Saughton Park Newsletter + public consultation

NEWSLETTER

Issue 5 : Feb 2015

Welcome to our first Newsletter of 2015! We have been working hard to develop our master plan proposals ready for our five week public consultation which is due to commence Monday 2 March.  Read on to find out how you can view the proposals and have your say.

Developing the master plan

Following on from the ‘Ideas Exhibition’ on 16 December our designers have been developing their ideas further.  It’s all looking very exciting with plans for the old stable buildings and yard to be converted into a great space for learning, volunteering and for holding events and markets.  Public toilets and a new café with views out to the gardens will also be located here. The proposals include a new home for the bandstand, wonderful ideas for the gardens, improved access to the park and much more.  However we don't want to give too much away so you’ll need to come along to one of our exhibitions or go online to see the designs!! The master plan for the park does not just include the landscape and buildings.  We are also putting together a programme of events and activities which we hope will provide something for everyone, whether you are interested in history or horticulture, theatre or art, fitness or fun! Details of how you can find out what is being proposed and how you can have your say is covered on the next page. It’s important to let us know what you think.  The next stage of the design process will be to develop the detailed designs ready for our Heritage Lottery Fund bid submission in August.  Changes to the detailed designs will be limited afterwards so make sure you get involved and have your say before 6 April when the consultation closes!

Snow! Snow! Snow!

Oh no, my body is gone slushy!

Parks for People

Find out more about the Heritage Lottery Fund ‘Parks for People’ programme on their website www.hlf.org.uk

Fri 6 Mar 10 am to 3 pm Winter Garden, Saughton Park Sat 14 Mar 10 am to 3 pm Spring Fever Event, Saughton Park Thu 19 Mar 6 pm to 9 pm Slateford Green Community Centre Wed 25 Mar 1 pm to 6 pm Carrickvale Community Centre Sat 28 Mar 12 noon to 3 pm Winter Garden, Saughton Park Sat 4 Apr 12 noon to 3 pm Easter Bear Hunt, Saughton Park

You can also request a paper copy to be sent out or find out more the following ways: Web Page:         www.edinburgh.gov.uk/saughtonpark Email:                 parks@edinburgh.gov.uk Phone:               0131 529 3030

The Friends of Saughton Park will have the chance to discuss proposals at their meeting on 5 March at the Winter Garden, Saughton Park from 7 pm. We will also be attending the following Community Councils to give them an update: Gorgie Dalry CC:  Mon 2 Mar at 7 pm      Hutchinson Chesser CC:  Mon 9 Mar at 7.30 pm  Stenhouse, Saughton Mains and Whitson CC:  Mon 16 Mar at 7 pm        Read on to find out more about Spring Fever, Easter Bear Hunt and what else is happening in the park.

New look consultation poster

During the consultation period, two fun days are planned at Saughton Park.  Staff will also be on hand to talk about the proposals and help you complete a questionnaire: Saughton Spring Fever Sat 14 Mar 10 am until 3 pm   Come along and enjoy a host of horticultural based activities: ¨ Community Gardening taster sessions with the Scottish Rural College ¨ Kids Gardening Activities with the Caley ¨ Caley Grow & Learn Programme Showcase ¨ Craighall Day Centre Photo Exhibition  ¨ Inch Nursery Plant Sales ¨ Refreshments by FoSP   Saughton Easter Bear Hunt Sat 4 Apr 12 noon until 3 pm   Join us for Easter fun for all the family: ¨ Easter Bear Treasure Hunt with prizes ¨ Children’s art and crafts activities ¨ Storytelling or similar ¨ Refreshments by FoSP   Other things are planned for the summer and we’ll give you more details once the consultation has finished.

Bring on the spring fever ...

… and get the bears out of hibernation!

Shark attack in the park?

January and February has been a relatively quiet month for  events and activities. However we did have a highlight in February when, thanks to funding from the Scottish Book Trust,  Balgreen Nursery School  brought renowned children’s author and illustrator Nick Sharratt to Saughton Park when he read from his book ‘Shark in the Park’. Nick then led the children on a wild adventure through Saughton Park as they looked through homemade telescopes for the sinister dark fin of the elusive shark!!

Shark hunters in the park.

