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June 2015
If the case fits
Positive
destinations
Great news: figures published by the Scottish Government this week show
that more Edinburgh school leavers than ever are moving into work, education,
or training.Since launching the Edinburgh Guarantee scheme four years ago, our positive destination figure has risen to 93.1%, an increase of 10%. The Capital is now the best performing city in Scotland and is 12th out of all local authority areas, which puts us well above the national average. Hear more about the figures, and the people behind them, in this short video. We must acknowledge, of course, that there is still a lot of work to be done to drive this figure even higher through targeted support for areas of the city with deprivation and high unemployment.
A leaner, more
agile Council
We must change the way we work to meet the needs of Edinburgh's growing
population and address the significant financial challenges we face. To this
end, councillors have been asked to consider proposals
that will transform our services and help us to make essential savings of
at least £107m over the next five years.This includes streamlining the council structure to become more efficient and deliver more services locally to those people who need them the most. It will also involve a more joined up approach to how we work with partners like Police Scotland and NHS Lothian. Of course, changes on this scale can be unsettling for staff and we are looking at what support we can give, including the development of a new Career Transition Service. We will also continue to engage with both staff and trade unions as the proposals develop.
City Region Deal
I've periodically mentioned progress towards an Edinburgh
City Region Deal, and I'm pleased to report this month that we have now
had constructive, initial engagement with both the Scottish Government and UK
Governments.The next stage towards delivery has been commissioned, and our development partners are now in place. Further, a recent University of Edinburgh event also saw significant interest in our recent progress from ResPublica who have extensive experience in assisting the development of City Deals across the UK. These are all early positive signs, with a lot of work still in front of us, but all six local authorities involved are continuing to focus hard on the aim-at-hand: delivering a Deal that will help ensure continued economic growth and a reduction in inequality across the whole South East Scotland Region.
Trusted Traders
A new online directory, Trusted Traders Edinburgh,
launched this week to help residents choose contractors with confidence.After being carefully checked out by our Trading Standards team, contractors are accepted as members and their details added to the website. Around 40 traders and businesses have already signed up, creating a new 'go to list' for people looking for services such as home repairs. Customers can use the directory to find local contractors' details with the reassurance that they are reliable and have been fully vetted. Edinburgh's scheme was created after a public consultation found that many home owners are hesitant about organising shared repairs in common areas as they don't know how to find a trustworthy trader.
Compact volunteer
framework
The Lord Provost has just hosted the City's Annual Volunteering Awards
ceremony, recognising the contribution of over 100 outstanding volunteers,
including his Inspiring Volunteer of the Year 2015, Malik Masood, who has
campaigned over many years for older and ethnic minority people. Very well
deserved.You may not be aware that Edinburgh is home to 2,630 charitable organizations, which make an annual economic contribution of £2.7bn, employ 15,000 people and are supported by over a third of residents who regularly volunteer. I am delighted, therefore, to report that the Compact Partnership, currently in its tenth year of operation, has recently agreed an ambitious new Strategic Framework that will continue to guide public and voluntary sector relations over the next five to 10 years.
Culture Vultures
As ever in Edinburgh, residents won't be short of doorstep discoveries
this summer. From the biggest ever Fringe programme to a whole host of events
and activities at the Council's museums and galleries, there's something to
suit all budgets.At the Museum of Edinburgh, two brand new interactive exhibits have opened. Free-to-enter, they bring the stories behind some of the city's treasured artefacts to life including items belonging to Edinburgh-born WW1 British Commander Earl Haig, who created The Royal British Legion. Meanwhile, at the City Art Centre, visitors can find sensational Scottish art spanning 350 years and more than 150 paintings, sketches and pieces of sculpture. A visit to Scottish Art: People, Places, Ideas is free.
Stay in the
picture
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live full Council and some committee meetings on our webcast. Join the debate
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The regular June Council Meeting is coming up - next Thursday (25th) ...
