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 15 October 2020 – submitted for approval as a correct record

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

By Councillor Lang - Rosshill Terrace Speed Table – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Lang - Housing Repairs – for answer by the Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee

By Councillor Staniforth - Vehicles Parking at Shared Cycling-Walking Route – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Rust - Spaces for People Proposals for Lanark Road/Inglis Green Road – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Howie - Sheltered Housing Allocation – for answer by the Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee

By Councillor Rust - Furlough of the City of Edinburgh Council Staff – for answer by the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee

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

By Councillor Young - Remote Learning During Isolation – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

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

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

By Councillor Rose - Non-Disclosure Agreements – for answer by the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee

By Councillor Jim Campbell - Spaces for People Adaptation Work – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Jim Campbell - Coronavirus Measures and Powers – for answer by the Depute Leader of the Council

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

By Councillor Booth - Gaelic Medium Education – Secondary – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

Leader’s report

City of Edinburgh Council - 2019/20 Annual Audit Report to the Council and the Controller of Audit - referral from the Finance and Resources Committee

Revenue Budget 2020/23: 2020/21 Month Five Position and Framework Assumptions Update - referral from the Finance and Resources Committee

Town Centre Fund - Additional Allocations – referral from the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee

Community Centres and Libraries Re-opening (update) - referral from the Policy and Sustainability Committee

Trams to Newhaven - COVID-19 Final Business Case Refresh - referral from the Transport and Environment Committee

Spaces for People Update - November 2020 - referral from the Transport and Environment Committee

Spaces for People – East Craigs Low Traffic Neighbourhood - referral from the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Lang - Regulation of Fireworks

“Council:

1)       recognises that whilst the majority of people use fireworks in a safe and responsible manner, the reckless misuse of fireworks by a minority has continued to caused damage and distress in a number of local communities.

2)       expresses its sincere thanks to the emergency services who tended to a number of serious incidents in the city earlier this month because of the misuse of fireworks.

3)       notes that 94% of those who responded to the 2019 Scottish Government consultation on the regulation of fireworks agreed there should be more control over the sale of fireworks and 92% were in favour of greater control on the use of fireworks.

4)       welcomes the recent report from the Fireworks Review Group and the 11 recommendations submitted to the Scottish Government, including the creation of no firework zones, limitations on the days and times that fireworks can be set off, and measures to tackle proxy-purchasing of fireworks by those under the age of 18.

5)       agrees that the Leader of the Council write to the Minister for Community Safety to express the Council’s support for additional measures to address the misuse of fireworks and to ask that such measures are put in place in time for November 2021.”

By Councillor Neil Ross - Additional Costs Arising from The Short Term Lets Legislation

“Council:

·                 Welcomes the intention of the Scottish Government, following a second consultation which closed on 16 October 2020, to publish legislation in December to give local authorities powers to license short-term lets and introduce control areas.

·                 Notes that the Control Area Regulations, as defined in the Consultation Paper, would allow planning authorities to designate all or part(s) of their area as a control area.

·                 Notes that within such a designated area, the use of a dwelling house for short term letting, in a property where the host does not normally live, would always be deemed to involve a material change of use and to require planning permission.

·                 Notes that there are over 6,500 active listings of entire properties for short term letting in Edinburgh.

·                 Recognises that, should this legislation be introduced next year, the Council’s Planning and Licensing Departments are likely to receive a significant number of applications from short term let landlords.

·                 Therefore, given the current pressures on the Council’s finances, requests a report to the Finance & Resources Committee within two cycles to quantify the likely costs to process these applications, which may be received as a result of this new legislation, and to outline the options for funding.”

By Councillor Neil Ross - Extension of Visitor Parking Permits

“Council:

·                 Notes that the Council issues visitor parking permits in books of 10 and will exchange or refund only complete books of unused out of date permits. 

·                 Notes that many residents hold a stock of visitor parking permits to be handed out to family, friends, carers and other visitors. 

·                 Notes that, as a result of the restrictions during lockdown and the more recent restrictions on meeting other people, many of these permits remain unused. 

·                 Where the permits expire at the end of 2020, in order to avoid books of 2020 permits being posted into the Council in 2021 in order to be exchanged for books of 2021 permits, agrees that their validity should be extended to 31 December 2021.”

By Councillor Johnston – Celebrating the Rainbow Box Foundation

“Council

1)       Recognises the fantastic work of the Rainbow Box campaign, which now provides personal items, toiletries and iPads to over 60 wards across ten hospitals across the Lothians, for those suffering from Covid-19.

2)       Further recognises the work of Staff Nurse Alison Williams, who founded the campaign in March of this year, and who has since been awarded the British Empire Medal and asks the Lord Provost to further recognise on behalf of the Council.

3)       Requests that the Chief Officer of the Health and Social Care Partnership explore how the campaign can be further supported, with specific reference to volunteers.”

By Councillor Rose - Non-Disclosure Agreements

“Council:

Instructs the Monitoring Officer to produce a report in one cycle of Council setting out:

1)       How individuals shall be assured that City of Edinburgh Council or any subsidiary organisations will not enforce any Non-Disclosure Agreements regarding any information shared with the Independent Inquiries launched by Council.

2)       The mechanism to alert Council should the Independent Inquiry take an interest in an area where the City of Edinburgh Council may be inhibited by Non-Disclosure Agreements.”

By Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron - Small Business Saturday 2020 and Challenges Facing Edinburgh Businesses

“Council notes that Small Business Saturday 2020 takes place on 5^th December, and that the day-to-day environment within which businesses operate has changed vastly due to Government restrictions and efforts to minimise and mitigate the risks and impact of COVID-19 on Public Health.

Council notes the impact of COVID-19 on key industry sectors of our economy, including hospitality, entertainment, the arts and creative sectors, our festivals, leisure, culture and attractions.

Council notes that from 1 January 2021, businesses will be required to comply with new rules following the UK leaving the EU Single Market and Customs Union. Council recognises that we must work to support businesses when they come into effect on 1 January 2021. 

Council further notes challenges which Edinburgh businesses are continuing to face; and welcomes the investment and changes to operational arrangements made by Edinburgh business owners to comply with COVID-19 restrictions and to keep patrons, customers and employees safe.

Council recognises the work undertaken to support businesses through business support, through work within the regulatory department to make it easier for businesses to adapt as we move through different restriction levels and the work done to distribute grants which has been of vital importance to businesses throughout the pandemic.

Council also notes that work has also begun on the new Economy Strategy which will build on previous strategies with a focus on good growth, wellbeing, sustainability and tackling poverty and inequality, but which will also need to adapt significantly to reflect the twin challenges of Brexit and the Coronavirus.

Council therefore calls for a report in one cycle to the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee to set out the work that is being done on the Edinburgh Guarantee, in partnership with businesses across the city.

Council calls for a further report, in one cycle, to the Housing Homelessness and Fair Work committee that gives a detailed update, on business support that has been paid to Edinburgh businesses including insights and feedback received on the efficiency of the process.”