Agenda and minutes

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

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.

If any

The City of Edinburgh Council of 28 July 2020 – submitted for approval as a correct record

By Councillor Main – Public Conveniences – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Lang - Spaces for People Projects – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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

By Councillor Lang - Obstruction of Public Footways – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Neil Ross - Garden Waste Permit Renewal – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Osler - Spaces for People Programme – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Burgess – Schools – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Corbett - Confirmed Breaches of Covid Related Public Health Regulations in Licensed Premises – for answer by the Chair of the Licensing Board

By Councillor Corbett - Glyphosate Herbicide – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Young - Exam Results Impact – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Young - Breakfast and After School Clubs – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Young - Nursery 1140 Hours – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Webber - Safe Travel to Schools - Consultation with Parent Councils – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Whyte - St James Growth Accelerator Model (GAM) – for answer by the Leader of the Council

By Councillor Bruce - Blocked Drains – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Bruce - Community Grants – for answer by the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee

By Councillor Jim Campbell - Parent Council Statutory Requirements – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Douglas - Safe Travel to Schools – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Johnston - Furloughed Council Employees – for answer by the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee

By Councillor Laidlaw - Employment of New Teachers – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Mowat - Legal Challenges to TTROs – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Rust - Scottish Government Food Fund – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Rust - Spaces for People Proposals – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

Leader’s report

Annual Performance 2019/20 – referral from the Policy and Sustainability Committee

Coalition Commitments Progress Update - August 2020 – referral from the Policy and Sustainability Committee

By Councillor Mowat – Tramworks Traffic Displacement

“Council:

Notes that:

1)         road diversions for the tram works has displaced traffic into surrounding streets which is causing congestion, making the routes more unpleasant for active travel and increasing traffic volumes on residential and shopping streets;

2)         concerns have also been raised about the use of heavy vehicles on unsuitable streets with speed bumps and setts which is causing concerns to residents in the properties on these streets;

3)         that notification for additional road closures have been publicised which will further divert traffic from main roads onto residential streets.

Council therefore calls for a report detailing:

1)         A traffic count of vehicle numbers on Broughton Road, Bonnington Road, Bellevue Road, East London Street, Broughton Street, Albany Street, Abercromby Place, London Road, Drummond Place, Queen Street Gardens East, Great Junction Street, Duke Street, Easter Road, Ferry Road, Salamander Street/Bernard Street/Commercial Street and Hermitage Place/East Hermitage Place and compares these with the numbers expected by traffic modelling done to design the diversion routes;

2)         A review of traffic light timings throughout these routes to ensure that there is sufficient time for safe passage for pedestrians and efficient movement of vehicular traffic;

3)         A review of the closure of Links Gardens to determine whether reopening this previously signed route would ease congestion on Duke Street/Great Junction Street;

4)         A review of all active travel routes within Leith and from Leith to the City Centre to maximise the capacity given that the Water of Leith path is suspended between Connaught Place and West Bowling Green Street to ensure that people can make a safe choice to use active travel and are not being diverted onto congested streets; this should also review whether additional measures are needed to ensure pedestrian and cyclist safety on routes which are now carrying more traffic.

The report to be reported in two cycles to the Policy and Sustainability Committee.”

By Councillor Jim Campbell – Public Health

“Council

Notes the local Public Health containment measures that, regretfully, have had to be implemented in Aberdeen, Leicester, Greater Manchester and other areas in the UK to suppress transmission of the Coronavirus.

Further notes that local containment measures seem consistent with international best practice in combating the Coronavirus pandemic and historic Public Health infectious disease control.

Recognises that Edinburgh, a city with strong international connections that has traditionally seen many visitors and residents enjoy excellent transport connections, is at an elevated risk of a local Coronavirus outbreak; a risk illustrated by the February outbreak associated with the Nike conference held in the city.

Calls for an urgent report from the Chief Executive to the next meeting of the Policy and Sustainability Committee to address the following points:

1)         The public authority powers and responsibilities available in terms of implementing local disease control measures in Scotland, covering a Local Authority Area, or part of a Local Authority Area and the body or bodies with which these powers sit.

