The Edinburgh Reporter January 2021

@EdinReporter /EdinReporter edinburghreporter theedinburghreporter.co.uk POLITICS 5
Vibrant culture makes Edinburgh unique
by Culture Convener Cllr Donald
Wilson
I think it would be an
understatement to say 2020 had
been extremely tough for the
culture sector.
As we look ahead to 2021 we
will be doing all we cannot just to
survive but to come back better
than ever.
Our vibrant cultural heritage and
Light at end of education tunnel
by Education, Children and
Families Convener Cllr Ian Perry
and Vice Convener Cllr Alison
Dickie.
The ongoing pandemic is having
a devastating impact on us all and
2021 will still provide challenges
for our education system and
young people but there is light at
the end of the tunnel.
We pay tribute to our dedicated
teaching staff and young people
who are showing amazing
resilience in these challenging
Prioritising city spending
by Cllr Rob Munn and Cllr
Joan Griffiths, MBE, Finance and
Resources Convener and Vice
Convener.
Our main focus for 2021 is to
take the carefully considered
decisions about where to prioritise
spending for the Council over the
next three years and setting a
balanced budget that protects our
most vulnerable citizens and helps
our communities to recover from
the pandemic. At the same time,
we want to continue to deliver high
festivals offering is at the heart of
what makes Edinburgh unique and
we are committed to supporting
the sector’s return and future. The
return of live audiences next year
will be crucial to this recovery.
The cultural sector makes a
huge contribution to our economy
and the quality of life of our
communities.
We have made a start though
with the City Art Centre reopening
times. Even though there will be
no exams this year our school
staff will ensure pupils get the
best teaching possible for their
assessments. Our Edinburgh
Learns plan will position education
as the lever for a fairer, healthier
and greener future. The support
for our vulnerable young people,
especially our Looked After
Children, will continue to be a
priority.
Our plans to create the very best
learning environment for young
quality services for Edinburgh.
Our budget process is, as ever,
informed by direct feedback
from the people of Edinburgh
on which services they want to
see prioritised and we’re very
grateful to the 2000+ people
who responded to our budget
engagement survey before
Christmas.
This feedback is invaluable,
especially given the exceptionally
challenging year 2020 was and the
impact that Covid-19 has had and
in September and we very much
look forward to the reopening
our other Museums and Galleries
as well as opening our doors for
performances at the Usher Hall.
So, in 2021, I’ll continue to fight
for what I believe in: that it is the
city’s duty to continue to nurture
Edinburgh’s creative heart.
Not just for the huge
contributions to our economy but
also to the lives of our citizens.
people continue with a £500m
planned investment over the
next 10 years for an ambitious
new school building programme,
- Frogston Primary, Victoria
Primary and St Crispin’s opening
in 2021 and the new Castlebrae
Community Campus in 2022.
The investment includes new
nurseries with more Forest
Kindergartens opening soon and
we’ll meet the government’s target
of 1140 hours of funded early
learning and childcare by August.
Proposals for a safer Bonfire Night
Proposals to introduce
regulations to restrict both the
sale of fireworks, and the times
when they can be set off by the
general public, will be introduced
for The Scottish Parliament to
consider in the new year.
Community Safety Minister, Ash
Denham, announced the proposals
responding to recommendations
of an independent review group.
Secondary legislation will be
laid in Parliament in January
which, if approved by MSPs, will
place limits on both the volume
and the time of day for consumer
firework sales, as well when they
may be set off – in time for next
November’s bonfire night season.
The planned changes will apply
to individuals who are buying
or using fireworks for private
displays, and will not apply to
displays that are organised by
professional firework organisers or
operators.
Ms Denham said: “I am fully
committed to bringing about
positive change in the relationship
Scotland has with fireworks.
More than 16,400 people across
Scotland responded to the
consultation last year.
"This highlighted that fireworks
can be good for communities
when they are used at the right
time, in right place and used
responsibly.
“However, it is clear there is
strong support for changing how
will continue to have for us all.
It’s crucial we understand how
people’s lives have been affected
by the impact of the pandemic on
our services as we work to steer
the Capital towards a sustainable
recovery.
Finally, the Council’s core
priorities of addressing poverty
and inequality, improving
sustainability and tackling climate
change, as well as enhancing
wellbeing, based on what people
told us was most important to
them, will remain at the heart of
our budget setting for 2021 and
beyond.
fireworks are sold and used in
Scotland, and the Review Group
set out clear recommendations
on what change is needed going
forward.
"I hope the actions I have
outlined reassure people that their
voices have been heard and that
legislation will be progressed as
swiftly as possible to implement
positive change.
“I fully agree with the Group that
it will be important to understand
the impact of these changes as
they are implemented in practice,
including on our emergency
services, on businesses, on our
communities as well as in relation
to firework related injuries.”
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Travelling into 2021
Transport and Environment Vice
Convener Cllr Karen Doran looked
back on last year.
She said: “The events of 2020
have had an unparalleled impact
on so many aspects of our lives.
How we move around our city has
of course been greatly affected.
“During lockdown, roads
emptied and travel by bike, foot
and wheels surged. Our Spaces for
People measures saw people take
up cycling or walking where they
might previously have driven, and
we want to keep this momentum
up.
“In 2021, development of major
plans, including the draft City
Mobility Plan and Edinburgh
City Centre Transformation, will
Leading from the front
by Council Leader Adam McVey
and Depute Leader Cammy Day
Our first and most pressing task
in 2021 is to continue to steer
Edinburgh through and – hopefully
sooner rather than later - out of
the global Covid-19 pandemic.
There’s no doubt these past nine
months have been unbelievably
challenging for all of us, and
especially so for anyone who’s
sadly lost a loved one during the
crisis.
As we work with organisations
and communities right across the
city to help Edinburgh navigate
whatever comes next, we’re clear
that "back to normal" won’t be
good enough – we need to build
back better, following the key
revolutionise the way we interact
with the city.
Construction will begin on
schemes like City Centre West to
East Link and design will continue
on several exciting projects to
improve cycling and pedestrian
infrastructure.
“We’ll move closer to introducing
a Low Emissions Zone and Electric
Vehicle charging network while
Trams to Newhaven will begin
to take shape, alongside our
excellent existing bus and tram
services.
“I know we’re on the right
track for a sustainable, inclusive,
carbon-neutral future for
Edinburgh, and 2021 will help get
us there."
Building affordable homes
Councillors Kate Campbell
and Mandy Watt, Convener
and Vice Convener for Housing,
Homelessness and Fair Work
concnetrate on homes and the
homeless.
They said: “In 2021, we will
build more good quality, energy
efficient, affordable homes. They’ll
be good places to live, within
strong communities. Our new and
existing tenants will get the best
service possible from us as their
landlord; and we’ll make sure our
tenants, especially those who may
be struggling with the impacts
of Covid-19, get the support they
need.
“We’ll continue work to improve
temporary accommodation,
reach out to our most vulnerable
citizens, prevent homelessness
whenever possible and make sure
people are able to access the right
support when and where they
need it.
“We want to help our economy
to build back better and stronger,
putting fair work and sustainability
at the heart of our strategy to
rebuild. We’ll do that by supporting
businesses and, with a view to
the long term, we’ll work towards
building a wellbeing economy
based on good jobs, job security
and career progression.
“We’ll begin by expanding our
existing Edinburgh Guarantee offer
so that people of all ages who
might face barriers to employment
as a result of Covid-19 are
supported to find work, learn new
skills and gain confidence and
we’re calling on employers and
education providers to support us.”
principles of the Edinburgh 2050
City Vision to achieve a thriving,
welcoming, pioneering and fair
Capital for now and for future
generations.
Our work will be guided and
shaped by our core priorities of
tackling poverty and inequality,
boosting sustainability and
promoting wellbeing.
We’ll push on with implementing
our 10-year End Poverty in
Edinburgh plan as well as our Net
Zero 2030 ambitions.
2021 is going to be a major and
defining year for this incredible
city and we’re determined to do
Edinburgh proud.
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