An Edinburgh councillor is calling for answers over who was responsible for the late cancellation of the city’s Hogmanay party and the cost to the Capital.

SNP Councillor Kate Campbell wants to know who made the decision to cancel the event given the “relatively calm” weather on the night.

The world-famous street party was cancelled on December 30 after the council said “extreme weather and forecast conditions meant preparations had to be halted.”

In a motion to go before the council’s governance, risk and best value committee next week Councillor Campbell questions the decision.

She says the annual costs approved by the local authority for the even were £812,456 and asks whether insurance is in place to allow them to reclaim it.

And she calls for a report into the decision and contingencies in place for a cancellation.

She asks the committee to note that the cancellation of events on December 30 and December 31 were cancelled “with the reason given that adverse weather conditions meant it was impossible to set up the crowd control measures and other infrastructure” and note “that on the evening of Hogmanay weather conditions were relatively calm and that, had infrastructure been in place, it seems likely that events could have gone ahead.”

She asks them to agree to call for a report setting out the decision-making process for the cancellation including who was involved within the council, both councillors and officers.

And she calls for it to include details of the preparation for the event each year, financial costs to the council and plans in place for the cancellation.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

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Residents of Colinton/Fairmilehead are reminded that voting takes place on Thursday in the second by-election in three months.

There are two councillor vacancies to fill and 19,669 people who have the opportunity of voting for the candidate they want to serve them until the next council elections in 2027. Out of these, just more than a quarter, 5,379 voters, have chosen to cast their vote by post.

Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: “With the by-election fast approaching, I encourage residents of the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward to visit their local polling place on Thursday. Please remember your polling cards and take this opportunity to have your say. Your two new local councillors will represent your community on issues affecting the ward and Edinburgh as a whole.

“Our elections pages provide useful information on how the Single Transferable Vote system works – you can rank candidates in order of preference, choosing as many or few as you’d like.

“If you’ve requested and received a postal ballot, please return it as soon as possible to make sure your vote is counted.”

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 23 January at:

Charwood
Fairmilehead Parish Church Hall
St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church Hall
Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre
Pentland Community Centre
The electronic election count will take place on Friday 24 January starting at 10.00am. The two successful candidates will then attend the full council meeting at 2pm on Friday afternoon to vote on introducing the Visitor Levy in Edinburgh.

The candidates are all listed here.

UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill joined the Scottish Book Trust at Wester Hailes High School to celebrate the achievement of Core Reading School status.

During the visit Ms McNeill met the Edinburgh school’s Reading Leadership Group to learn about their success in building a literacy culture and their aspirations for further achievement.

The Reading Schools accreditation programme, delivered by the Scottish Book Trust, represents an innovative approach to embedding reading culture in schools.

Ms McNeill said: “It was a privilege to visit Wester Hailes High School – I was truly impressed with the students and staff I met and applaud their achievement of Core Reading School status.

“The development of strong reading skills very much dovetails with the UK Government’s pledge to deliver a decade of national renewal and opportunity for all through our Plan for Change. Literacy is a crucial tool in breaking cycles of poverty and by working together we can ensure no community is left behind in Scotland’s future success. I congratulate the Scottish Book Trust and Wester Hailes High School’s ambition and commitment to equipping students with skills that will serve them and the country throughout their lives and careers.”

Edinburgh restaurant Fired Dough is serving up a delicious new treat for customers with its first lunch menu.

The Lothian Road pizza spot opened its doors four months ago, promising to bring the ‘rich flavours of Naples’ to the city.

The traditional menu features a variety of classic hand-made woodfired pizzas using Neapolitan-style dough, which has been left to prove for up to 48 hours.

Now customers can enjoy a slice of the action at lunchtime with the new menu launching this week.

As well as the usual variety of antipasti and 10” pizzas, among the highlights of the menu are panuozzo sandwiches. These are pizza breads folded over with fillings such as prosciutto, buratta and rocket; pulled chicken, fior de latte mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes; or roasted vegetables with tomato pesto, rocket salad and fior di latte mozzarella.

Lunches are available in the 40-seater restaurant as well as takeaways from noon-5pm, seven days a week, with two courses costing £11.95 and three courses £13.95.

The new menu has been crafted “with passion and precision using traditional techniques and the finest ingredients”, according to owner and head chef Vinu Murugan, who is hoping to appeal to the busy office scene in that area of the city as well as the passing tourist trade.

“I’m really pleased to be able to expand our culinary offerings to the people of Edinburgh,” he added.

“We took our time to design what we think will be a great lunchtime menu and I’m sure our customers are going to love it!”

At the City Chambers this week

The most important meeting is on Friday afternoon when the full council will meet to take a final decision on the Visitor Levy which will be introduced in 2026 on overnight accommodation in the city. The proposal from last Friday’s Special Meeting was to accept the proposals from officers that the levy rate will be 5% and recruitment for the new Chair of the Visitor Levy Forum will begin immediately.

There might well be a full complement of 63 councillors at the meeting if the results of the Colinton/Fairmilehead by election have been announced by then. The by election is on Thursday.

Monday, 20 January, 2025

• 9.30 am Licensing Board20/01 – Dean of Guild Court Room – City Chambers
• 2.00 pm Pensions Audit Sub-Committee20/01 – Lothian Pension Fund, – 4th Floor, 9 Haymarket Square, EH3 8RY

Tuesday, 21 January, 2025

• 10.00 am Holiday Hubs, Consultative Committee with Parents21/01 – Virtual Meeting – via Microsoft Teams

Wednesday, 22 January, 2025

• 10.00 am Development Management Sub-Committee22/01 – Dean of Guild Court Room – City Chambers

Thursday, 23 January, 2025

• 10.00 am Governance, Risk and Best Value Committee23/01 – Dean of Guild Court Room – City Chambers

Friday, 24 January, 2025

• 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm Special Meeting – Visitor Levy, City of Edinburgh Council24/01 – Main Council Chamber – City Chambers

Council by-election

There is a by election on Thursday to fill the two vacant slots on the council. The by election in Colinton/Fairmilehead is the second in three months. The first was to find a replacement for Scott Arthur who has become an MP. Despite the Liberal Democrat candidate being successful she was suspended by the group less than a week later when they found out that she was planning to work remotely from Dubai. Her house went up for sale immediately after the by election result, and questions are still being asked about who knew what and when.

This time there are two vacancies as the SNP’s Marco Biagi also resigned in this ward to take up a senior position with The Scottish Government.

Details of all candidates are here. This has been a lacklustre campaign run over the Christmas period. To our knowledge no hustings have been held and certainly we have only spoken to a couple of the candidates this time round.

Streetreads – can you help?

Streetreads, the charity backed by Edinburgh author Sir Ian Rankin and the Edinburgh Makar, Michael Pedersen is under threat of losing its home in Nicholson Square. This is more than just a library for people who are homeless. It is a place to have a cup of tea and a chat.

Fiona Williamson, Head of Service for Simon Community Scotland in Edinburgh, said: “We are devastated and deeply concerned about the impact this will have on people who use the library. Streetreads opened in 2021 and has grown exponentially alongside the people we support. There will be a huge gap in services and support while we seek new premises, as our appeal for more time to find an alternative site has sadly been declined.

“At very little cost, Streetreads creates immeasurable value for the city. Losing this space is not just a blow for the most vulnerable and isolated people in our city – it’s a setback for Edinburgh as a whole.