Growing the friends of Saughton park

The Friends of Saughton Park (FoSP) continue to grow.  Their History sub-group are busy collecting stories and photographs about the 1908 Scottish National Exhibition as well as creating a 3D computer model of Saughtonhall, the 17th century house which stood in the garden. Contact Joe McGuigan joe.m.mcguigan@btinternet.com if you would like further information about this History group, to attend the meetings or to contribute stories and photos. The Community Garden sub-group has been allocated, on a temporary basis, the old blind garden space which has declined over the years.  The FoSP were recently awarded some funding and are using the money to buy tools, equipment, seeds and plants which will be used to improve the garden.  They are very excited about the prospect of growing fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs that local people can use.  If you want to get involved in the Community Garden group please contact Kirsten Thorburn kirsten.thorburn@gmail.com. The next Friends of Saughton Park meeting is on Thursday 5 March at 7 pm in the Winter Garden.  Everyone is very welcome to come along.

Himalayan birch in winter colours.

Contact us

Are you interested in Volunteering?  We provide support and training. Tea and biscuits also supplied! Find out more at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/ saughtonpark Email us at parks@edinburgh.gov.uk or call 0131 529 3030

And now for other news

Look out for Lorna Kirk, a community support worker for Skills Path, along with two trainees with mild learning disabilities who will be working in the gardens on Thursdays.  This work will help the trainees improve their skills as well as their confidence and self esteem. A group from Garvald Edinburgh, an organisation that offers creative opportunities and support for people with learning disabilities, is about to start working at Saughton.   Their contribution to the care and maintenance of the park will allow both people and plants to blossom. A group of P5 pupils from St Cuthbert’s Primary School will be planting two large wildflower ‘Living Landscape’ meadows as part of their John Muir Award. Not only will this be a beautiful and interesting addition to the park, it will provide  an important food source for bees and insects.

Food for bees and insects.

Unlocking our wealth: Report of Commission on Community Resilience, Jobs and Growth

A couple of days ago, I mentioned the imminent publication of the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network (CCIN) Policy Commission report on "Community Resilience, Jobs and Enterprise" ...

... well, the full report - and the accompanying evidence document - are now both publicly available, via those  (highlighted) direct links and/or from here.

And as page 9 of the main report makes clear; some 5-million citizens are now served by the 22 councils that make up the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network ...

... and this heavily evidence-based report shows just how a cooperative approach, based on firm partnership with business and individuals, could help more workless people into jobs, at lower cost, increase small business growth to create thousands of jobs, and significantly increase private sector investment in employment and skills.

The report pledges the commitment of Cooperative Councils to implement significant new deals with citizens and business to unlock the wealth of our communities, and it calls on government to give local Councils the power to make it happen.

I do hope central Government, in both Holyrood and Westminster, are listening?

shows how a cooperative approach, based on firm partnership with business and individuals, could help more workless people into jobs, at lower cost, increase small business growth to create thousands of jobs, and significantly increase private sector investment in employment and skills. - See more at: http://www.coopinnovation.co.uk/publications/unlocking-our-wealth-report-of-commission-on-community-resilience-jobs-and-growth/#sthash.k8vsJmSJ.dpuf

Growing a Food Justice Movement in Scotland

Important conference event in Glasgow tomorrow - sadly, I can't be there personally - but, in partnership with the 'Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland' and 'The Centre for Human Ecology' ...

... Faith in Community Scotland is hosting a conference on responses to food poverty in Scotland; and how we can potentially move beyond emergency food aid to just and sustainable food systems.

You can find some more details on the conference here; including a flyer for the event here.

To coincide with the conference, myself and my Glasgow opposite-number - Gordon Matheson - have agreed a joint statement/commitment on food poverty, which I'll copy below:

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Joint Statement on Food Poverty
by the Leaders of Edinburgh and Glasgow City Councils

Glasgow and Edinburgh are committed to eradicating poverty in our cities in all its forms.

Today, most of those living in poverty are in employment, a consequence of reduced wages and a proliferation of exploitative zero hours contracts. Many are unable to find work at all. Changes to the benefit system, including an increased use of sanctions, delays in processing and low benefit levels are fundamental causes of growing poverty.

One consequence of this is food poverty. The combination of low paid or insufficient work, benefit cuts, rising food and fuel costs and the ‘Poverty Premium’ -  which sees the poorest in our communities pay more for everyday necessities such as food, fuel and credit – has rendered tens of thousands unable to eat properly.

The recent report “Food, Fuel and Finance: tackling the poverty premium”, made a series of recommendations for action at city, Scottish and UK levels and we endorse its findings. Furthermore, we welcome the work of the Glasgow-based Poverty Leadership Panel and reaffirm our commitment to delivering its objectives.

Many people have given food and time to food banks.  This generosity reflects the good will and compassion our cities are famous for. However, food banks are a crisis response to an immediate problem, not a sustainable solution to food poverty.  In particular the expansion of the food bank system using ‘waste’ food from the supermarket system, proposed by a recent All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Hunger in the United Kingdom, is deeply flawed.

