Policy Work
At Finance & Resources Committee, Claire Miller successfully passed an amendment on the Gender Pay Gap to ensure officers would report back on the opportunities for improvement they identify. She raised the issue of barriers to women to higher paid professional and managerial graded positions due to the culture of full time roles with fewer opportunities for flexibility or job sharing.
At October’s full council Steve Burgess won agreement that the council will support partnership working on Sustainability and specifically Climate Change through the Edinburgh Partnership, despite the new Community Plan, that is supposed to progress a ten-year ‘vision’ for the City, now only looking at income maximisation, housing and employment.
In October Melanie’s motion on a tobacco free Edinburgh 2034 was adopted by the Edinburgh Partnership, including Police, NHS, Fire & Rescue, and the voluntary sector all buying in to a city strategy tackling what is still biggest health issue in the city.
In his canal champion role, Gavin Corbett visited the Seagull Trust in Ratho which provides canal cruises for people with additional needs. He attended the second meeting of the four pilot councils for the citizens basic income trial and he publicised the current consultation expanding common good status.
In Education, Mary Campbell had a working group set up to look into solutions for schools who do not have a production kitchen and suffer from a loss of food quality in transit. She also successfully argued against a Conservative amendment in full council that would have halted a plan to build a new Castlebrae and a new sports facility for Trinity.
On transport, Chas Booth has been pushing the council to ensure any tram extension to Newhaven improves provision for pedestrians and cyclists. He has also been promoting the City Plan 2030 consultation, which will shape future development in Edinburgh.
Susan Rae has been interrogating the councils plans for the roll out of Universal Credit, which she believes does not do enough to support families who will be left in arrears for housing payments.
In full council, Alex Staniforth had a motion passed that offers top up funding for struggling community councils, and will have officers looking into how the council can support community councils sharing resources like communication tools and insurance.
Ward Work
Claire met with the Local Area Commander of the police to discuss and agree actions on drug dealing on the streets and in homes in the Old Town and Dumbiedykes areas. Claire is prioritising this issue through the Dumbiedykes small area plan, and she is the convenor of the cross-agency partnership that will deliver this plan.
In Fountainbridge-Craiglockhart, Gavin Corbett spoke at a community meeting on the long-standing saga of Redhall House: B-listed but empty since 2007. The prospect of it being brought back into use seems now closer than at any time.
In Morningside, Melanie Main is supporting a new campaign to save Midmar paddock at Blackford Hill from development. The Newbattle Terrace major street renewal has been given the green light and locals are being invited to discuss proposals with the roads design team.
At Southside-Newington ward level, Steve has been exploring with council officers the development of a new play area in the south of the ward that currently has little in the way of play facilities for younger children.
In Leith Walk, Susan Rae has been chairing the group planning the next Leith Chooses participatory voting session.
In Leith, Chas Booth has been working with the community council to address the problem of abandoned caravans on Leith Links.
In Portobello/Craigmillar, Mary Campbell has been supporting council officers who organised a Cycling and Walking Festival for Portobello, which was very well attended. She also attended a meeting of the Bathing Water Stakeholders group to hear updates about the water quality in Portobello West, which had been struggling with poor water quality. She also chaired the working group for the You Decide participatory voting, which had a very competitive vote this year.
In Morningside Melanie Main is supporting a new campaign to save Midmar paddock at Blackford Hill from development. The Newbattle Terrace major street renewal has been given the green light and locals are being invited to discuss proposals with the roads design team.
At Southside-Newington ward level, Steve has been exploring with council officers the development of a new play area in the south of the ward that currently has little in the way of play facilities for younger children.
In Leith Walk Susan Rae has been chairing the group planning the next Leith Chooses participatory voting session.
In Leith, Chas Booth has been working with the community council to address the problem of abandoned caravans on Leith Links.
In Portobello/Craigmillar Mary Campbell has been supporting council officers who organised a Cycling and Walking Festival for Portobello, which was very well attended. She also attended a meeting of the Bathing Water Stakeholders group to hear updates about the water quality in Portobello West, which had been struggling with poor water quality. She also chaired the working group for the You Decide participatory voting, which had a very competitive vote this year.
Click to download PDF – Councillor Report October 2018