“This isn’t just a library – it’s a lifeline. This is a chance for Edinburgh to show its spirit and solidarity. We’re asking landlords, businesses, and community members to help us to secure the right space which requires investment and funding. I am excited that together, we can ensure no one is left without the safety, opportunities, learning and hope that is provided by this vital service.”

Read more here

At Duncan Place – Community Cinema

The January community cinema film will be cult Scottish comedy classic Restless Natives. Originally released in 1985, the film will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. 

Saturday 25th January, 2pm.

Tickets £4.44 (see below) For ages 16+

Ronnie and Will are two free-wheeling lads living on a housing estate in Edinburgh. Broke and bored, the two decide to politely rob coachloads of tourists travelling through the Highlands for a bit of cash. Donning a wolf and a clown mask and armed with a puffer gun shooting out curry powder, the duo soon become a hit with the tourists and the public alike. As the two follow in the great tradition of Robin Hood and Rob Roy, their exploits make them a tourist attraction bigger than the Loch Ness Monster. But not everyone is a fan – the local police are closing in on them, assisted by a vacationing CIA agent. Featuring an infectious soundtrack by Big Country and stunning Highlands scenery, this much-loved film is a thoroughly enjoyable gem.

Limited tickets are available and cost £4 (plus 44p booking fee). They can be bought at Ticketlab

Hot/soft drinks and popcorn are included in the ticket price.

Have your say

The community councils in Juniper Green and Currie have funding to improve a path between Bloomiehall Park and Muirwood Road. The public is asked to help design the route and improvements to the path. There are two open events when locals can attend.

Elite League: Fife Flyers 2, Nottingham Panthers 4 (at Kirkcaldy); Manchester Storm 4, Fife Flyers 5 (at Altrincham).

Fife Flyers emerged from their weekend double-header with two points, unexpectedly gathered in a 5-4 win on the road at Manchester Storm on Saturday, but they skidded to a 4-2 defeat to mid-table Nottingham Panthers at The Fife Ice Arena on Sunday.

Fife went behind after 25 minutes when Mitchell Fossier netted for Nottingham but the sides were level seven minutes later when Massimo Carozza was set up by Ryan Foss.

And the Kirkcaldy club added a second goal, this time short-handed as they had a player in the penalty box, when Kieran Craig scored unassisted to lead 2-1. Time: 38min 27sec.

Panthers then hit two without reply to re-take the lead. The first arrived in the 51^st minute when defenceman Zsombor Garat levelled and Kristoff Kontos fired the visitors in front just over a minute later.

It was a real blow to the Kirkcaldy club who withdrew goaltender Janis Voris with less than two minutes remaining to have six skaters.

Then interim head coach, Johnny Curran, called a time out in a bid to find a way to salvage something from the tight game.

The withdrawal of the netminder backfired when Otto Nieminen scored on the empty net with 39 seconds remaining of a game in which Panthers outshot Flyers 54-42.

On Saturday, interim head coach, Johnny Curran, gained his first win as a coach when Michael Cichy netted with less than three minutes remaining after a great comeback from 4-1 down after 43 minutes.

PICTURE: Fife in action at Manchester courtesy of the Elite League

The food campaign Make it Scotch is going to be on hand at Waverley to cheer commuters on Monday morning – apparently tomorrow is known as Blue Monday.

Make it Scotch will be handing out free bacon rolls to commuters between 7.30 and 9.30am at the Market Street entrance of the station, hoping to bring a little joy to Edinburgh by handing out free freshly prepared bacon rolls made with quality-assured Specially Selected Pork.

A spokesperson said: “It’s a small gesture aimed at brightening the day for those who might need a little boost during this time of year.

“Look out for the blue Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork logos when shopping at supermarkets and butchers – when you see the logos, you know you are choosing beef, lamb and pork that’s only ever born and reared in Scotland from farms you can trust.”

Make It Scotch is the consumer facing arm of Quality Meat Scotland – the public body promoting the UK GI and PGI labelled Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb brands in the UK and abroad respectively, and also promoting Scottish pork products under the Specially Selected Pork logo.

More than 100 people have signed up – with spaces still available – to attend a Scottish Parliament reception, on Tuesday, hoping to convince MSPs that Scotland could add Cohousing to the current duopoly of private sector and social housing.

Cohousing is when people come together to physically design and manage their own housing, often with a strong sharing culture, a commitment to high environmental standards and as antidote to loneliness.

Hosting the event is Ariane Burgess MSP, convener of the Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning committee.

She will be joined by, among others, Prof Paul Chatterton – who has pioneered “mutual home ownership” in Leeds – and representation from Denmark, where Cohousing is commonplace.

An eye-catching painting of a fish by an 18-year-old student has scooped a prize worth £3000 at a prestigious Scottish art exhibition in Edinburgh

Gabriela Wysocka from Glasgow is one of the youngest ever winners of the Alexander Graham Munro Travel Award for artists under 30 at the RSW’s 144th Open Annual Exhibition.

The show, which is in the RSA Upper Galleries in Edinburgh until 5 February, brings together over 300 paintings by some of the best artists in Scotland and beyond working in water-based media.

Gabriela’s painting, ‘Veiltail’, which was inspired by a visit to an aquarium while on holiday in Gran Canaria, is her biggest painting to date and the first to be selected for a national exhibition.

She says: “I really couldn’t believe it. I had to read the email five times. Just having my painting accepted by such a renowed exhibition was amazing, to win this is more than my brain could conjure up.

“I’ve loved drawing and painting all my life. It gives me immense satisfaction to bring a work to completion, to pick up a piece of paper and create something where there was nothing before.”

RSW President Anthea Gage said: “Gabriela’s work was a clear winner. It’s such a dramatic painting, and for someone of her age it is incredibly skilled and shows enormous potential. 

“Our hope with this award is always to encourage painting. Many young artists choose to focus on installations and electronic media and it worries me that skills such as painting might get lost. If we can encourage it in any way, we would like to do that.”

Meanwhile, a botanical artist who spent more than a year completing a meticulously detailed painting of a sprig of bramble has won the exhibition’s top prize.

Fiona Strickland, from Falkirk, has been named as the winner of the W Gordon Smith and Mrs Jay Gordonsmith Award which is worth £4,000.

Her painting, ’Bramble’, took more than a year to finish and was made by building up layer upon layer of transparent colour with a tiny no.1 brush.

Fiona, a former principle teacher of art at Bannockburn High School in Stirling who took up botanical painting when she took early retirement, has exhibited her work in the USA and Europe, and has won the prestigious Gold Medal for botanical art awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society.

However, she says this prize means the most to her. “Here I’m not up against people who paint in the same kind of style, there are lots of different styles. Winning the award was a big surprise – I’m really humbled.”

She says she prefers ordinary plants to rare and exotic specimens. “It’s the overlooked things I find particularly beautiful. We tend to recognising something like a bramble or a daffodil so we might not stop to look at a painting. I want the painting to say, ‘Look at me! Have you not noticed this about this plant before?’.”

RSW President Anthea Gage says: “This is a magnificent example of how powerful the traditional approach to watercolour can be, and to make a painting with such detail on such a large scale is an incredible feat.

“Art is not a competitive sport. Everyone who has a picture on the wall in this show has done really, really well, especially non-members who have gone through the open selection process. However, it is lovely to be able to support artists with prizes and recognise excellent work.”

