never been more important.  I think that our Green councillors tackle issues at all levels – at ground level they’ve won agreement for things like recycling facilities in all council buildings, including schools, and to reduce single use plastics.  Strategically, the party have led Edinburgh Council in declaring a climate emergency and setting a target of reaching net zero climate changing emissions by 2030, and they are the only Councillors in Edinburgh pushing for divestment of the Lothian Pension Fund from fossil fuel companies. They’ve secured authorised absence from schools for youth climate strikers so that they can legitimately have their voices heard, empowering our young people. Local achievements are supported by national wins, such as funded bus travel for all young people – a clear example of direct action and a policy which supports the changes needed for cleaner, greener cities. 

The thing few people would know about you?

I think the fact that I’m standing as a candidate has come as a surprise to people who don’t really know me. I live my values but I don’t make a habit of forcing my views on other people – I think you have to take people as you find them and start the conversation from there.