Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual Meeting - via Microsoft Teams

Contact: Gavin King 

Media

Items
No. Item

1. Order of Business

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1.1

Order of Business

Including any notices of motion and any other items of business submitted as urgent for consideration at the meeting.

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2. Declaration of Interests

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2.1

Declaration of interests

Members should declare any financial and non-financial interests they have in the items of business for consideration, identifying the relevant agenda item and the nature of their interest.

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3. Deputations

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3.1

Deputations

If any

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4. Minutes

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4.1

Minute of 25 August 2020 pdf icon PDF 761 KB

The City of Edinburgh Council of 25 August 2020 – submitted for approval as a correct record

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5. Questions

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5.1

By Councillor Brown - East Craigs - Low Traffic Neighbourhoods pdf icon PDF 11 KB

By Councillor Brown - East Craigs - Low Traffic Neighbourhoods – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.2

By Councillor Webber - East Craigs - Low Traffic Neighbourhoods pdf icon PDF 10 KB

By Councillor Webber - East Craigs - Low Traffic Neighbourhoods – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.3

By Councillor Whyte - East Craigs - Low Traffic Neighbourhood pdf icon PDF 10 KB

By Councillor Whyte - East Craigs - Low Traffic Neighbourhood – for answer by the Leader of the Council

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5.4

By Councillor Jim Campbell - East Craigs - Public Meetings pdf icon PDF 10 KB

By Councillor Jim Campbell - East Craigs - Public Meetings – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.5

By Councillor Lang - Letter to Lothian Buses pdf icon PDF 88 KB

By Councillor Lang - Letter to Lothian Buses – for answer by the Leader of the Council

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5.6

By Councillor Lang - Obstruction of Footways - Advisory Letters and Statutory Notices pdf icon PDF 50 KB

By Councillor Lang - Obstruction of Footways - Advisory Letters and Statutory Notices – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.7

By Councillor Lang - Spaces for People Projects pdf icon PDF 53 KB

By Councillor Lang - Spaces for People Projects – for answer by the Leader of the Council

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5.8

By Councillor Lang - Recycling Centres - Booking System pdf icon PDF 10 KB

By Councillor Lang - Recycling Centres - Booking System – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.9

By Councillor Neil Ross - Council Telephone Lines pdf icon PDF 54 KB

By Councillor Neil Ross - Council Telephone Lines – for answer by the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee

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5.10

By Councillor Miller - Cyclehoop On-street Secure Bike Parking pdf icon PDF 14 KB

By Councillor Miller - Cyclehoop On-street Secure Bike Parking – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.11

By Councillor Miller - Consultation with Residents of Neighbourhoods Regarding “low traffic neighbourhood” (LTN) Options pdf icon PDF 10 KB

By Councillor Miller - Consultation with Residents of Neighbourhoods Regarding “low traffic neighbourhood” (LTN) Options – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.12

By Councillor Gloyer - Strategic Parking Review – Second Phase Consultation pdf icon PDF 11 KB

By Councillor Gloyer - Strategic Parking Review – Second Phase Consultation – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.13

By Councillor Jim Campbell - Commonplace Data pdf icon PDF 51 KB

By Councillor Jim Campbell - Commonplace Data – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.14

By Councillor Smith - Edinburgh Cycle Hire Scheme – Bike Stations pdf icon PDF 14 KB

By Councillor Smith - Edinburgh Cycle Hire Scheme – Bike Stations – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.15

By Councillor Hutchison - APM Attendance pdf icon PDF 53 KB

By Councillor Hutchison - APM Attendance – for answer by the Leader of the Council

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5.16

By Councillor Doggart - Trends in Social Care Expenditure pdf icon PDF 11 KB

By Councillor Doggart - Trends in Social Care Expenditure – for answer by the Vice-Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board

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5.17

By Councillor Young - PE in Schools pdf icon PDF 12 KB

By Councillor Young - PE in Schools – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

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5.18

By Councillor Young - Homework Guidance pdf icon PDF 10 KB

By Councillor Young - Homework Guidance – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

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5.19

By Councillor Young - Spaces for People - Kirkliston Primary School pdf icon PDF 11 KB

By Councillor Young - Spaces for People - Kirkliston Primary School – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.20