Gabriela and Fiona are among 13 artists to receive awards at the exhibition which recognises excellence in a wide variety of approaches to water-based paint. 

Kieron Bowie made a welcome return to action after he came off the bench in the second half of Hibs Scottish Cup tie with Clydebank. 

It was a significant milestone for Bowie – making his first appearance since early September after suffering a hamstring injury whilst on duty with Scotland U21s. 

Bowie was introduced for the final half hour, helping Hibs secure a comfortable 3-0 win over Clydebank at Easter Road. 

Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Bowie admitted he was delighted to be back after a difficult first six months at the Club. 

“To get 30 minutes under my belt is a big milestone for me. At the moment it is all about getting the small little wins and ticking them off and gradually getting more minutes as we go along. 

“Sometimes you can think these games will be easy, but we knew they would come out firing. Thankfully, we got that goal very early and from there we were able to see the game out with a 3-0 win.” 

Bowie received another warm welcome from the home supporters inside Easter Road when he took to the field – a moment that didn’t go unnoticed by the 22-year-old. 

“When I first signed, I hoped I made a little impact but now I am starting from square one again – so it is good that the fans were excited to see me back out there. 

“When you are sat in the stands, all you can do is watch and wish you could make an impact.  

“That is just life, you just have to deal with it – so now I am glad to be back out there on the pitch and making an impact!” 

Hibs head coach David Gray reserved special praise the Clydebank players and their supporters after his side ensured safe passage to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory over the West of Scotland side. 

Martin Boyle bagged another brace with Rudi Molotnikov adding a third as Hibs secured a comfortable win over a resolute Clydebank outfit. 

Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Gray said: “We made a really positive start, we scored straight away in the game which was great. We started on the front-foot, but we probably took our foot off the gas a little bit. 

“Massive credit to Clydebank – they had 2,500 supporters here to cheer their team and I thought with us scoring so early on, real credit goes to them for keeping going and putting everything into the game. 

“We were miles better in the second half, we moved the ball a lot quicker, took a lot less touches and carried much more of a threat. We obviously went on to get the second and third goal in the game which was really important in the game.” 

Gray made five changes to his starting XI, giving an opportunity to several players returning from injury to get some much-needed minutes. 

“The real positive is minutes into the legs of a lot of the lads, which I am delighted with. Rudi (Molotnikov) did really well, it was his first minutes in a while after coming back from injury – he was great, particularly in the second half – he was much more like himself. 

“Kieron Bowie has been out for a long time, so it was good to get minutes into his legs and get him back on the pitch – Mykola Kuharevich was the same, he started the game which was great.” 

Gray also gave a First Team debut to 16-year-old Lewis Gillie, who came on for the final 20 minutes at Easter Road – and he was impressed with the youngster’s impact. 

“It was good to get more minutes for the players who haven’t played as much, then it was fantastic for Lewis Gillie to come on and make his First Team debut. 

“He has done really well in the Academy, he has trained with us several times and he has really impressed me. 

“I am sure he will remember this day for the rest of his life, I thought he did really well when he came on and he just needs to kick on from here. 

“I just told him to go and enjoy himself. There is a reason why he has put himself in this position – he is a good player who works hard. I just told him to enjoy it, play as you do for the U18s and to enjoy himself.  

“I think you saw that today, he played with a lot of confidence, he played forward and I am sure he will remember this day for the rest of his life, which is great.” 

The victory stretches our unbeaten run to eight matches (all comps) and Gray is hoping to carry that momentum into the crucial second half of the season. 

“We have put ourselves in a really good position for the second half of the season. In terms of today, it was job done and into the next round of the Scottish Cup, we will see who we get in the next round and take it from there. 

“The challenge for us was to make sure we build on the momentum we have had in recent weeks, we did that again today and now our attention will switch towards Ross County.” 

The new musical version of Restless Natives will be held at Leith Theatre during a summer programme of theatre, music and film.

Original Restless Natives screenwriter and now lyricist, Ninian Dunnett, director Michael Hoffman and composer Tim Sutton, inspired by Big Country songs and themes, will open the season by delivering a not-to-be-missed full stage musical designed to delight devotees of the original movie and capture the hearts of a new generation. 

A charming sense of national pride is built as intrepid underdogs Ronnie and Will become Highland Highwaymen, holding up buses and winning international renown, fleecing tourists with panache, with all the quirky idiosyncratic fun coming to Leith Theatre’s raked stage in June 2025. 

The three month long programme has been commissioned by the producers of the film, Andy Paterson and Wild Yak Productions, along with the Leith Theatre Trust team.

Restless Natives producer Andy Paterson is thrilled to see the musical leading the summer programming for the venue: “We are so inspired by the Trust’s vision for this incredible building. Our memories of shooting key scenes from the film just a few hundred yards away on the Western Harbour make this new partnership all the more special. We can’t wait to bring the Clown and the Wolfman back to their actual and spiritual home in Edinburgh.”   

Lynn Morrison, Chief Executive of Leith Theatre Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce Leith Theatre as the Edinburgh venue and to work in partnership to deliver this incredible three-month summer season, starting with Restless Natives: The Musical. Despite the challenges posed by our building’s health, we remain committed to being at the heart of cultural life in Leith. This theatre adaptation blends theatre, film and music which is everything we love, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome this exciting crossover and summer opportunity to our venue.” 

Producer, Andy Paterson, said: “The moment we walked into Leith Theatre we had a feeling that we’d come home. The unique atmosphere and personality of the venue chimed with Ninian’s story. Both embody the resilience, the spirit of Scottish community, a sense of perseverance and solidarity – and the belief that with the right values and serious ambition, you can make something great.”  


This is an important step for the theatre and the pop up summer season will give audiences a chance to take another look at the evolving restoration project. This will be the first theatre production in Leith Theatre since 2018. 

The producers of Restless Natives: The Musical and the team at Leith Theatre are actively seeking additional programming for the venue’s iconic spaces from June through the end of the Edinburgh Festival in August. Both the Main Auditorium (1,600 seats) and the more intimate Thomas Morton Hall (180 seats) have availability. Interest is invited from artists and organisations working within a wide range of creative and cultural artforms. For summer programming opportunities in this historic and vibrant setting, email summer@leiththeatre.co.uk

Leith Theatre opened in 1932. The complex includes Leith Library, the Thomas Morton Hall and a gatehouse. It was hit by a bomb in 1941 and took 20 years to repair. It closed in the 1980s to save money and the Trust then took it over in 2016 with a desire to bring the cultural asset back to life. It has had many uses in recent years as a film set and also as home for food charity, Empty Kitchens who produced thousands of meals there during lockdown.

Streetreads, the charity backed by Edinburgh author Sir Ian Rankin and the Edinburgh Makar, Michael Pedersen is under threat of losing its home in Nicholson Square.

The library provides a safe space for around 200 homeless people each week, but it has been served with an eviction notice by the landlord. In a city where there are more than 5,000 households experiencing homelessness there are about 100 people who sleep rough every night. The service is aimed at helping anyone who does not have a home.

The book lending service which is much more than just that is run by Simon Community Scotland. The facility costs around £75,000 to run providing a place to read or borrow books and a sense of belonging to its visitors.

Simon Community Scotland is now urgently looking for a new location and has an urgent need for funding to secure the right space for people who need mental health support, and who can engage in creative writing and educational sessions. It is also a space to have a cup of tea and a chat.

