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 27 October 2022 – submitted for approval as a correct record

Leader’s report

City of Edinburgh Council – 2021/22 Annual Audit Report to the Council and the Controller of Audit – referral from the Finance and Resources Committee

The City of Edinburgh Council, is requested under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the public from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 3 and 12 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

Monitoring Officer Report – Report by the Monitoring Officer

(Note: This report was continued from the meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council on 27 October 2022.)

By Councillor Lang - Council Led Enforcement of Speed Limits

“Council;

1)         recognises the ongoing work to improve road safety by reducing vehicle speeds across the city, including an upcoming consultation on extending 20mph speed limits.

2)         notes the decision of the Transport & Environment Committee on 18 August 2022 which acknowledged the ongoing concern over current levels of enforcement by Police Scotland and the Convener’s letter to the Area Commander raising this concern.

3)         notes that Wandsworth Council has now been granted an experimental order to commence a pilot scheme, allowing it to issue its own fines for excessive speeding within residential 20mph zones, separate from police enforcement, with all monies raised reinvested into road safety initiatives.

4)         believes any similar initiative in Edinburgh could allow the Council to better respond to residents’ concerns over speeding within residential areas.

5)         therefore agrees that the Convener of Transport & Environment should write to the Scottish Government to request that Edinburgh Council be allowed to undertake a similar pilot study in Scotland.”

By Councillor Kumar - Adopting Definition of Islamophobia

“Council:

1)         Recognises that Edinburgh is home to a significant Muslim population for generations and that our Muslim citizens are an integral part of all aspects of city life.

2)         Unequivocally condemns prejudice and intolerance in all forms and recognises that Islamophobia is rooted in racism.

3)         Therefore welcomes, endorses, and adopts the working APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) definition of Islamophobia, including examples of holding Muslims to double standards, asking Muslims to account for actions of others based on nothing more than being of the same religion and making dehumanising, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Muslims- painting Muslims as a threat.

4)         Agrees to continue to tackle hate crime and Islamophobia in partnership with communities, Police Scotland and other stakeholders.

5)         Further agrees as a first step to support Islamophobia Awareness Month in November 2022 to use Council communication channels to bring understanding and attention to the scourge of Islamophobia and encourage better reporting of incidents to the police.

6)         Also requests a report within 3 cycles to Policy and Sustainability Committee detailing how the APPG definition can be embedded across Council work and consider how Council can raise awareness of crime motivated by prejudice on the grounds of actual or perceived religion.”

By Councillor Kumar - Care Experienced Protected Characteristic

“Council:

1)         Recognises our collective responsibility as corporate parents and our commitment for the delivery of ‘The Promise’ that Scotland’s children and young people will grow up loved, safe, and respected.

2)         Agrees the Council should add ‘Care Experienced’ as an additional protected characteristic in the Council’s Integrated Impact Assessments where Care Experienced people is used to describe anyone who is currently, or has been, in the care system. For example, kinship care, looked after at home, foster care, residential care, secure homes, and adoption.

3)         Notes that the addition of this protected characteristic would formally recognise the impact of any policies and decision making might have on care experienced people.

4)         Notes that councils in Manchester, Cumbria, Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council; and Ashfield District Council in Nottinghamshire have made a similar move to include Care Experienced as a protected characteristic.

5)         Requests a report to the Education, Children and Families Committee in two cycles to scope the implementation of this additional protected characteristic.”

By Councillor Campbell - Bonfire Night

“Council:

1)         Condemns the horrendous scenes across the city, primarily in Niddrie, West Pilton and Sighthill of fireworks related disorder.

2)         Recognises the terrible impact this has on residents and communities, many of whom were instructed by police not to leave their homes while this disorder was ongoing.

3)         Further recognises and commends the work of our brave emergency services who responded to these events, putting themselves in harms way to try to restore order and make our communities safe again.

4)         Further notes that fireworks related disorder happens annually, and despite legislative change around fireworks, has continued- particularly affecting areas of SIMD 1 and 2.