By Councillor Burgess - Recycling within Schools pdf icon PDF 10 KB

By Councillor Burgess - Recycling within Schools – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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5.21

By Councillor Rust - Braid Road pdf icon PDF 13 KB

By Councillor Rust - Braid Road – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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6. Leader's Report

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6.1

Leader's Report pdf icon PDF 182 KB

Leader’s report

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7. Appointments

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7.1

Appointments to Committees etc pdf icon PDF 83 KB

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7.2

Education, Children and Families Committee - Appointment of Religious Representative pdf icon PDF 90 KB

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8. Reports

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8.1

Edinburgh Integration Joint Board – Contract Living Wage Uplift pdf icon PDF 238 KB

Edinburgh Integration Joint Board – Contract Living Wage Uplift – referral from the Finance and Resources Committee

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9. Motions

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9.1

By Councillor Barrie - Empty Kitchens Full Hearts – Provision of Food Security

By Councillor Barrie - Empty Kitchens Full Hearts – Provision of Food Security

“Council notes the outstanding efforts of community organisations such as Spartans Academy, Bridgend Farm, Scran Academy, Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts and many others who provided a food provision delivery service across the city to those facing more challenges than most due to issues associated with the COVID 19 pandemic and particularly the effects of lockdown.

Council recognises that with the gradual lifting of lockdown many of the food delivery operations have wound down and are returning to their core operations.

Council further notes that Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts, wholly dependent on food donations from many sources and entirely staffed by volunteers is intent on continuing to rescue food that would normally go to waste and carry on delivering daily food packs to circa 500 citizens in need. In addition, they will continue to provide food to circa 100 walk-in guests daily.

Currently based in Leith Theatre, Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts (EKFH) is a group of community volunteers, many from a hospitality background who, amid great uncertainty in their industry, set concerns for their own future aside to focus on helping to improve the lives of others. This voluntary team is comprised of professional chefs who are supported by teams of packers, drivers and administrative staff who ensure that meals are delivered to doorsteps every day of the week.

They have a mantra of not turning anyone away and rejecting the humiliating practice of means testing and in August alone produced and distributed fifty thousand meals.

Since lockdown began, they have distributed over 160,000 meals totally free of charge with only £3,000 from Edinburgh Council and some donations from different housing associations, the vast majority of their funding so far has been from inside the very communities that they feed.

Council recognises that when it is appropriate, The Lord Provost has plans to recognise the wonderful efforts of the wider voluntary community appropriately but seeks that he visits Empty Kitchens Full Hearts to meet their founder, Lewis McLachlan and the team; to recognise and support their ongoing efforts to provide food security for families and individuals across the City and beyond.”

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9.2

By Councillor Staniforth - Milan Urban Food Policy Pact

By Councillor Staniforth - Milan Urban Food Policy Pact

“Council;

Notes that the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact is an international pact among cities to develop sustainable food system that are inclusive, resilient, safe and diverse.

Notes that 210 cities, including Brighton and Glasgow, have signed up to the pact.

Notes that a city’s sustainable food policy requires working with the regions around the city to implement and that therefore the City Region Deal provides a unique opportunity to progress the aims of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact.

Resolves that formally signing up to the pact be brought forward as part of the upcoming review of the city’s international strategy.

Resolves that the aims of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact should be integrated into the City Region Deal and sustainable food systems that are inclusive, resilient, safe and diverse should be an aim of development linked to the deal.”

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9.3

By Councillor Neil Ross - Quiet Route from Greenbank to the Meadows

By Councillor Neil Ross - Quiet Route from Greenbank to the Meadows

“Council

Notes the proposal for a Quiet Route from Greenbank to the Meadows involving six road closures in Morningside.

Notes the proposal has been made without notifying any residents living on or near the proposed route or permitting residents the opportunity to express their views on the proposals, either positive or negative, by way of public consultation. 

Notes the proposal claims to tackle rat-running traffic but does not address speeding traffic on Hermitage Drive or Midmar Drive.

Notes the proposal includes two options for Braid Road, either to remain closed or to re-open for southbound traffic only.

Notes that the Council is proposing to implement the scheme by means of a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order despite the fact that there is no evidence that local residents and users of the route have any difficulties meeting the social distancing rules on this route.