There is an urgent need for funds to help continue the service. Click here https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/streetreadslibrary to donate.

Fiona Williamson, Head of Service for Simon Community Scotland in Edinburgh, said: “We are devastated and deeply concerned about the impact this will have on people who use the library. Streetreads opened in 2021 and has grown exponentially alongside the people we support. There will be a huge gap in services and support while we seek new premises, as our appeal for more time to find an alternative site has sadly been declined.

“At very little cost, Streetreads creates immeasurable value for the city. Losing this space is not just a blow for the most vulnerable and isolated people in our city — it’s a setback for Edinburgh as a whole.

“This isn’t just a library—it’s a lifeline. This is a chance for Edinburgh to show its spirit and solidarity. We’re asking landlords, businesses, and community members to help us to secure the right space which requires investment and funding. I am excited that together, we can ensure no one is left without the safety, opportunities, learning and hope that is provided by this vital service.”

Michelle, a regular visitor to the space, said: “Streetreads is more than a library— it’s a sanctuary. It’s the only place where I feel human.”

Lorraine McGrath, CEO for Simon Community Scotland, said: “The need for safe places, support and hope has never been greater. This eviction underscores the growing challenges facing people in Edinburgh who are increasingly at risk of homelessness and all the related harm and trauma. We need urgent support to find a new home for Streetreads. We have been advised that alternative premises are likely to add an additional £20,000 a year to running costs.”

Ian Rankin, said: “I’ve known and supported Streetreads from the very beginning and always enjoyed visiting the library and drop-in centre. I’m so hoping that suitable accommodation can be found for this crucial enterprise. Streetreads means the world to its many users.”

Michael Pedersen, writer in residence at The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh’s Makar (Poet Laureate), said; “Streetreads Library is an incredible, crucial, and vital resource to Edinburgh and Scotland beyond. It’s refuge and salvation, it’s connection and inspiration, and so so much more. I’ve been awe-struck by the work they do, their warmth and innovation, and the enthusiasm their clients have for the space, its people and the facilities. Quite frankly, it’s invaluable. And all this from a library that’s only in its infancy (in the grand scheme of things). We need to be growing it, supporting it, championing it and celebrating it. It’s a model for others to learn from, to follow, but only if we rally behind them now and henceforth. What a formidable loss this location would be, a beacon of hope taken from the chest chamber of our capital city.”

In 2018 the relaunch of Streetreads was attended and supported by then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon and Sir Ian Rankin. Read more here. Streetreads was the idea and project of Rachel Cowan, known around Edinburgh as the book wumman #bookwumman. Rachel experienced homeless and its devastating impact.  Her desire to change that for others inspired her to use books to bring more than solace but adventure, excitement, daring, mystery, romance and thrills into lives with a darker kind of drama. Rachel and Simon Community Scotland came together in 2018 with a desire to reach further and make more connections.

If you can help, contact Simon Community Scotland immediately via hello@simonscotland.org or visit www.simonscotland.org.

If you would like to donate click here https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/streetreadslibrary

Scotland Office Ministerial team, Ian Murray and Kirsty McNeill, are to host a reception to toast Scottish achievements at home and abroad on Monday in London.

Around 160 representatives from businesses, third sector and academic institutions have been invited to gather at Scotland Office’s London HQ, Dover House when the event “will recognise the crucial role of Scotland for delivering growth and opportunity for all as part of UK government’s Plan for Change”.

The special Burns Night reception will celebrate Scotland’s ‘rich contribution to growth and society through business, innovation, academia, charity, and the arts”.

They represent just a selection of the groups the ministers have met since coming to government last July and span the length and breadth of Scotland, from Shetland to Stirling and Dundee to Dumfries.

Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: “Bringing together so many of those who represent what is truly great about Scotland is a fantastic way to celebrate Burns Night. It’s a real privilege to be able to gather with and thank such a diverse range of achievers for all they do for Scotland and the UK.

“We look forward to continuing to work with them and the rest of the country as we get on with delivering our Plan for Change to fire growth and put more money in people’s pockets. They – and the global legacy of Robert Burns – are truly inspirational as we deliver a decade of national renewal, including through our Brand Scotland campaign to champion Scotland and Scottish businesses around the world.”

From the business community, firms such as JP Morgan Chase will join renewables leaders SSE and global drinks brand Diageo. Charities Social Bite, Homeless Project Scotland, Beatson Cancer Charity, AUGB Edinburgh and Children First are also among those represented. The Scotch Whisky Association and the Food and Drink Federation will champion Scotland’s diverse produce and national drink along with world-famous Harris Tweed.

Members of the media and artistic community will also be welcomed, including MG Alba, STV, Capital Theatres and the V&A Dundee are on the invitation list. The universities of Aberdeen, Dundee and St Andrews will represent academia, and innovators from Saxavord Spaceport in Shetland have also been invited. Catering will be provided by Springboard’s FutureChef programme which trains young people and helps them find a job. Music will be provided by pipers the Pinstripe Highlanders and the Levitation Orchestra’s Hamish Nockles-Moore and friends.

Detectives are appealing for information following a break-in and theft at a premises in Uphall which took place around 8.40pm on Friday, 17 January, 2025 on Houston Mains Holdings.

A number of golf clubs were stolen.

Detective Sergeant Tony Gilhooley said: “Enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything to contact us.

“We also ask anyone driving in the area at the time who may have dashcam footage to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 3605 of Friday, 17 January, 2025.

Hibs cruised past Clydebank to secure a place in the 5^th round of the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup at Easter Road this afternoon.

Hibs head coach David Gray made five changes to the starting XI that beat Motherwell last weekend. Lewis Miller returned at right-wing back, with Rudi Molotnikov starting on the left flank. 

Hyeokkyu Kwon returned in the middle of midfield, alongside Junior Hoilett and  Mykola Kuharevich made his first start since early December. 

Kieron Bowie started on the bench alongside youngster Lewis Gillie. 

Before this and every Scottish Cup game there was a minute’s applause for the great Denis Law, Scotland’s joint record-scorer, the only Scottish player to win the Ballon d’Or prize, who passed away yesterday. 

Clydebank brought a huge travelling support that filled the bottom section of the away end and they greeted their heroes with a tremendous roar. 

But they were silenced after only two minutes when Junior Hoilett got on the end of a long ball and picked out out Martin Boyle, who turned in his cross at the near post.  

Moments later Molotnikov almost doubled Hibs lead but his effort flew well over the bar. 

Despite dominating proceedings Hibs were unable to add to their lead before the half time whistle sounded. 

But the Easter Road men started the second half on the front foot and Molotnikov made it 2-0 shortly after the restart when he knocked home Boyle’s cross. 

Moments later the youngster had a header cleared off the line as Hibs pressed for more goals. 

And one arrived on the hour mark when Boyle fired home after a mistake in the visitors defence. 

Gray then started to ring the changes with Dylan Levitt being replaced by Luke Amos and Boyle by Bowie who entered the fray to huge cheers from the home fans. 

Then with 18 minutes remaining 16-year-old Gillie replaced Kwon to make his first team debut. 

Moments later Bowie almost made it a scoring return but his header flew just wide. 

Miller and Hoilett then forced Bankies keeper Andrew Leishman into two strong saves in quick succession as Hibs looked to add to their tally but it was not to be. 