Experience elsewhere has shown that when food banks become too well established they undermine the fundamental rights enshrined in our welfare system. If we become too reliant upon them we risk a return to charity welfare – this must not happen.

Both Glasgow and Edinburgh have thriving community food sectors, including food cooperatives, community shops, healthy eating groups and projects, growing projects and community gardens. Both cities are part of the Sustainable Food Cities network, with Edible Edinburgh and the Glasgow Food Policy Partnership working across sectors in their respective cities. We believe that community food sectors have a role to play in tackling food poverty and making access to nutritious, sustainable food a reality for all.

We pledge to work with all relevant stakeholders – and crucially, this includes those people with first hand experience of poverty -  to ensure that all citizens have access to sustainable, nutritious food as a matter of course, not as a result of charity.

We believe:

·         Access to food is a basic human right.

·         Insufficient food is a symptom of poverty.

·         Food banks are a crisis response and will not solve the problem of food poverty.

·         Food waste is not an effective or socially just solution to food poverty.

We will:

·         Continue to work alongside those with lived experience of poverty to identify solutions.

·         Encourage the Scottish and UK governments to work in partnership with local government, communities and the third sector to tackle food poverty and develop a plan to tackle its causes.

·         Endorse the recommendations of the Church Action on Poverty report Food, Fuel, Finance and the findings of Glasgow’s Poverty Leadership Panel.

Councillor Gordon Matheson CBE                 Councillor Andrew Burns

Leader of Glasgow City Council                      Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council

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Saughton Park restoration project - Public Consultation

I've mentioned the Saughton Park Restoration Project before ... and pleased to report that a new round of public consultation is about to start next week.

All the background details, and plans, are available via the Council's website - here (and links therein) ... and I'm assuming that the new consultation details will be available via that link very soon!

... and, if further interested, there's more general information on the Edinburgh Outdoors site - here - and you can get involved via this link  :-)

We need more control of our own destiny

Regular readers will recall that last year I was elected as Chair of the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network (CCIN) ... and tomorrow, down in London, CCIN are set to launch a Policy Commission report on "Community Resilience, Jobs and Enterprise".

Sadly, I can't make it down to London this week - but have penned a short piece, to coincide with the launch of the report. I'll copy the piece below, and the Policy Commission report should be available via this link from tomorrow

Cooperate to Innovate: Report launch of policy commission on community resilience, jobs and enterprise - See more at: http://www.coopinnovation.co.uk/events/cooperate-to-innovate-report-launch-of-policy-commission-on-community-resilience-jobs-and-enterprise/#sthash.cHeqoGjY.dpuf

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Cooperate to Innovate: Report launch of policy commission on community resilience, jobs and enterprise - See more at: http://www.coopinnovation.co.uk/events/cooperate-to-innovate-report-launch-of-policy-commission-on-community-resilience-jobs-and-enterprise/#sthash.cHeqoGjY.dpu

We need more control of our own destiny

I reckon the assertion that local government had been unnecessarily stripped of powers, and that its funding mechanisms are broken, would still have been slightly controversial amongst some quarters if stated several years ago. But now, here in early 2015, I doubt if anyone seriously contests the fact that there’s a significant structural problem with how councils across the United Kingdom are empowered and financed?

And, as a Council Leader, a Ward Councillor, and a member of my local community, I do understand the scale of the challenges that we are all facing locally. Many communities are disengaged from local democracy; councils can seem like distant bureaucracies; and, as organisations, we as councils are struggling to manage significant funding reductions just as local people are putting more and more demand on local services.

If councils are going to survive in this context, and if communities are going to thrive, then we all need to start doing things differently. We need to work together, in genuine and equal partnership with local people, to make the most of the strengths that lie in our communities. Most importantly, we must drive real innovation, with local people at its core, if we are to face the challenges ahead of us.

This is exactly why the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network exists. And, as the current Chair of the Network, I firmly believe that the co-operative principles of empowerment, equal partnership, and collective action offer a positive route not simply to survive through tough times, but to enable local communities to thrive, supported by relevant and meaningful local public services.

Three key points are clear to me. Firstly, for local devolution to be successful, there has to be a fundamentally new relationship between Councils and citizens. Secondly, as part of this there needs to be a different form of local leadership, where elected members and others are willing to ‘let go’ and become less risk averse. And thirdly, we need to create appropriate platforms for devolution that align with the key needs, relationships and resources of local areas.

