The City of Edinburgh Council meets today
The full council meets today in the City Chambers.
All papers for the meeting are here with instructions on how to watch online either during the meeting or as a recording after the meeting has finished.
It will take a while to listen to all the deputations which are always first on the agenda. There is a wide range and many of them. Read more here.
The council may be expected to approve the uplift in councillors’ salaries at Item 7.1 on the agenda. Only the Council Leader and the Lord Provost will actually receive the statutory increases set by The Scottish Parliament following a decision by the council at their February budget meeting. This agreed that the pay of the other senior councillors will be frozen.
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Open in new tab Cllr Margaret Graham (Labour) brings to the attention of the council that there are now eight community councils in the city which do not have sufficient members even after the recent elections.
There will be a second round of nominations ending on 21 April, but Cllr Graham highlights the election procedure and wants the council to gather “lessons learned” for the future. She would also like the policy of participatory budgeting to be integrated into the work that community councils do. This is best exemplified by Leith Chooses. Read more here.
As well as this, there are some councillor motions which do not deal with the essential or statutory services which the council provides. Cllr Ben Parker, Edinburgh Greens has lodged a motion for discussion that the company Leonardo was granted permission to access Braid Hills to test its communication equipment. Given the company’s links to arms Cllr Parker says that it is not appropriate to allow such a company access to council owned land in this manner.
Cllr Alex Staniforth, Edinburgh Greens, has asked that the Council Leader write to Edinburgh Women’s Aid to demand that they allow trans women to access their services. The 50 year-old charity has said that they do not allow trans women – even those who have a gender recognition certificate into their refuge spaces. And separately he has asked council to agree that Edinburgh does not welcome Donald Trump. President Trump’s re-election is in Cllr Staniforth’s view “an emerging fascist state with his special advisor Elon Musk performing Nazi salutes at his inauguration”.
Cllr Marie-Clair Munro has applauded Lothian Buses being named Large Business of the Year at the recent Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Awards, asking that council “expresses its appreciation for Lothian Buses drivers, who not only provide a vital public service but also, on occasion, face challenging conditions, including instances of abuse while carrying out their duties.
“Their commitment ensures that residents can travel safely and reliably across the city, making public transport an essential part of Edinburgh’s daily life.”
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce under fire
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has come under fire for failing to take action over a debt-ridden business which was nominated for a top honour in its prestigious business awards.
The Capital’s leading business organisation dished out a Rising Star Award to Alexander Galpin in 2024, and at its glitzy 2025 ceremony held at the EICC on 27 February, his Luxford Burger chain was shortlisted as a potential winner in the High Growth Business of the Year category.
Mr Galpin, who operates two Luxford Burgers restaurants in Edinburgh, had earlier boasted: “Incredibly proud that we have been nominated for the High Growth Business of the Year by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce for the second year running! Let’s hope we smash it this year.”
But days before the awards ceremony, The Edinburgh Reporter revealed to the Chamber that Mr Galpin had crashed the parent company of Luxford Burgers with debts of almost £120,000 – including £78,000 due to HMRC for unpaid VAT and corporation tax.
Secure Kitchens Ltd was placed into liquidation on 9 January with debts of just under £135,000 due to 17 creditors including a number of small local suppliers. According to a report by the official liquidator, Begbies Traynor, the company had assets of £48,768 so the estimated deficit due to creditors was £118,869.
Buy Social Fair
| Join The Melting Pot (on Calton Road at the back door of Waverley Station) on Saturday 29 March for Edinburgh’s Buy Social Fair The What Three Words location is ///bulb.wells.zone Discover ethical gifts, experiences and food from local sellers such as Summerhall Distillery, The Grassmarket Project, El Dorado Taqueria and Yho! Yho! There will be a cosy tea and coffee area, and three inspiring talks throughout the day. Tickets are £5 donation but bookable here. And the ticket has many fringe benefits – including a free day of co-working at The Melting Pot. |
Dreghorn residents offered some hope
At least some of the residents at Dreghorn have been offered some hope that the threat of eviction will be lifted. They are tenants of the Ministry of Defence, who is looking to sell their homes. But the council has already stepped up to buy houses there previously and it looks as though they will be able to do so once again.
Leith Theatre is recruiting
Leith Theatre Trust has issued a call for applications to become their Operations Coordinator with experience to run the heritage venue.
Closing date is noon on 28 March 2025. Details here.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