Hibs: Smith, O’Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, Miller, Kwon, Levitt, Hoilett, Molotnikov, Boyle, Kuharevich. 

Substitutes: Bursik, C Cadden, Amos, Bowie, Triantis, Campbell, Gayle, Gillie. 

Clydebank: Leishman, Hodge, Grant, Syme, McHugh, Cairns, Gallacher, Low, Mulcahy, Little, Truesdale. 

Substitutes: Keaney, MacKenzie, Darroch, McGowan, Gibb, McGonigle, Samson, McKernan. 

Following agreement on the outline plans for the new tourist tax for Edinburgh the council will meet again next week to agree the final details.

At a lengthy meeting on Friday the members of the Policy and Sustainability Committee which is made up of all the political group leaders, heard deputations and deliberated over rates to charge and how the funds raised will be spent.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Today represented yet another important milestone in our journey towards securing a visitor levy for Edinburgh – and to realising a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest tens of millions of pounds towards enhancing and sustaining the things that make our city such a great place to visit – and live in – all year round.

“At all stages of this process, we’ve listened to and taken account of the views of residents, industry and other stakeholders – and we mustn’t lose sight of just how much positivity there is for the scheme across all of these groups. It’s in this spirit that we’re considering the further submissions received from the wider tourism sector this week, ensuring we’re as well informed as we can be ahead of taking a decision next Friday.

“I remain focused on delivering a scheme that will be both fit for purpose and workable – and that will benefit our city, our residents and our visitors for many years to come.”

Although Labour and the Liberal Democrats agreed the proposed 5% rate, the Greens had suggested 8% and the SNP had proposed hiking the rate up to 7% to make the rate comparable to European cities, but this was overruled. Conservatives wanted to delay making a decision or approve a rate of 4%. The SNP group also put forward a plan to spend £20 million on the housing emergency with £5 million each year to unlock borrowing and a further £15 million each year spent directly on new social and affordable house. The SNP said this would amount to almost 1,000 new homes within five years.

SNP Council Group Leader, Cllr Simita Kumar, said: “The SNP put forward by far the most ambitious plan in terms of using Visitor Levy revenue to address a housing emergency in Edinburgh which is intimately tied up with our city’s status as one of Europe’s most popular cities for tourists.

“Our city is beautiful and abundant in culture, so it’s no wonder that so many people from all over the world want to visit it. But that popularity comes with consequences for the people who live here, not least those working in the tourism and hospitality industries, who are often lower paid and struggle with high housing costs.

“I’m delighted that the Scottish Government has given Edinburgh this valuable tool to harness the popularity of Edinburgh as a tourist destination in a way that benefits all our citizens. We need to use that to its fullest extent. The unwillingness of Labour and their Lib Dem and Tory allies to do that shows their lack of commitment to tackling the greatest structural challenge facing our city – the lack of affordable housing.”

The decision in full is as follows:

To approve the following adjusted Motion by Cllr Meagher:

1)       To note the outcome of the consultation on the draft Visitor Levy for Edinburgh scheme.

2)       To agree to adopt the final Visitor Levy for Edinburgh scheme, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report by the Interim Executive Director of Place, with the exception of the proposed three-month transition period and note this would be subject to further officer advice ahead of the decision of Council, and with the following change:

At 7. Participatory budgeting (£2m over 3 years). The following wording be added “with appropriate audit checks in place to ensure that these funds are spent on facilitating the achievement of the scheme’s objectives.”

3)       To agree to begin the recruitment for the Chair of the Visitor Levy Forum immediately, with the appointment subject to the approval of the Council.

4)       To agree in principle the use of the Spend to Save fund to support preparatory work for the Edinburgh Visitor Levy scheme as well as its implementation.

5)       To refer the report to the Council meeting on 24 January 2025 for approval and ratification of the scheme and the use of Spend to Save funding.

6)       To agree to defer the following items in Appendix 6 to the report by the Interim Executive Director of Place as individual reports to each relevant executive committee for discussion / approval.

                     2. Mitigation of Tourism on Housing

                     5. City Operations and Infrastructure

6. Culture, Heritage and Events

7. Destination and Visitor Management.

7)       To note that, should Council approve the scheme, each investment theme would be presented to the relevant executive committee for approval, and to agree to reaffirm previously agreed principles, namely that spending should:

a)       prioritise additionality in terms of investment in services and improvement projects, and,

b)       wherever possible and in a way that was consistent with the statutory requirements, be used to benefit communities across Edinburgh and not just the core city centre.

8)       To agree that the development of projects under the TVL themes for investment should also demonstrate their adherence to existing Council strategies where applicable.

9)       To agree that the Visitor Levy Forum should contain an equal number of representatives from community and business organisation and recommend that at least 40% of the representatives must be women.

10)     To note that an initial decision on how housing funds would be spent would come to Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee in May 2025 and to request that this report should set out what options were legally possible across different housing tenures including social housing.

The council meets on 24 January to approve the next steps for the Visitor Levy. The papers for that meeting are here.

Hibs head coach David Gray has provided an update on Kieron Bowie, Nicky Cadden and Mykola Kuharevich ahead of our Scottish Cup tie against Clydebank. 

Both Bowie and Kuharevich returned to full team training and could feature but Nicky Cadden will be missing from today’s squad.

Bowie has been out since September with a hamstring injury, whilst Kuharevich sustained a groin injury against Celtic back in early December. 

The pair have worked hard on their fitness, and could return this weekend, as Gray explained to Hibs TV. 

“They’ll both be in the squad, which is great! I will have to restrict minutes clearly, but they’ve worked really hard to get back involved. They’re available for selection if required.” 

“Unfortunately Nicky broke his nose in the last game. He went to see a specialist on that today as we didn’t want to take any risks.  

“He will probably need to play with a mask when that does happen, but we’re waiting for feedback on that as he saw the specialist today. Fingers crossed that went well, but he won’t be available for this game.” 

Gray will also be without the suspended Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Jordan Obita against the Bankies. 

Livingston-based outdoor clothing manufacturer The Ootsider is to step up its help for the homeless after being awarded £40,000 grant funding from First Port.

The Community Interest Company (CIC) successfully applied to the organisation’s Build It funding programme for the maximum amount, with founder John Keogh (pictured) insisting the award will be a game-changer for the organisation.

The Ootsider produces quality changing robes and coats popular with the likes of wild swimmers and equestrians, as well as bespoke coats for wheel-chair users, and all net income is invested into making ground-breaking coats which convert into sleeping bags to be donated to vulnerable homeless people living on the streets.

Since starting out in 2021, The Ootsider has relied on volunteers as it tried to reduce the vulnerability and risk of rough sleeping with donations of their protective garments.

Boosted by the funding, the company, which has donated 300 of the coats to date to rough sleepers, will now be able to fund one full-time and one part-time position as it accelerates its growth plans over the next 12 months.

John is a former head of engineering at Jabil Electronics in Livingston and devised The Ootsider concept after a chance encounter with a homeless man on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street in December 2021.

Welcoming the award, John said: “This will make a genuine difference to how we operate, and more importantly, to those sleeping rough on the streets.

“We have been relying on the goodwill of so many people to get to where we are but this is a game-changer for us and will allow us to put so many plans into place.

“These include updating the approach to manufacturing and distribution to operate at increased volumes, developing more collaboration arrangements with partners and delivering more fundraising events.”

First Port’s Build It initiative aims to help early-stage social enterprises with a track record of trading and social impact which need funded resource and support to take the business to the next level of financial sustainability.