But even if all of these actions are undertaken, and I believe many local Councils the length and breadth of the United Kingdom have indeed embraced this agenda, the outcomes from this innovative new approach to local service delivery will be severely muted if Local Government is not re-empowered with meaningful economic-policy and funding levers.

If we’re serious about providing the basis for a radically new approach to local service delivery, which subsequently leads to the creation of thriving local economies, then we must surely give our local Councils the tools in the toolbox to make this happen?

That’s why I’m so excited about the imminent launch – on Thursday 26^th February - of the findings of a policy commission on community resilience, jobs and enterprise; undertaken by the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network.

In the context of an ailing centralised system (best exemplified by the Work Programme), the Commission has examined cooperative approaches to tackling labour market exclusion and building fairer and more enterprising local economies. The findings complement the current debate on devolution to city regions.

The Commission report calls for a series of cooperative ‘deals’ with citizens, business and central Government to build an economy and a system of employment, skills and enterprise that is underpinned by social partnership, gives localities real power and unlocks the potential and creativity of citizens.

It’s a real prospectus for giving local Councils the powers they need, which would actually ensure that the welcome new approaches to local service delivery subsequently lead to the creation of thriving local economies.

In a nutshell, local Councils would be given the economic-policy levers to make a real local difference.

And, in recent weeks and months, we’ve also seen the publication of two equally important studies; both of which have charted a path for the further devolution of financial freedoms to local Councils.

In Scotland, the Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy has laid out radical new proposals to re-empower Scottish democracy; and in England, the Independent Commission on Local Government Finance has outlined a programme for reform that would lay the foundations for a local government funding system which would be stable for the long term, stimulate economic growth and enable local people to invest in their own local priorities.

In a nutshell, these two sets of proposals (from both sides of the border) would ensure local Councils were given the funding levers to make a real local difference.

If the next UK-Government, of whatever colour, had the political will to implement this double-devolution of economic-policy powers, and funding powers, straight to local Councils; then I am certain we would see a complete transformation of local democracy and local economies ... for the better.

It really is time to give town halls more control of their own destiny, and as discussed above I believe the blueprints to deliver that transformation are all in existence.

What are we waiting for?

Councillor Andrew Burns

Chair of the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network
Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council

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This is Edinburgh

It's the first anniversary of the "This is Edinburgh" campaign, whose aim was to increase footfall and spending within the Capital City ...

... you can read a lot more about it all here.

And here's a short 'behind-the-scenes' video, which explains how it all began  ;-)

Get Involved
This is Edinburgh is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. To find out how your business can benefit from this new marketing initiative, download the This is Edinburgh Toolkit and get involved today.

Co

- See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kVRTIb.dpuf

is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. - See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kVRTIb.dpuf

is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. - See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kVRTIb.dpuf

is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. - See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kVRTIb.dpuf

is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. - See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kVRTIb.dpuf

is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. - See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kVRTIb.dpu

is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. - See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kVRTIb.dpuf

Get Involved
This is Edinburgh is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. To find out how your business can benefit from this new marketing initiative, download the This is Edinburgh Toolkit and get involved today.

Co

- See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kVRTIb.dpuf

is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. - See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kV

Get Involved
This is Edinburgh is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. To find out how your business can benefit from this new marketing initiative, download the This is Edinburgh Toolkit and get involved today.

Co

- See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kVRTIb.dpuf

Get Involved
This is Edinburgh is an exciting new campaign aimed at increasing footfall and spending within the capital. To find out how your business can benefit from this new marketing initiative, download the This is Edinburgh Toolkit and get involved today.

Co

- See more at: http://thisisedinburgh.com/media-centre/#sthash.75kVRTIb.dpuf

February Corporate Policy and Strategy Committee

February's "Corporate Policy and Strategy" Committee is on Tuesday 24th ...

... and all the papers/reports are now in the public domain: the main Agenda can be found here ---

--- the individual reports are all on Committee Papers on-Line (CPOL) linked from here.

Couple of environment/energy-related reports that may well attract some attention and debate this month:

• Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP)
• Energy for Edinburgh (ESCo)

Just click on either of the above links for access (as a PDF) to the specific report ...

... and, of course, all the Policy and Strategy Committee meetings are now being webcast live - and thereafter archived!

All available via here --- it's TV; but like you've never seen before :-))

Allotment in the sunshine ...

First visit to our Allotment, down at Saughton, for quite a few weeks ... and all looking relatively tidy, after a few hours work.

Felt like a lovely, spring afternoon in Edinburgh - and everything has the sense of being about to burst into growing-action!