5)         Recognises that this is a symptom of policy failure across a number of areas and that we must, as policy makers consider how we can create better lives for young people who have lost faith and trust in the system, power structures and authority.1.6 Redoubles our commitment to tackling poverty as a key council priority.

6)         Commits to prioritising investment in youth work and ensuring that our community centres are resourced as part of service plans and reaffirms the City’s 2030 commitments to tackle poverty.

7)         Agrees to work with the police and criminal justice to ensure that a preventative approach using restorative justice is the approach taken to reengage these young people with their communities and their own futures, and the community safety partnership considers how to facilitate this.

8)         Agrees to convene a meeting of stakeholders including key organisations working with young people in areas of SIMD 1 and 2, affected young people who can share their lived experienced, police, council, social work, youth workers, criminal justice and educators to set a strategy for how we create the conditions for young people to feel trust in authority, invested in their communities, to understand the impacts of their actions and feel respected and cared for enough to choose to act differently.”

By Councillor Nicolson - Pension Fund Divestment

“Council notes:

COP27 in Egypt this November brings with it a focus on Local Government Pension Scheme investments in fossil fuels.

Lothian Pension Fund retains shares invested in companies whose primary operation is fossil fuel extraction, production or sale.

The United Nations Paris Agreement, reaffirmed at the 2021 Glasgow Climate Summit, commits our governments to keep the global temperature increase to under 2 degrees and aim for 1.5 degrees. Carbon budgets produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations and the International Energy Agency show that preventing two degrees of warming relies on not burning the vast majority of all proven fossil fuels.

The UN International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that global oil demand will significantly fall by 2030 in the effort to reach net-zero, leading their Executive Director to refer to oil and gas companies as potential ‘junk investments.’ Action by governments to limit carbon emissions will ultimately leave fossil fuel reserves unburnable. It’s been estimated that this asset bubble, known as the ‘carbon bubble’, may be over €1 trillion in Europe alone.

Pension funds have a fiduciary duty to consider the material risks of continued investment in fossil fuels. Fiduciary duty is defined by the Law Commission as “ensuring that pensions can be paid, ensuring that this is undertaken at the best possible value”.

Pension funds have a legal duty to treat members “fairly as between them”. That means taking seriously the longer-term interests of younger members who may be affected more by the climate transition.

Council agrees to:

Reviewing its Investment Strategy and developing and implementing a Responsible Investment Policy which rules out any support or direct or indirect investments in fossil fuel companies.

Write to Lothian Pension Fund to request they further meet their fiduciary duty to younger members of the scheme and accelerate the process of their ethical investment policy to divest from fossil fuel companies that are not shifting their investment and operation portfolios towards green energy production.”

By Councillor McNeese-Mechan - Support for Ukrainian Refugees in Edinburgh

“Council:

Notes a welcome was extended to families and individuals fleeing the conflict in Ukraine during the last administration.

Notes significant supports were put in place such as signage and translators at the airport and train stations, meaning arrivals were signposted to support in their native Ukrainian language.

Notes many households signed up to provide rooms for refugees and officials worked with citizens to ensure suitable provision was in place.

Notes a key part of the provision made by the Council was in providing educational placements as well as language support in schools.

Notes that many Ukrainian families are approaching their first winter in a foreign country, often separated from family and loved ones.

Council therefore requests that Edinburgh's welcome is expanded to include:

Extending an invitation to Ukrainian families and schoolchildren to our annual Christmas Tree lighting and Nativity Carol Concert, with the aim to include at least one Ukrainian carol.

Help raise awareness of the Lyceum Theatre's caring initiative to host a special performance of An Edinburgh Christmas Carol on Tue 13 Dec for displaced Ukrainian families across the city and to ask that those who are able consider donating the cost of a ticket to ensure that as many as possible will be able to enjoy the show.  https://lyceum.org.uk/support-us/ukrainian-christmas-performance-fund/

Further asks that the city observe Ukrainian Christmas on the 7th of January in an appropriate way, whether in the City Chambers or in schools, such as telling the story of the 12-dish meatless Christmas Eve supper served on the 6th of January in both Ukrainian and Polish families.”