Notes that the Council’s Commonplace online ideas tool collected twice as much support for protected cycle lanes on Whitehouse Loan than for closing that road to motor vehicles.

Notes the condition of the road surface on the proposed route, apart from Whitehouse Loan, is generally poor, especially on Canaan Lane, Cluny Drive, Braidburn Terrace and at the Braid Avenue/Cluny Gardens crossroads.

Believes that the level of danger of the transmission of Covid-19 infection between cyclists and other road users on the proposed route is so low that it does not justify using the Council’s emergency powers to implement this scheme.

Believes that local residents should be allowed to express their views on traffic management and road use proposals in their communities and that their views should be taken into account before a decision is made on whether to implement such proposals.

Therefore proposes that the implementation of the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route using a temporary traffic regulation order should be paused and

instructs officers to hold an informal public consultation in the next three months with residents living on or near the proposed route and the school communities of James Gillespie’s High School and Primary School and NHS Lothian to identify levels of local support for

1)         the existing proposals for a Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route; and

2)         an alternative proposal for the same route, not involving road closures, to

i)                 install segregated cycle lanes on Whitehouse Loan from Astley Ainslie to the schools; and

ii)                prioritise future road re-surfacing of Braidburn Terrace, the Braid Avenue/Cluny Gardens crossroads and the relevant sections of Canaan Lane and Cluny Drive that are part of the route; and

iii)               introduce traffic calming measures along the length of Hermitage Drive and Midmar Drive;and

iv)              re-open Braid Road and use the time available before re-opening to re-surface the sections that are in poor condition and to install appropriate traffic calming measures, such as raising the road surface at road intersections and installing a pedestrian and cycle crossing near the entrance to the Hermitage and a chicane at the corner  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.3

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9.4

By Councillor Rae - Community Councils

By Councillor Rae - Community Councils

Council recognises the invaluable contribution made to local democracy and our communities by our Community Councils and the ongoing influence they have had on the functioning of the city during the Coronavirus crisis.

Council also recognise the challenges they have faced in adopting a fully digital approach to meetings, in terms of both technology and costs, when their budgets are often limited.

Council therefore agrees to support our Community Councils going forward to sustain such meetings, and in the future to achieve the goal of the Association of Edinburgh Community Council for meetings post-Covid to be in a ‘blended’ format and offer the option of on-line and in-person participation, thus increasing costs.

Council recognise that Community Councils, as autonomous bodies, should be able to adopt their preferred platform for hosting, therefore will offer a small grant to cover basic costs of a hosting platform. Council also recognise that some Community Councils prefer the user-friendly and flexible option of Zoom, therefore Councillors should be given access to this app to allow them to attend Community Council meetings run on this format.”

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9.5

By Councillor Rose - Objectivity in Media Releases

By Councillor Rose - Objectivity in Media Releases

“Council:

1)         Note that under the policy on advertising and sponsorship agreed in August 2019, the Council “will always adhere to the terms of any current legislation and relevant nationally recognised industry codes.”

2)         Notes that this includes the Advertising Standards’ Authority’s Committee of Advertising Practice code

3)         Notes that Section 3, paragraph 3.3 of the CAP code states:

·                  Marketing communications must not mislead the consumer by omitting material information. They must not mislead by hiding material information or presenting it in an unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely manner.

·                  Material information is information that the consumer needs to make informed decisions in relation to a product. Whether the omission or presentation of material information is likely to mislead the consumer depends on the context, the  medium and, if the medium of the marketing communication is constrained by time or space, the measures that the marketer takes to make that information available to the consumer by other means”

4)         Further notes the Council’s policies do not specify its own marketing and public relations communications.

5)         Recognises that Council communications personnel strive to achieve the highest standards of balance and accuracy at all times and are politically neutral.

6)         Instructs the Chief Executive to bring back to Council in two cycles a set of guidelines to assist staff in ensuring all council public relations and marketing material is fair, balanced and accurate and can be substantiated by evidence.”

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9.6

By Councillor Laidlaw - Sewage Discharges

By Councillor Laidlaw - Sewage Discharges

“Council:

1)         Notes concern at reports of recent discharges into the Water of Leith and the Water of Leith Basin, which could have included raw sewage.

2)         Notes that in addition to having a potentially negative impact on local wildlife this also affects the quality of life of residents and the attractiveness of hospitality businesses operating on the Shore.

3)         Understands that landowners have a responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of any watercourses running through their land.  Further understands that the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), as the regulator of Scottish Water, is responsible for investigating any unlicensed discharges of sewage, and requests that members of the public report any such discharges via the SEPA website without delay.

4)         Notes that Scottish Water is aware of the need to make significant investments in its Combined Sewer Overflows along the Water of Leith to address the issue of sewage discharge.  Further notes that work is due to start imminently, having been delayed by the Scottish Government’s ban on construction in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, and is anticipated to take around two years to complete.

5)         Instructs the Council Leader to write to Scottish Water and Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, requesting an acceleration in the capital programme to mitigate risks of unlicensed discharges along the Water of Leith and in the Water of Leith Basin with the aim of completing this programme by the original deadline or sooner.”

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9.7

By Councillor Rust- Collaboration with Local Communities

By Councillor Rust- Collaboration with Local Communities

“Council:

1)         Expresses concerns that specific substantive schemes and measures are being brought in across the city by the Council over a period of months utilising emergency legislative powers, despite significant opposition from residents in communities which the Council is here to serve.

2)         Notes that significant community opposition is evident, but may not be limited to, the following:

         Braid Road closure

         Cockburn Street

         Comiston Road

         East Craigs LTN

         Links Gardens closure

         Silverknowes Road North closure

            Recognises that Scottish Government guidance has changed since these and other measures were first mooted.

3)         Agrees that change is best delivered through collaboration with local communities which are impacted by decisions taken.

4)         Resolves that powers granted under the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, and the use of Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders shall not be used to force substantial changes on to communities where local people have expressed significant opposition henceforth, as this is contrary to our liberal democratic traditions and is a cause of reputational damage to the Council.

5)         Recognises this will impact on the Spaces for People programme in a positive way, building support for active travel that is likely to endure and ensuring schemes are transparent and have public validity.”

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9.8

By Councillor Mowat - Click to Report

By Councillor Mowat - Click to Report

“Council:

Warmly notes the evolution of “Click to report” on the Council website, which provides an easy way to report issues, concerns or lapses in many Council services.  Further notes that these reports are managed through the Verint platform, passing automatically to the back-office systems that Services use for day to day management.

Thanks officers for this work, and looks forward to further innovation to boost the Council’s responsiveness and efficiency.

Asks that Councillors are provided with a Report:

1)         Analysing the use of “Click to report”;

2)         Reviewing the potential to develop the Verint platform further;

3)         Considering what Service Levels could be shared as part of the “Click to report” process so users know how long to expect resolution of an issue should take;

4)         Identifying opportunities to enhance engagement with respondees following them completing a “Click to report”.”

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9.9

By Councillor Booth - Homeless Households in Unsuitable Accommodation

By Councillor Booth - Homeless Households in Unsuitable Accommodation

“Council

1)         Notes that being placed in unsuitable temporary accommodation can have a significant negative impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of homeless people;

2)         Notes that the right to suitable temporary accommodation was extended to all homeless households in May 2020, where previously it had only applied to households with children and pregnant women;

3)         Further notes that there was a coronavirus-related exemption for this extension until the end of September 2020, and that the Scottish Government intends to further extend this exemption until the end of January 2021;

4)         Further notes that of the 500 breaches of the unsuitable accommodation order in the whole of Scotland in the last year, three quarters of these were in Edinburgh;

5)         Acknowledges that the very high cost of accommodation in Edinburgh, coupled with other factors such as the high number of Short Term Lets reducing housing availability and increasing rents, makes it extremely challenging to provide suitable temporary accommodation to homeless households;

6)         Nonetheless notes that bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation is the most expensive form of temporary accommodation, and provides the least suitable accommodation for homeless households, and therefore reaffirms Edinburgh's commitment to end the use of unsuitable accommodation;

7)         Therefore agrees that the delayed Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan, to be presented to Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee within the next few weeks, should include a fully costed and timetabled action plan to ensure that no household in Edinburgh is in unsuitable accommodation from the end of January 2021 onwards.”

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