2)         The responsibilities of the City of Edinburgh Council in matters of Public Health.

3)         An outline of the contingency planning that the Council and Partner organisations have been involved with should local disease control measures be required in Edinburgh.

4)         The criteria used to consider the appropriateness of implementing disease control measures both covering a whole Local Authority, or only part of a Local Authority, in terms of Public Health and community cohesion.

Furthermore, Council requests that when this report is presented to committee, the Public Official, or officials, responsible for Public Health in the City of Edinburgh makes themselves available to committee for discussion.”

By Councillor Hutchison - Council Arms-Length External Organisations (ALEOs) Full Financial Disclosure

“Council:

Recognises the vital role played by the Council’s ALEOs in Edinburgh which are fully or majority owned by Council.

Notes the significant financial pressures that these organisations are under according to press reports in which senior staff of the ALEOs have made comment, and the limited reporting available to the Policy and Sustainability Committee and delay in reporting to Executive Committees which has reduced opportunities for scrutiny.

Requires the Chief Executive to provide an urgent report fully disclosing the financial health of all Council ALEOs, to either the Council or to the Finance and Resources Committee, whichever meets first.”

By Councillor Webber – Pavements and People

“Council:

Reconfirms pedestrians are at the top of the urban transport hierarchy, and therefore agrees to:

1)         A moratorium on the introduction of any new floating bus stops in the City of Edinburgh until a thorough consultation with bus operators, bus passengers' groups, and groups representing pedestrians and less able citizens is completed.

2)         A brief report detailing the number and nature of pavement obstructions reported to the Council since March 2020 and any resulting enforcement action taken to ensure that pavements are clear spaces for everyone to enjoy. 

This report should be provided to the re-convened Transport and Environment Committee at its first meeting.”

By Councillor Corbett – Flooding

“Council:

Notes the exceptional weather events overnight on 11/12 August 2020; notes that such events are predicted to become more frequent as a result of climate breakdown; warmly thanks staff for outstanding efforts in dealing with flooding and other weather-related consequences; notes widespread concern from residents that poorly maintained and choked street gullies contributed to floodwater pooling in public areas and into residents’ properties; notes the report from the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology in 2019 that Edinburgh has lost 282 hectares of green land since 1990 which otherwise acted as a soak for rain and surface water; and therefore agrees to a report within three cycles, including dialogue with Scottish Water, on what steps can be taken to mitigate the scale of flooding in the future.”

By Councillor Burgess – James Harrison

“Council;

Regrets with sadness the death of James Harrison who was fatally injured at the junction of Gilmerton and Mount Vernon on 25th June while cycling to his work at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh;

Notes that colleagues knew James as a charming, highly talented athlete, and hard-working senior research nurse who chose to be redeployed from his research post to the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Infirmary, caring for patients on ventilators during the COVID19 lockdown - his own life ending in the same intensive care unit on the day after his accident;

Recognises James' heroic efforts during the pandemic and his tragic death while cycling to work;

Requests that the Lord Provost conveys the Council’s sincere condolences and respects to James’ family in an appropriate manner;

Further requests that all reasonable action is taken to continue to improve road safety for cyclists including that a new Edinburgh 'Vision Zero' Road Safety Plan - which aims that 'all users are safe from the risk of being killed or seriously injured' on the City's roads - is developed to replace the existing plan and is reported to the Transport & Environment Committee.”

By Councillor Burgess – Senior School Students

“Council:

Congratulates senior school students on their hard work and resilience in achieving grades in assessed subjects in 2020; recognises unique challenges for students and for staff in making assessments in 2020; regrets the failure of SQA and ministers to heed repeated warnings about the flaws in the marking process; welcomes the decision on 11.8.20 to revert to teacher-based assessments; and agrees that the Education Convenor will write to Cabinet Secretary for Education seeking assurances that more credible systems of assessment be put in place for 2021 should exams not take place, in full or part, next year.”