By Councillor McFarlane - Tollcross Clock

“Council:

1)         Congratulates officers on the successful restoration and re-siting of the Elm Row Clock and notes that Edinburgh’s Civic Clocks are important placemaking landmarks and a special part of our built heritage.

2)         Notes the importance of the Tollcross Clock, built by James Ritchie and Sons in 1901 to the local community and that on its removal due to building works in 1974, the clock was reinstated at a slightly different location due to public outcry at the time recognising the significant strength of public feeling about the loss to the area.

3)         Understands that the Tollcross Clock has yet again been removed, this time for restoration and is currently situated in the Murrayburn Warehouse with public feeling echoing that of the Tollcross community in 1974.

4)         Understands that the City Centre Transformation plan highlights Tollcross as a catalyst area and outlines the desperately needed public realm and safety improvements to improve the Tollcross Junction and its surrounds, but these plans are at an early stage and it may be years before implementation.

5)         Requests a report to the Transport and Environment Committee in three cycles detailing:

•        An update and general projected delivery timeframe for the short, medium and future term plans contained within the City Centre Transformation Strategy

•        Consideration of any short-term wins that can be easily implemented within the next 12 months ahead of the wider works to provide an interim improvement to the pedestrian, active travel and public transport experience around Tollcross Junction inclusive of a temporary re-siting post restoration of the clock in advance of any future works.

•        The projected cost for the restoration of the clock and the status of any current CEC funding applications for its restoration.

•        The estimated timeline for completion of restoration work.

•        Exploration of locations in Tollcross to re-site the clock ahead of any future long term transformation works.”

By Councillor Meagher - Homelessness Crisis

“Council notes with grave concern the homelessness crisis in Scotland’s capital city as follows:

At the end of September 2022, there were 4778 households in temporary accommodation, a 34% increase in just over 2 years. 

Around 70% of available Council homes are let to homeless households, with the remainder of homes let to people with gold or other priority need.

Currently there is an average of 180 to 190 bids being received for each home advertised through Edindex as available to let.

Council further notes the multiplicity of actions taken to mitigate the crisis and the work taking place in partnership with key third sector organisations as well as Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and the private rented sector.

However, homelessness presentations are likely to increase due to a number of factors, including the imminent removal of the Local Connection requirement.

Council agrees:

•           that the Council Leader and the Convener of Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work will request an urgent meeting with the cabinet secretary to outline the crisis and agree a joint approach to resolving it.

•           that the Council Leader and the Convener of Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work will reinstate regular meetings with RSLs to produce a partnership statement and to agree a common basis on which to approach the Scottish and UK governments.

•           to consider a further preventative measure by asking officers to explore the possibility of a hardship fund to support those tenants who are least able to afford any future rent increases and to report back to the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee in March 2023.”

By Councillor Arthur - Bringing the Big Hoose Project to Edinburgh

“Notes the success of the “Big Hoose Project” in Fife in distributing over 240,000 items to 36,000 families there since December 2021.

Notes that the project works in partnership with dozens of charities, 150 schools, foodbanks, Women’s Aid, social workers, health centres, nurseries and companies to identify need and meet that need.

Notes that Amazon and others supply pallets of returns and items third party retailers don’t want to a warehouse in Lochgelly. There they are sorted by staff and volunteers to enable easy access to items needed by those most in need. To identify those most in need a Low-Income Family Tracker has been developed by the Council using information from many sources, including the DWP. A simple referral sheet is used by all partners and the items are put together ready for collection by the organisation representing the families.

Notes that the type of products supplied to families includes food, bedding, kitchen items, towels, toilet roll, nappies, toiletries, rugs, clothing, footwear, baby items, sanitary products and other household furnishings and goods. Some items of high value are sold online to generate funds.

Notes that the capacity of the companies involved mean that there is potential for Edinburgh to become part of the scheme if the correct third-sector partners can be found.

Agrees that Council Officers should engage with the Big Hoose Project and issue a briefing to Councillors before then end of 2023, with a view to bringing a report to the next Policy and Sustainability Committee.”

By Councillor Day - World Aids Day - 1st December - Fast Track Cities

“Council notes:

·         Scotland is on its way to becoming one of the first countries in the world to achieve zero HIV transmissions by 2030. Cities play a significant role in working to achieve this target

·         Cities have a higher risk of contracting HIV due to urban dynamics such as migration, social inequality, population size and unemployment. As hubs of innovation and education, cities are well-equipped to respond to complex health problems such as HIV/AIDS.

·         The Fast Track City Initiative provides an opportunity for the city to commit to ending new transmissions of HIV and HIV related stigma which is seen as a key barrier to testing and case finding.

Council agrees:

1)    To the city of Edinburgh's continued participation in the initiative and a positive sign of our commitment to the control of HIV.

2)    To sign up to the Paris Declaration alongside our sister cities of Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow to generate opportunities for coordinated action and sharing of experience between those cities and their health boards.

3)    And to ask Partners in NHS Lothian and Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership and other partners, to sign up with The City of Edinburgh Councils commitment to the Paris Declaration.”

By Councillor Heap - Social Security Take-Up Strategy

“Council:

1)         Notes with regret that many residents who are entitled to social security payments are not currently taking them-up, with the Edinburgh Poverty Commission estimating that there were £70-80m of unclaimed income related benefits in the city in 2019.

2)         Further notes the 2022 figure for unclaimed income-related and non-income related social security entitlements in the city likely now to be considerably in excess of this.

3)         Believes this has considerable negative consequences in terms of poverty and inequality.

4)         Notes the excellent work done by Council staff and the staff of partner organisations to support people to claim, and progress made as a result of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission recommendations.

5)         Believes that, given the cost-of-living-crisis, an ongoing social security take-up strategy with Councillor and stakeholder input is necessary.

6)         Therefore resolves that the City of Edinburgh Council should publish an Edinburgh Social Security take-up Strategy (“the Strategy”) every year, starting in 2023.

7)         Asks that each Strategy should include:

a)         The Council’s best estimate of the level of unclaimed social security entitlements in the Council area;

b)         What the Council did over the previous year; and

c)         What it plans to do over the next year to assist Edinburgh residents to claim social security entitlements from:

(i)         The City of Edinburgh Council;

(ii)        The Scottish Government;

(iii)       The UK Government.

8)         Requests the Council Leader or a relevant Committee convenor convenes at least two meetings annually of a Social Security Uptake Strategy Working Group, formed of the Leader or Convenor and one nominee per party, to scrutinise implementation of the previous year’s strategy and be consulted on the production of the next year’s strategy.

9)         Asks that relevant stakeholders should be consulted in the course of the production of each Strategy.”

By Councillor Staniforth - Night Time Coordinator

“Council notes:

That last term council agreed for the Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership to investigate the appointment and funding of a night time coordinator, working with local night time businesses.

That the above never happened owing to COVID changing the priorities of the Community Safety partnership.

That a night time coordinator should be about more than just safety and would also facilitate the night-time economy so as to better serve its businesses, employees and customers.

Council therefore:

Resolves that officers should consult with local night time businesses, services, service users and workers to broach the idea of a night time coordinator and discuss both its remit and funding.

Resolves that the role should also support the aims of the Get Me Home Safely campaign as well as how licensing and transport can be best utilised to improve the safety and resilience of the night time economy.

Resolves that a report on a potential night time coordinator, describing potential remit and funding for such a post, come to Policy and Sustainability committee within three cycles.”

By Councillor Caldwell - On-Street and In-Park Recycling Bins

“Council

Notes;

1)         That 5.5 billion plastic bottles are sent to landfill every year in the UK further exacerbating the Climate Crisis (source: parliament.uk, 2017).