It offers up to £40,000 in grant funding to help the enterprise increase its income, become financially sustainable and continue to deliver social impact without relying on grant funding.

Watson is a 14-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross with an infectious zest for life. 

This sweet and loving dog is looking for a forever home where he can enjoy his golden years. Watson is great with older children (aged eight and over) making him an excellent family companion.

Despite his age, Watson remains lively and loves playing fetch with a ball and exploring new smells on his walks. He would thrive in a home with a garden where he can potter around and play with his new family. This dog prefers quiet walks in areas where he’s less likely to encounter off-lead dogs, and it would be best if he was the only pet in the home. He is a dog who adores being around his family. 

Watson is the ultimate snuggle bug, happiest when cuddled up on the sofa or enjoying a cozy afternoon nap. He’s not used to travelling in the car, so his new owners will need to help him get more comfortable with car rides. Watson loves spending time with his family and would prefer to have someone at home most of the time to keep him company. He is housetrained and loves finding the coziest spot in the house to relax. Watson’s cheerful demeanour and loving nature are sure to bring joy to any home. Currently, he is enjoying the comforts of a foster home while waiting for his perfect match. 

If you’re looking for a loving, gentle, and friendly companion to bring warmth and happiness to your home, Watson is the perfect choice. He’s ready to share his golden years with a family who will cherish and love him as much as he loves them. 

www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/dogs/terrier-staffordshire-bull/3457441 

Neil Critchley thought his men did a professional job to come from behind and see off the challenge of Highland League pace-setters Brechin City at sold-out Glebe Park in the fourth round of the Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup.

Hearts’ head coach admitted to the club’s social media site that when the home side went 1-0 up through a superb strike from first-half substitute Scott Bright after 20 minutes he felt “here we go, that probably rocked us for a little spell”.

A moment of real quality from Yan Dhanda five minutes from the break levelled proceedings on a heavy and tight pitch and Hearts moved comfortably to a 4-1 victory.

Critchley added: “Second half, we took control of the game and, in the end, it was comfortable. We did the job. Obviously, we were expected to win the game, but we have won well, we have come from behind.

“It is not the first time we have done that this season while I have been here, and it shows a good mentality in the group.”

The head coach was also pleased that new signing, Belgian-born Elton Kabangu, netted twice and he added: “I am delighted for him. He has been such a positive person to be around since he has come to the club, great guy, humble, smiling every day, a really good teammate, first and foremost.

“He works ever so hard for the team and he has a lovely balance between speed and endurance, he can keep running and running for 90 minutes which makes it very difficult for defenders to mark him and hold him.

“The types of goals he scored were not a surprise. He is off the mark and that will do him the world of good.”

Costa Rica-born defender Gerald Taylor made a brief appearance for the Jambos at Glebe Park after a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury, and Critchley (pictured by Nigel Duncan) said: “He did well at the start of the season, particularly in the game with Rangers at home, and so he has had to work hard to get to this position.

“Again he is another positive person, happy, smiling and it was a nice moment for him to get back on the pitch. He has some opposition, but he’s forward thinking, he is aggressive in how he plays the game and he is a good athlete so I am delighted he is back and available again.”

This is the most up to date list of roadworks, road closure and events leading to road closures or diversions for traffic in Edinburgh for the next week or so.

If you see anything on the roads which is not on the list then let the travel team know on Twitter @EdinTravel or otherwise you can check on the Scottish Roadworks register which is a comprehensive list of places to avoid.

Updated versions of the listings are posted to the website most weekday afternoons, these can be found by going to https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/edintravel

Any new works or events are marked in blue.. Read the full list below – which is arranged according to council Ward.

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Newcomer Elton Kabangu claimed a double in 17, second-half minutes as Hearts came from behind to march into the fifth round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup with a 4-1 victory over Highland League pace-setters Brechin City.

The Men in Maroon turned the match around with a strong second-half performance with the busy Belgian centre stage for his two goals after 62 and 79 minutes. The other goals came from Yan Dhanda and an own goal from Kevin McHattie.

Earlier, the Edinburgh club introduced Kenneth Vargas, Adam Forrester and Kabangu into their side with Craig Gordon in goal at Glebe Park hoping not to slip up in Angus.

Patrick Cregg, Brechin’s manager, has tasted Scottish Cup glory with St Johnstone and was keen to see his unfancied side progress and they started brightly against their opposition from the William Hill Premiership.

Hearts, however, threatened early on the tight, heavy pitch and Vargas was in a good position at the edge of the Brechin box but he slipped at a vital time as the ball came in from the right hand side, then James Penrice fired a shot in which was blocked.

Vargas then met a cross from the left from Yan Dhanda, but his header went wide. Brechin worked hard, forcing Hearts back, but they failed to find the final ball before, after 12 minutes, Marc Scott latched on to a reverse pass and fired into the side netting from a tight angle.

That sparked Brechin but they suffered a setback when skipper Euan Spark hurt his shoulder in a challenge on Kabangu during which he earned a booking. The experienced defender had to leave the field after treatment.

Scott Bright, on loan from St Johnstone, was introduced as Spark was helped from the field in real pain.

Brechin put that blow behind them to take a shock lead in 23 minutes, 18-year-old Bright latching onto a clearance from Penrice to thunder a left-foot shot into the net from 30 yards with Gordon having no chance. It was a real screamer and a Scottish Cup shock was on.

The Jambos were now under real pressure and, at the other end, Dhanda had an opportunity at the edge of the Brechin box with his right foot, but he blasted the ball wastefully over the bar as Hearts struggled to get a grip of the game.

Vargas had an attempt blocked before Brechin’s Kevin McHattie, a former Hearts player, was booked for a foul, and then home goalkeeper Leonard Wilson had to rush out of his area to blunt a Hearts attack.

The Costa Rican player had another attempt blocked but the Brechin defence held firm as Hearts failed to find any flow and Forrester was booked for diving as he broke into the box and fell to the floor.

The visitors had so far failed to test the home goalkeeper, and did not show their real quality, and the Jambos fans expressed their disappointment at the performance.

Their mood change when Dhanda picked up the ball on the left, shifted inside and unleashed a special shot into the net with his right foot with the clock on 40 minutes, another fabulous goal, but a vital one for Hearts.

His second goal for the Capital combine, the other coming against Dinamo Minsk in Europe, came at a good time and Grant tried to send Kabangu clear, but the visitors failed to find the net again despite three minutes of injury time leaving the scoreline at 1-1 at the end of the session.

Neither team made changes at the break and Hearts were first to threaten, Kabangu attempting to find the net with a left foot shot from the edge of the box. It flew well over.

Dhanda fed Vargas on the left and his cross ball was parried by the Brechin goalkeeper with several Hearts players in the danger area, and the former Ross County player sprayed a great ball across the pitch to Jorge Grant on the right but Brechin managed to send the ball for a corner.

Once again, the ball was cleared but seconds later Hearts were in front. Time 51 minutes. The Tynecastle team turned the match on its head when Dhanda found Kabangu with a head flick and the Belgian sent in a dangerous cross.

It was met by McHattie who deflected the ball towards his own net and Vargas provided the final touch to put Hearts in front.

Brechin rang the changes in a bid to get back level but it was Hearts who added a third when Vargas sent the ball into the danger area and Kabangu spun to send the ball home through a ruck of players.

