Today at the council
The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) meets today as well as the Education Children and Families Committee and the Pensions Audit Sub-Committee.
Clearly the EIJB believe they will have a message as the Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, Katharina Kasper, will be available to speak to the media after discussion of the medium term financial plan and savings programme at the meeting.
We will bring you that interview as soon as we can later today. The EIJB has a huge deficit of £31 million in its £900 million budget and it will be interesting to see how they plan to fill that. According to the papers there may still be a gap of £2 million, even after actions entitled Grip and Control/Efficiency, Contracts/commissioning and Transformation which total cuts of £29 million in the budget.
The report on savings to remade next year states: “Wherever possible, officers continue to seek to deliver financial balance through
positive, strategic change and transformation, or through grip and control and
efficiency measures. However, given the size and scale of the financial gap faced by
the EIJB, some proposals will have clear impacts on services, performance, citizens and
staff. Whilst the potential impacts are recognised, this Savings Programme represents
officers’ estimation of the lowest risk approach to delivering financial balance. The
Savings Programme and the overall MTFS seek to protect core statutory
responsibilities, ensure that the most vulnerable are protected and return the EIJB to
financial stability and sustainability. Current levels of expenditure are unsustainable
and failure to address this risks jeopardising the future provision of key services and
supports.”
Two groups have applied to speak to the EIJB before the meeting – The Junction and Substance Use Network Edinburgh.
Tuesday, 25th March, 2025
- 10.00 am Education, Children and Families Committee – Dean of Guild Court Room – City Chambers
- 10.00 am Edinburgh Integration Joint Board – Main Council Chamber – City Chambers
- 2.00 pm Pensions Audit Sub-Committee – Lothian Pension Fund, – 4th Floor, 9 Haymarket Square, Edinburgh, EH3 8RY
Wednesday, 26th March, 2025
- 10.00 am Development Management Sub-Committee – Dean of Guild Court Room – City Chambers
- 2.00 pm Pensions Committee – Lothian Pension Fund, – 4th Floor, 9 Haymarket Square, Edinburgh, EH3 8RY
Thursday, 27th March, 2025
- 10.00 am Governance, Risk and Best Value Committee – Dean of Guild Court Room – City Chambers
- 10.00 am Edinburgh Partnership – The Edinburgh Remakery (13A Newkirkgate, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH6 6AD)
Friday, 28th March, 2025
3.30 pm – 5.30 pm Pentland Hills Regional Park Joint Committee – Microsoft Teams
Today at Westminster
The Secretary of State for Scotland the Rt Hon Ian Murray MP will be questioned by MPs on the Scottish Affairs Committee on Tuesday 25 March at 2.30pm.
The session which is a regular evidence session relates to the committee’s inquiry on the financing of the Scottish Government, and MPs will question The Secretary of State for Scotland on the fairness and adequacy of the mechanism which is used to calculate The Scottish Government’s budget, the Barnett formula.
Questions are likely to cover the operation of the Barnett formula, including levels of transparency and dispute resolution, as well as elements of the fiscal framework.
As part of the regular departmental scrutiny, the committee will also consider the Scotland Office’s Supplementary Estimate 2024-5, which show the final changes to The Scotland Office’s budget for this year.
The session is also an opportunity for the committee to scrutinise the work of the Scotland Office, including questions likely on the future of the Grangemouth oil refinery, intergovernmental relations, and departmental spending.
Witnesses will include:
- Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, Scotland Office
- Kirsty McNeill MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scotland Office
- Laurence Rockey, Director, Scotland Office
Visit parliamentlive.tv to watch committees and parliamentary debates online
First Minister to attend Tartan Week
First Minister John Swinney will travel to New York for Tartan Week next month, the annual celebration of Scottish heritage and culture in the United States.
He will meet a number of high profile current and potential investors to promote the economic opportunities for US businesses on offer in Scotland.
Speaking ahead of his visit, the First Minister said: “Scotland enjoys deep and enduring links with the US, which is both our largest inward investor, and second largest export market after the European Union.
“In 2023, exports of Scottish goods to the US were worth £4 billion. And here in Scotland, more than 700 US-owned enterprises provide employment to more than 115,000 people.
“Scotland is open for business and is one of the best places in the world to invest. We have a reputation as a world-class entrepreneurial nation, with the number of start-ups, spinouts, and scale up companies growing at pace. We also have the potential to become a strategic hub for future renewable energy investments, specifically by developing and scaling projects in offshore wind, green hydrogen, and energy storage.
“Tartan Week in April is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Scottish culture, and promote economic opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.
“I am looking forward to attending this week’s Tartan Week events, meeting our dynamic diaspora, and engaging with some of our biggest current and potential investors. I want to showcase Scotland’s progressive international outlook, and our focus on innovation, sustainability and growth.”
Scottish actor Alan Cumming will be this year’s Grand Marshal leading the parade down 6th Avenue.
Timorous Beasties take part in Edinburgh STYLE
Design studio, Timorous Beasties is taking part in the biggest event in town this week taking place from 28-30 March in St James Quarter.
Built around the theme of chaos, the weekend’s programme has a lineup of master classes, talks, catwalks and “in-store activations”. Industry leaders will discuss creativity, design, fashion and art, set against the backdrop of the unpredictable and ever-shifting world we live in. A weekend celebrating the beauty of bold choices, personal style, and unrestrained creativity, celebrating Scotland’s creativity and providing an insight into the latest global design trends.
As part of Edinburgh STYLE, Timorous Beasties has unveiled an installation within the Quarter – five of the pillars wrapped in the brand’s distinctive wallpapers, including Zig Zag Moth and Marble Gum designs. Each of these designs were carefully selected to encapsulate the vibrancy and unpredictability of the chaos theme, serving as both a statement piece and a tribute to Edinburgh’s thriving creative scene.
Timorous Beasties will also take to the stage on Sunday 30 March, with an ‘In Conversation With’ founders Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons to discuss their creative processes.
For more details on Edinburgh STYLE 2025 and the full lineup of event click here.
At Portobello Town Hall
Join the actress behind Still Game’s gossip, Isa, for an evening of stories, behind the scenes insights and laughs
Actor, comedian, and producer, Jane McCarry – known to millions as Isa from BBC Scotland’s legendary sitcom, Still Game (and to younger viewers as Granny Murray from CBeebies’ Me Too!) – is heading to Portobello Town Hall on Friday 4 April.
Join Jane for a night of laughter and stories as she shares anecdotes and behind the scenes insights from her time on TV, on radio, and on stage. The 25-date tour starts in Westhill (Aberdeenshire) on Friday 21 March and finishes on April 26 in Banchory.
Breakneck Comedy’s founder, Naz Hussain said, “this is a brand-new show for 2025, and audiences can expect a lot of laughs, as Jane shares stories from a TV, radio, and stage career that spans over twenty years. There are some great stories here and – as you might expect from the actress who so memorably brought Craiglang’s best-loved busy body to life in Still Game, there might even be a bit of behind the scenes gossip as well!”
Breakneck Comedy is renowned for bringing top comedians and performers to towns and venues that might not be on the usual tour schedule. “I love bringing big names to towns that some promoters might overlook” says Naz. “It’s really exciting to be able to put on shows all over Scotland and make it easier for people to be able to enjoy a great night of comedy and entertainment without them having to worry about catching a train home from the city.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