2)         That the majority of litter bins in Edinburgh’s town centres and parks are refuse-only and do not offer the ability to recycle plastic bottles or cans.

3)         That Edinburgh Council worked alongside environmental charities Hubbub and Changeworks in previous years to trial on-street recycling bins, baked into double-capacity litter bins called “#InTheLoop”. This resulted in an impact report from Hubbub.

Believes;

4)         That all residents and visitors walking or wheeling in our streets and parks should have the opportunity to conveniently recycle plastic bottles and cans while acknowledging the extreme financial pressures of all departments.

5)         That communal recycling bins are intended for residential use, and thus not suitable recycling points for people walking and wheeling in town centres and parks.

6)         Having half of a double-capacity litter bin be dedicated to mixed recycling is a cost-effective way of expanding our plastic and aluminium recycling provision, as they can be internally fitted with a green wheelie bin, the same used for individual household mixed-recycling.

Calls for;

7)         A report to Transport and Environment committee within two cycles that outlines the feasibility and costs of:

a)         upgrading a substantial number of litter bins in Edinburgh's City Centre and eight town centres to double-capacity litter and recycling bins.

b)         upgrading a substantial number of litter bins in Council-owned parks and green spaces to double-capacity litter and recycling bins, both at sites where litter bins are currently present and at sites from which litter bins have been removed over the past five years. Parks should include but not be limited to premier parks such as the Meadows, Inverleith Park and Leith Links.

c)         identifying suitable sites in order to implement A) and B) where doing so would increase recycling rates while remaining cost-effective (ie sites that are nearby an existing residential mixed recycling route).

            d)         Learning from the previous “Edinburgh #InTheLoop” trial.”

By Councillor Day – Fireworks

“Council:

1)         Notes with great concern the recent incident in Niddrie, and North Edinburgh where Emergency Service workers were targeted with fireworks, and condemns these actions which resulted in injury to police officers, emergency service vehicles and the substantial damage caused to property in east Edinburgh as a result of disgraceful behaviours.

2)         Notes that across the city emergency services were inundated with calls regarding dangerous fireworks and anti-social behaviour, requiring emergency service attendance.

3)         Commends those working in Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and other agencies for their commitment, bravery and professionalism in seeking to protect our local communities from harm, encouraging organised and licensed community firework and bonfire events.

4)         Notes that the Scottish Government passed the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 on Wednesday 29 June 2022, and an update report will be presented to Culture and Communities Committee on 13 December 2022.

5)         Notes that further legislation on any licensing system will be established, likely in early 2023 by the Scottish Government.

6)         Agrees that the Council should promote community organised events, and seek to ban the public sale of fireworks, and include that as an option in any licensing regulations.”

By Councillor Walker - Edinburgh's Cultural and Events Sector

“Council notes:

1)         The success and impact of the 11 Edinburgh International festivals returning to the city at a remarkable scale in 2022 just 6 months after winter lockdown - achieving an estimated 80% of creative content on pre- covid levels and approximately 3m attendances.

2)         The value of the festivals to Edinburgh, Scotland and the UK illustrated by the mix of local, national and global audiences: around 40% of audiences were from Edinburgh, 20% from Scotland, 30% UK and 10% overseas.

3)         The economic value of the festivals. An estimated 4,000 additional jobs were directly attributable to the 2022 festivals and 44,000 wider city jobs and livelihoods supported in arts, hospitality and recreation.

4)         An existential threat now hangs over the cultural sector – runaway cost increases; skills gaps, accommodation and supply chain shortages; suppressed audience disposable income; continuing Covid risks; pressures on funders and sponsors; deglobalisation; and climate adaptation imperatives

Council recognises the work of officers in supporting cultural organisations throughout the year.

Council agrees that:

1)         The council should convene a meeting of funders to explore how they can work together to support the resilience of the Edinburgh’s cultural organisations at this difficult time.

2)         The Council Leader writes to key partners asking them to take part in ensuring the future of the country's festivals.

3)         Officers will work with funders/stakeholders to explore possible mitigations against the risks faced by the cultural organisations including lighter touch, more flexible monitoring regimes that better align across funders.

