A bollard appears
The newest bollard in town has been put up at the top of Greenside Lane which has been the site of a few road incidents over recent weeks.
The problem was that although the new road layout means that anyone in a vehicle entering from Greenside Place has to cross a cycle lane and a pavement, GPS advised that it was still possible to access Greenside Lane. But it is not. And now the council has put up a bollard to put an end to any doubt.
Council budget
Today the council sets its budget for the next year – or it will get down to business to do so after hearing from eleven deputations only some of which are written.
Colinton Community Council have written to the council asking that the budget for fixing roads in the city – and particularly in Colinton – is increased. The community council advise of two incidents caused by potholes, one of which involved a cyclist on Bridge Road, and the other a car driver on Gillespie Road.
Trinity Primary School Parent Council has asked the council to prioritise funding of schools. They refer to their earlier deputation last month when they responded to the possibility of £8.2 million of cuts to the education budget. While that cut has been deferred the parent council remain concerned about any future funding cuts on behalf of their 580 children enrolled at the school.
James Gillespie’s High School Parent Council want the council to know how concerned they were about the proposed £8.2 million cuts and they question the basis on which the proposed reduction in spending was made given the swift u-turn. James Gillespie’s Primary School have also written to councillors saying how pleased they were that the spending cuts did not go ahead, but they have concerns about the lack of transparency about the financing of new proposals.
Stockbridge Primary School Parent Council has also said how relieved they are that the cuts are not going ahead but at the same time they question the budget proposals by the various political groups. They say that the proposals show a “lack of understanding and knowledge of the current state of city education”. The parents also question in particular the SNP group’s suggestion about Friday afternoon after school care apparently made without any concrete information about where the £5.11 million to pay for it would come from. They also point out that there are already other activities using the classrooms on Friday afternoons.
Other deputations will be made by unions such as Edinburgh Trade Union Council and Unite, Edinburgh Tenants Federation, Edinburgh EIS, and NLRP12 will also make a verbal submission to the meeting.
The amount which it has to spend is the same, no matter which political group has most influence over it when the decision is finally made. Last year it was the Liberal Democrat budget which was approved. This year there has possibly been a bit more talking and discussion among the various political groups.
All of the political groups present a budget and then speak to their proposals at the meeting. After due procedure the 63 councillors will vote and adopt the spending plans and rate of council tax rise which the successful financial outline proposes. This year the First Minister, Humza Yousaf, threw a spanner in the works by saying that there should be a council tax freeze. As long as The City of Edinburgh Council does not increase the rate of council tax (last year it rose by five per cent) then The Scottish Government will pay a sum of £16.1 million by way of compensation for lost income.
Anyone may access all of the papers and follow the meeting live from 9.45am or as a recording here.
New director of SHBT
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust have appointed a new director Dr Sam Gallacher.
Sam joins the Trust from his role as Keeper of The Burrell Collection in Glasgow, the category A-listed modernist museum building and home to the world-famous collection of fine and decorative arts amassed by shipping merchant Sir William Burrell which was named Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2023 following a major refurbishment project. Formerly Assistant Director of the Medici Archive Project in Florence, Italy, more recently he worked for the National Trust for Scotland in Glasgow, Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders managing a broad range of historic buildings, capital projects, natural and designed landscapes, and art collections.
Get ready for Critical Mass this Saturday
Join in with a cycle ride for everyone ending up at The Causey.
Our February issue
Our February issue is out now and we are already working on the March issue. The February edition has more on Stephen Rafferty’s exclusive story about Chief Constable Jo Farrell revealed in our centre spread and our new columnist Liam Rudden will entertain you with news of all the theatre you must see.
We are pleased with this month’s issue, and really pleased to be nominated for an award which will be announced in March. And if you wish to buy a copy and have it delivered to your home or business then please subscribe here.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