Edinburgh voted as one of the most beautiful cities in the world

Great that readers of popular travel guidebooks, Rough Guides, have recognised Edinburgh for its striking architecture and landscape ...

... you can see Edinburgh's ranking via here; and the Council has a short News-blog up about the ranking here; and I'll re-produce the text below:


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Edinburgh voted as one of the most beautiful cities in the world

Edinburgh's Council Leader has welcomed news that the capital has been voted one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Readers of popular travel guidebooks Rough Guides recognised Edinburgh for its striking architecture and landscape.

Councillor Andrew Burns, Council Leader, said: “It’s fantastic to see Edinburgh’s beauty recognised, and by the public too, adding to a long list of travel accolades over recent years. The capital’s charm is all part of its appeal, making it one of the best places to visit, work, live and study in the world. From the striking architecture of the Old and New Town to the city’s awe-inspiring castle, Edinburgh, quite rightly a Unesco World Heritage site, is amongst the world’s most spectacular cities.”

Rough Guides said: "It's famed for its excellent annual festival, but there is more to Edinburgh than great comedy and arts – and according to our readers, it’s beauty. Head east of the city and make the short walk up Arthur’s Seat, an 823ft-high dormant volcano, to take in views of Scotland’s capital and you won’t need to question why it’s been voted the 4th most beautiful city in the world."
 

This entry was posted by Media Team on 13/02/2015.

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Council Budget for 2015/16 now passed - all the Meeting-Reports are still available via this link; and the agreed Capital Coalition Motion via this link.

I'll re-produce immediately below, the relevant News Release:

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Council continues to protect frontline services

Published Thursday, 12th February 2015

Protecting investment in frontline services in Edinburgh for young, old and vulnerable residents was a priority at the Council budget meeting today.
 

Major investment in roads and pavements, investing in school infrastructure and working towards the redevelopment of Meadowbank Sports Centre and Stadiumwere other key priority areas.

Cllr Alasdair Rankin, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: "Given the financial challenges all local authorities are facing over the next few years, we want to invest in the areas that are essential to Edinburgh and so it is important that the public continue to tell us what is important to them.

“This year we published the draft budget in October and 3,525 people gave us their views – five times the number of responses compared to last year. We also used a new online planner to give respondents the opportunity to express what they feel the Council’s priorities should be. The planner allowed us to show where we will incur costs in 2017/18, to demonstrate the impacts of increasing or decreasing spending in all of our services. This was extremely popular and 1,719 of those people took Edinburgh’s Budget Challenge.

Cllr Bill Cook, Vice-Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: "We used the feedback received during the consultation process to help us make many key decisions such as maintaining funding for homelessness services, not increasing allotment charges and putting an extra £5m towards improving roads and pavements.”

The eight successive year’s Council Tax freeze maintains Edinburgh's band D rate as the lowest of Scotland's four major cities.

The council tax band levels for Edinburgh in 2015/16 will be:
A: £779.33
B: £909.22
C: £1,039.11
D: £1,169.00
E: £1,428.78
F: £1,688.56
G: £1,948.33
H: £2,338.00

Total budget
The total revenue budget is £949m for 2015/16. Council Tax funds 25% of this with 75%coming from Government grants and business rates. The total capital budget (including the HRA) is £245m.

Key budget provisions

Ensuring every child in Edinburgh has the best start in life
- Allocated an additional £5m of capital to support rising school rolls
- More than £4m invested in Early Years Change Fund for services for the very youngest children

Ensuring Edinburgh, and its residents, are well cared-for
- Maintaining funding for commissioned homelessness services

Providing for Edinburgh's economic growth and prosperity
- Maintaining £1m to continue supporting the Edinburgh Guarantee, helping improve job opportunities for young people
- Support the Strategic Investment Fund with an additional £4.5m

Strengthening and supporting our communities and keeping them safe
- Continuing to invest in community policing
- Allocating an additional£100,000 to each neighbourhood to allow local people to have an even greater say in how their area can be improved

Investing in roads, pavements and cycling infrastructure
- An additional £5m investment in roads and pavements taking the total to £20m
- Commit 8% of the transport revenue and capital budgets for creation and maintenance of cycle infrastructure

Becoming more efficient
- Delivery of procurement transformational efficiencies
- Implementing the Better Outcomes Leaner Delivery (BOLD) programme
- Reducing the head count of the organisation by developing existing staff, revising roles and responsibilities and implementing structural change in the organisation through the ’Organise to deliver’ programme
- Maximising income
- Maximising savings through the rationalisation of the Council’s property estate
- Reducing carbon footprint and generating income through strategic energy projects

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