4)         The Council Leader and the Convener of Culture and Communities will continue to meet weekly with representatives of Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government.

5)         The Festivals and Events APOG will meet fortnightly to update elected members and to share information.”

By Councillor Heap - Transgender Day of Remembrance

“Council:

1)         Notes that Transgender Day of Remembrance was held on November 20, and welcomes the continued flying of the trans flag from the city chambers on that day.

2)         Understands that the Day of Remembrance, a memorial for the trans people who have died as a result of transphobia, has been held every November 20 since 1999, when it was started to memorialise the murder of Rita Hester in Massachusetts. It serves both as a memorial for those we have lost, and as a way to highlight the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by trans people around the world.

3)         Notes with deep regret and condemns ongoing transphobia faced by many transgender people in Edinburgh, and particularly the increase in hate crimes targeting trans people along with other members of the LGBTQ community.

4)         Believes that Edinburgh should be a welcoming and safe place for trans people, where they are able to access employment, education, housing and healthcare, and live their lives free from discrimination and fear.

5)         Resolves that the City of Edinburgh Council should mark every Transgender Day of Remembrance by making an annual public statement on or close to the 20th November hence forth detailing what it has done in the previous year to promote the safety and wellbeing of our trans residents.”

By Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron - Safeguarding of Children Young People and Adults at Risk

“Council has statutory responsibilities as a public body in respect of the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk.

Council is committed:

•           To creating an organisational culture which prioritises and promotes the importance of safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk;

•           To protecting children, young people and adults at risk from abuse;

•           To ensuring all Council policies and procedures pertinent to statutory safeguarding responsibilities are designed, implemented, monitored and audited in an open, transparent, democratically accountable way. 

Council notes:

•           The remit and focus of The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, established by the Scottish Government, is on historic abuse and specific to children in care;

•           The Children’s and Young People’s Commissioner of Scotland Annual Report to the Scottish Parliament, Page 29, “Child Protection and Safeguarding”  (CYPCS-AR-2022.pdf );

Council:

•           Supports the calls for the strengthening of accountability, oversight and public scrutiny of the systems for reporting disclosures to public bodies in Scotland, and how such disclosures are handled, investigated, reported and recommendations from report findings are implemented;

•           Welcomes the recent call for the next phase of the SCAI which will look into residential and secure services and commits to giving the enquiry its full support.

Council notes the submission of Petition PE1979 to the Scottish Parliament, which closed for signatures on 3 November 2022, “To urge the Scottish Government to establish an independent inquiry and an independent national whistleblowing officer to investigate concerns about the alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries by public bodies”.”

By Councillor Whyte - War Memorial - City Chambers

“Council condemns the arson attack on the War Memorial at the City Chambers at some point on 13 November after Scotland’s Annual Service of Remembrance was concluded.

Council welcomes the statement by the Lord Provost condemning the attack and the actions of those who showed such disrespect.

Council commends the Police, the Fire Service, the Council Officers and representatives from Poppy Scotland who took swift action to restore the memorial and poppy wreaths which remained in place as swiftly as possible.

Council notes that concerns have been raised in the past about disrespectful treatment of the War Memorial during busy periods on the High Street and about the use of temporary Mills barriers to provide some limited protection.  This being raised in a motion by Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron in November 2019 and by former Lord Provost Councillor Frank Ross as part of his then role.

Council considers that these attempts to improve security and respectful treatment of the War Memorial have yet to have the success desired given the events on 13 November.

Council therefore agrees that there should be a review of security at the War Memorial to ensure it is treated respectfully all year round and agrees to receive a report on the actions to be taken to improve security at the Finance and Resources Committee within two cycles.”

By Councillor Bandel - Bike Buses

“Council:

1)         Notes that bike buses offer pupils a safe way to cycle to school as part of a group, promote cycling as an enjoyable activity, increase young people’s confidence to cycle on the road, and reduce emissions and congestion around schools.

2)         Recognises that pupils should not need to rely on bike buses to safely cycle to school and reaffirms the Council’s commitment to create safer streets for cyclists of all ages and abilities.

3)         Notes that Edinburgh currently has 6 active bike buses and thanks all volunteers involved in setting up and running bike buses across the city. Further thanks officers for their work to date on supporting bike buses since Councillor Miller’s ‘Bike Buses’ motion to Transport and Environment Committee in February 2020.

4)         Commends volunteers at Sciennes Primary School and Blackford Safe Routes for creating a guide to running a bike bus which has been enabling more schools to offer a bike bus.

5)         Recognises that more schools might be interested in setting up bike buses but may not be aware of the support and expertise that is available to them.

6)         Requests road safety officers to write to all primary schools in Edinburgh to encourage them to set up a bike bus and disseminate relevant guidance and support prepared by experienced bike bus organisers.”

By Councillor Bandel - Employee Volunteering Policy

“Council:

1)         Recognises the many positive differences that volunteering has on local communities as well as on the wellbeing and professional development of the volunteer.

2)         Notes that several Scottish local authorities, including Glasgow City Council and Scottish Borders Council, have developed Employee Volunteering policies that allow their employees to take a certain amount of paid leave to volunteer in their local community.

3)         Further notes that while the City of Edinburgh Council allows employees to take leave for voluntary work as part of its Special Leave Policy, this leave is currently unpaid and thus not as effective at encouraging volunteering.

4)         Welcomes the proposal of an action in the Annual Progress Report on the Council Emissions Reduction Plan to explore the possibility of developing an Employee Volunteer Policy which would grant employees paid time off to volunteer but notes the completion date of this is currently set for December 2025.

5)         Requests officers to develop a proposal for an Employee Volunteering Policy that would give staff paid leave to volunteer with local organisations and initiatives, and report back to Policy and Sustainability Committee within three cycles.”

By Councillor Mumford - Portobello Heat Fair

“Council:

Recognises and congratulates Porty Community Energy for their success in running the Portobello Heat Fair, a community event looking at how we reduce consumption in a fair way;

Notes that empowering communities to take action on climate change is a key part of the council’s targets on emissions reduction, as well as helping people save money on energy use; and

Welcomes the continued innovation and dedication of community groups working for climate justice.”

By Councillor Lang - Travelling Safely – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Fullerton - Citywide Ward Clean Ups – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Work – Contalmaison – for answer by the Leader of the Council

By Councillor Lang - Resurfacing of Station Road, Queensferry – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Campbell - Void Properties – for answer by the Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee

By Councillor Aston - Silver and Gold Priority – for answer by the Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee

By Councillor Whyte - Bikeshare Scheme -for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Mowat - Alternative to Communal Bins - New Town residents – Biffa Recycling Visit – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Whyte - Cleaning Up Edinburgh – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Dijkstra-Downie - Garden Waste Collection Compensation Scheme – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor O'Neill - Edinburgh Access Panel – for answer by the Convener of the Planning Committee

By Councillor Davidson - Funding for Ukrainian Refugees – Education – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Young - Reinstatement of You Tube Access in Schools – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Whyte - Street Cleansing – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Jones - Traffic Monitoring Data - Brunstane Road – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

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

By Councillor Young - Outstanding Streetlighting Repairs – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Flannery - EAL and TESOL Education Posts – for answer by the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee

By Councillor Beal - Edinburgh Filmhouse – for answer by the Leader of the Council

By Councillor Beal - Council Efficiencies – for answer by the Leader of the Council

By Councillor Booth -Licensing Board – for answer by the Leader of the Council

By Councillor Booth -Draft Maintenance Plan for the Council’s Footpaths, Off-road Paths and On-street Cycle Lanes – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Booth -Gaelic and Scots and Scottish Languages Bill – for answer by the Leader of the Council

By Councillor Booth -Signage for the Tram Extension to Newhaven – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee

By Councillor Booth -Street Lighting Installation – for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee