Mentioned last year that it was good to see strong support for the successful location of the Green Investment Bank here in Edinburgh ...
No, not the one in the middle ;-)
Sir Chris Hoy awarded Freedom of Edinburgh
Afternoon over in Salsburgh for an all-too-brief visit to my folks ...Good Progress
Since my last report in June I feel the Capital Coalition has made good progress in a number of areas
and that we have significantly changed the way things are done by showing we are
prepared to listen and respond to stakeholders and the public. I hope you will
agree, but if not, or if you want to bring something to my attention, please email me.
 This has been a significantly upbeat month with our Deputy Leader
Councillor Steve Cardownie quick off the mark to show
how we intend to complement the celebrations of Olympic achievements in Glasgow
by granting Sir Chris Hoy the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh at the Council meeting this
month. A civic reception and other celebrations will also follow to honour Sir
Chris and his Olympic team-mates, coaches, volunteers, officials, friends and
family associated with Edinburgh who all contributed to the success.
I
couldn’t allow this report to go out without a mention of the hugely successful
Edinburgh International Culture Summit in the city this month.
Delegations from more than 30 countries visited our world leading festival city
to undertake a range of discussions which will enable them to make connections
that will benefit our festivals and the city economy for
years to come.
__________________________________________Steady as she goes
I’m aware tram works still look unsightly and things are
still difficult, but we are making steady progress on the construction programme
and the first trams are due to be ready for passengers in the Summer of
2014.
The project is in its peak construction phase with some 1000 people
working on what is Scotland’s second largest infrastructure project. (After the
Forth replacement crossing.)
While I am determined, along with the Transport Convener Councillor
Lesley Hinds to ensure delivery of the project, we are also committed to listen
to the concerns of those affected so we can minimise the effects of the
construction programme on their lives. For example, we have been able to change
traffic management arrangements and diversion routes in the Broughton
Street/Albany Street and Abercrombie Place areas after taking on board the
concerns of local residents and traders.
We have also erected more directional signs in the city centre and
east end area to help people more easily find their way to local shops,
businesses and city centre landmarks.
In the east end/Broughton Street area currently affected by
diversions we have been able to take action to lessen the effect of the
works.
On Leith Walk, we continue to meet with members of the local
community to make sure that the £5.5 million improvement programme meets their
expectations and we will work with them to reduce disruption as far as
possible.
__________________________________________Firm action – new service
Firm action has been taken against those few individuals who
mismanaged property repairs with a number of suspensions
and dismissals.
Options to create a brand new service are being presented for public consultation. Rather than, as tends to
happen at present, the Council being the first port of call to manage home
owner’s repairs, the new service will expand provision of advice and information
whilst placing on the owners the primary responsibility for managing their
property repairs or maintenance.
I’m aware that this will not be universally popular but it will mean
home owners will be more in control of their own home maintenance and the
Council will only be used when attempts at self-management have failed as in
cities elsewhere in the country. The emergency service, which responds where
there is a risk to public health or safety, is likely to be retained.
Your comments on these options are most welcome as part of the consultation:
·
property factoring
·
sample inspections of listed buildings
·
reintroduction of the Edinburgh Stair Partnership
·
use of a statutory tenement management scheme.
If staff working in these service areas have
any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to speak to your line
manager.
__________________________________________Reduce Reuse Recycle – bin collections are changing
We are making changes to the recycling and waste collection service to make
it simpler and help us increase the amount we recycle in each home.
From 10 September, garden waste, household waste and food waste
collections will now take place on the same day. Food bins will continue to be
collected weekly and brown (garden) and green (household) bins will alternate
each week.
Residents affected by the changes have already received information
by mail and new calendars will be sent closer to the time. We need to reduce
waste to landfill for environmental reasons as well as the cost and with
everybody’s help that will mean more to invest in improving local
services.
Thank you to the teams across the council who are working hard to
make these improvements to our service.
__________________________________________Young people deserve better
If you haven’t already heard, the Edinburgh Guarantee is a vision
that all sectors of the city will work together to ensure that every school
leaver in Edinburgh will have a positive destination such as employment,
apprenticeship, internship or job focused education.
The Council is leading and we have provided 50 apprenticeships and 80
training places so far with more to come. We have been heartened by the response
across all sectors of the city which has enabled us to match 464 young people
into a positive destination. We need to do more so keep the ideas and offers
coming. If your service has ideas, please e-mail the Edinburgh Guarantee team.
__________________________________________Be in the picture
Keep yourself in the picture with our news section online.
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Managed to get a few hours down at the Allotment late this afternoon ... was quite a bit of work to do, having been away for a fortnight.
Back in Edinburgh this evening, after a fabulous 2-weeks down in Sussex/Kent ... with 4-days spent in London at the Olympics :-)