The Angus side shrugged that disappointment off and upped the tempo, but Devlin had a shot cleared near the line as the Tynecastle team began to hem the home side in.

And the Jambos increased the pressure with a triple change, Blair Spittal, Daniel Oyegoke and James Wilson making their entrance as Dhanda, Forrester and Vargas departed.

One of Brechin’s substitutes, Cillian Sheridan was booked for a high challenge on Grant as the Men in Maroon continued to press before Wilson raced from his goal to deny Grant after a great cross from Penrice on the left hand side of the pitch.

Wilson sent a cross in from the right which was scrambled away but Brechin were not out of this and they forced a corner and the ball arrived for Craig Tosh but he blasted over.

Hearts raced to the other end and Wilson fed Kabangu first time and the newcomer made no mistake, firing home with his left foot for 4-1 off a defender. Time 79 minutes.

James McCart departed and Gerald Taylor, who has been sidelined with injury, made a surprise appearance as Hearts dominated. Grant then tested the Brechin goalkeeper and the Glebe Park side were hardly seen as an attacking force.

Teenage striker Wilson then drove to the by-line and crossed. Grant shot and his effort was cleared near the line. It was all one-way traffic with Spittal and Penrice heavily involved.

Devlin departed with Alan Forrest entering the action with three minutes of normal time left and Brechin also made two changes but the game was now beyond them and the Premiership team ate up the minutes by passing the ball around the, by now, bumpy pitch.

Dhanda told BBC Sport Scotland: “We got it done. It was tough and they went 1-0. It is difficult when the pitch is tough to play on.”

Kabangu, the Man of the Match, added: “It was a real Scottish game. I am here to score goals and I am just happy I scored today. I don’t want to stay on two goals, I am a striker, I want more.”

PICTURE: Yan Dhanda (left) levelled for Hearts at Brechin. Picture Nigel Duncan

The annual Edinburgh table tennis championships take place on Sunday 19 January at the Royal High School in Barnton, with John Hannah top seed to regain the Michael MacLaren Quaich after winning in 2014-15.

Hannah, who has now qualified as a doctor and will be making his first appearance in the Championships for five years, is expected to face tough competition including from Borui Chen, winner for the past two years, West Lothian’s Ben Hart and Heriot Watt pair Nathan Hogg and Harry Blackhall.

Past winners, of the prestigious men’s event include Scottish Champions Gavin Rumgay (2002-3), Craig Howieson (2003-4) and Calum Morrison (2015-16).

A new winner will be crowned In the woman’s event for the Helen Elliot Quaich with Faye Leggett away on International duty.

Players from Murrayfield, Dunbar, Edinburgh International and Heriot Watt top the entry list.

Late entries are still being accepted.

Banded and age category events to played in groups offering extra matches.

Open to all ELTTL senior members and under-19 players who must either live in Edinburgh and Lothians, or play at a club in the region.

See https://bit.ly/EdinTTChamps25

Calls for an Edinburgh tourist tax to be raised to up to 8% to tackle the city’s housing crisis have been rejected as councillors agreed to go ahead with the new levy.

A meeting of Edinburgh City Council’s policy and sustainability committee today agreed to a 5% visitors levy being introduced in principle but rejected calls from the SNP and Greens to increase it further.

The committee heard calls from tenants union Living Rent to back the higher charges as they described it as  “shameful” that tourist industry workers could not afford to rent homes in the city that benefited from welcoming so many visitors.

And they criticised the loss of housing to the short term let industry while hotels were used to provide homeless accommodation saying: “We have an estimated 1,025 homeless people living in hotels while homes are being used by tourists.”

The SNP had argued that raising the tax to 7% would bring an additional £16million into the council which could provide more than 1,000 affordable homes over the next five years.

The Greens wanted to go further raising it to 8% which they said would create an additional £70million over the next three years with a call for more of the income to be committed to affordable housing.

The council’s Conservative group, however, called for a lower visitors levy arguing that the addition of VAT had not been taken into account.

The committee, which was chaired by council leader Councillor Jane Meagher, agreed to back the original levy proposed in principal as well as approving the recruitment of a chairperson for a new Visitors Levy Forum.

The proposals could see the levy in place by May this year to allow the industry a three month transition period, however an industry request for a longer period of up to nine months to prepare is still being considered by the council.

Councillors asked their legal advisers about to possible impact of a legal challenge on the proposals after it was reported the Scottish Touristm Alliance had threatened action which could result in a judicial review of the decision to approve the levy.

They were told that such a challenge could delay the introduction by up to 18 months.

Councillor Meagher told the committee the proposals had been a long time coming with consultations carried out in the tourist industry and among residents and visitors.

Putting forward the motion to approve the 5% levy in principal, Councillor Meagher said: “We have listened to many voices  and I am confident this is the best option. It will be reviewed in three years time.”

The final decision on the proposals will be taken at a full council meeting next week.

Following the committee’s decision, SNP group leader Councillor Simita Kumar, whose alternative proposal was eventually rejected by nine votes to five hit back at colleagues who opposed it.

She said: “Our city is beautiful and abundant in culture, so it’s no wonder that so many people from all over the world want to visit it. But that popularity comes with consequences for the people who live here, not least those working in the tourism and hospitality industries, who are often lower paid and struggle with high housing costs.

“I’m delighted that the Scottish Government has given Edinburgh this valuable tool to harness the popularity of Edinburgh as a tourist destination in a way that benefits all our citizens. We need to use that to its fullest extent. The unwillingness of Labour and their Lib Dem and Tory allies to do that shows their lack of commitment to tackling the greatest structural challenge facing our city – the lack of affordable housing.”

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter

West Lothian is to increase rents and service charges for those in temporary tenancies in a bid to cut spiralling costs caused by the surge in homelessness. 

The move will standardise rent charges and include service charges which until now have been paid out of council funds. 

SNP councillors accused the Labour administration of unfairly targeting “the most vulnerable in society” and voted against the proposals. 

West Lothian currently faces a £1.5m overspend on the budget for homeless provision. 

Most councils already impose service charges to those in temporary tenancies, but West Lothian does not.  

Benchmarking of other local authorities where the charges for temporary accommodation are known, indicates that West Lothian’s revised charge would rank 11th out of 20,  

The move standardises rent charges and introduces a service charge which includes furniture storage costs. The base service charge is £43.90 a week. 

The SNP raised an amendment to the proposal at the Executive which said increases in rental charges “unfairly targets the most vulnerable in society.” 

Councillor Willie Boyle told the meeting: “This is clearly a severe increase when people are at their most vulnerable.   Not everyone will have these costs covered by housing benefit.” 

He pointed out that many temporary tenancies were given to working people had lost privately rented homes as landlords had deserted the private rental market in recent years. 

Councillors voted to approve the new charges. 

The report set out the proposed new framework which places all rents into a sliding scale of charges based on the property size and type. 

To date the shortfall in meeting the costs for providing these services have been met by West Lothian Council budgets and has led to significant budget pressures within the Housing Need service as homeless demand and costs to meet this have increased.  

Housing officers said the changes will help to alleviate this pressure and ensure the continuation of homeless prevention and support activity which has not been funded in the long term by the Scottish Government. 

The changes do not impact council housing rent levels which are set via the council annual budget setting process. 

Both housing need and the Advice Shop services will provide additional support to homeless tenants to ensure that there is practical help to ensure financial hardship is prevented wherever possible. 

The changes bring the council into line with other local authorities in Scotland, which aim to fully recover the costs of providing a temporary accommodation service and would secure funding to provide the intensive support required for many homeless applicants. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

This week Chief Superintendent David Robertson welcomed nine new Probationary Police Constables to Edinburgh Division. 

The Divisional Commander discussed some of the incidents they have already been in involved in in their first few shifts.  

These included apprehending housebreakers, finding missing persons, enquiring into incidents of domestic abuse, 

Officers also responded to a drugs death and other non suspicious deaths. 

They also charged shoplifters, passed a death message, and help keeping people safe during the busy night time economy on #OperationNightGuard. 

A former housing site in Winchburgh is to be sold to a developer by West Lothian Council for £1.2m 

Cruden Homes plans to build new flats in Glendevon Park in the rapidly expanding village.  

Officials told a meeting of the council’s Executive that it had exhausted its own budget to build council housing on the site and the sale represented best value to the council. 

A report the Executive said: “The land on the southern edge of the village forms a cleared site consisting of landscaping, hard-standing and parking having previously been occupied by two blocks of flats and lock up garages which were demolished approximately 10 years ago.” 

In September 2022, Council Executive approved the sale of the land to Almond Housing Association (AHA) for the construction of a social rented housing development, but AHA subsequently withdrew from the agreement.  

The Tenants Panel has been consulted on the proposed disposal and raised no objections. The income will be invested in future social housing development. 

Cruden’s offer for the 1.5-acre site is based on a proposed residential development of 49 apartments arranged over three and four storey blocks.  

The report added: “The precise tenure and housing mix of the scheme will be confirmed as part of the planning process. Cruden will be required to engage with the council in its capacity as the strategic housing authority to discuss and agree appropriate, statutory affordable housing provisions in relation to this proposed development.”  

SNP councillors Veronica Smith and Willie Boyle raised questions why the site was not being developed for council housing given the current housing crisis. Councillor  Boyle asked “What’s the constraints stopping this coming forward as a council developed site? 

Head of Housing Julie Whitelaw told the meeting that the council’s ability to build new homes relied on grant funding from the Scottish Government, adding: “We have fully utilised that finding.”  

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter 

Councillors are debating the final plan for introduction of the tourist tax in Edinburgh this morning amid calls to raise the tax either higher or lower, and with various options proposed for spending the money.

The final decision will not be taken until next Friday when there will be a special meeting of the full council.

SNP

The SNP propose an increased rate of 7% payable for seven consecutive nights. The political group would like to spend £20 million on the “mitigation of tourism on housing” retaining £5 million to use to repay the annual capital debt and a further £15 million to be used for grant funding subject to agreement by the Housing committee. They would also like to set the amount allocated to each council ward at £125,000 and rather than spending £300,000 in a top down allocation they would allocate an additional £375,000 to wards where there is deprivation to encourage local engagement. And finally the SNP also want the spending allocation to be deferred to various other committees rather than decided today.

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats also want each spending theme to be referred to an appropriate council committee and want spending prioritised services and improvement projects, and that the monies should be used to benefit all communities in the city and not just in the city centre.

Green Group

The Greens back the levy but want it to be charged at 8% so that it raised around £70 million per annum. They would increase £7.7 million to capital borrowing repayments. This £128 million of investment would in their view unlock a further £97 million of borrowing – so a fund of £225 million to spend on housing. The Greens would also increase the sum available for participatory budgeting to £400,000 per council ward (not just £100,000 as proposed at present) and would ask that the council focuses on proposals for social rents not mid-market rents. The members of the Visitor Levy Forum (to be set up after the council agrees how to charge the levy) should be trained on the Council Business Plan and council strategies.

Conservatives

The Conservatives agree to the proposed charge 5% for a total of five consecutive nights highlight the concerns of business groups such as the Scottish Tourism Alliance which has asked for a delay in implementing the tax to allow hotels and B&Bs to catch up with the practicalities of the processes.

Tanya and Sinead from Living Rent told the committee during their deputation that people working in the tourism sector in the capital cannot afford to live in the city due to rising rents, and that Edinburgh needs more council homes.

They explained that rents have risen by 14% in the last year alone. Asked by Cllr Iain Whyte (Conservative) what effect tourism is having on housing supply, the answer illustrated part of the problem that exists in Edinburgh – there are homeless people living in hotels who require homes. Living Rent said they estimate that around 1,025 people are currently living in hotels – and they pointed out that if these rooms were released for overnight accommodation then they could raise more money for the council in terms of the Visitor Levy, so benefitting everyone. The charity called for the committee to back the Green amendment asking for more of the funds raised to be spent on housing.

The meeting is ongoing here and is expected to put forward a final proposal for agreement at the second meeting next week, although some of the specifics – particularly around housing – will still have to be finalised.

The final draft as it stands today is here.

Edinburgh City Council will not know whether National Insurance costs increases will be met by the Scottish or UK Government before it makes its budget decisions in the next two weeks, officials have admitted. 

The council’s finance chief told councillors that it had to budget to meet the £35m in extra costs because of the change to contributions. 

And a decision on whether the Labour government will fund these increases is unlikely to come before the Chancellor’s Spring statement at the end of March. 

Richard Lloyd-Bithell, the city’s Director of Finance and Procurement told a meeting of the council’s Finance and Resources Committee the situation remains: “very challenging.” 

Councillor Alex Staniforth, who had raised a motion on NI funding for extra staffing costs in Arm’s Length External Organisations (ALEO) said: “In a recent briefing you mentioned that, since this report was written, we are now getting an offer from the Scottish Government of half our direct National Insurance contribution being paid for. 

“Is that likely to be agreed by budget time. Is it like to change if it does change after the budget what will be the process of allocating those funds? 

Mr Lloyd-Bithell replied: “To be clear it is not a formal offer. It is still the position of the Scottish Government to lobby for full funding for direct and indirect commission costs.  

“Our assumption we have made in terms of budget setting is based on a mixture of what has been said in briefings to us as officers in discussions with  CoSLA [the local authorities umbrella group] and the Scottish Government, to look at what would be a prudent assumption.” 

“Discussions are still ongoing. In terms of setting a budget it is very, very challenging because we do not anticipate that we will know the full extent of the funding until the Spring review which is where the chancellor said in her budget it would be addressed. So, it does create a level of uncertainty for us going into the budget. 

“One of the things we’ll have to make sure we do is ensure that we set aside a prudent amount which of course increases financial constraints in budget setting without knowing the extent of the funding but also manage that risk effectively through a mixture of budget and reserves.” 

Papers before the committee revealed the council is facing an £18.9m add on to its staffing bill, with a further £16.7m impact on indirect services, including nearly £3m in extra staffing costs for Edinburgh Leisure. 

However, it warns the indirect services affected may not be covered by any additional funding provided to local authorities to cover the costs. 

In its first Labour Government budget at Westminster the UK Government increased the percentage of National Insurance employees must pay for its staff as well as reducing the threshold for when it kicks in. 

The report said at its own finance committee meeting last November it had noted that the Scottish Government would receive additional funds from the increases and “can and should” use part of it to increase funds to local authorities to help cover the costs. 

However, it said the situation was unclear, particularly when it comes to arm’s length services like Edinburgh Leisure and indirect services such as contracted and commissioned services and external providers. 

By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter