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Councillor report

Green councillors’ report for July 2020

Normally July is the quietest month for the City Council, as most committees take a break and resident casework slows down while people take holidays.

Nothing about 2020 is normal, however, and it’s been as busy as ever as the Council gradually seeks to get services more fully running. Highlights include:

  • The very welcome first report from the Edinburgh Climate Commission on Green Recovery, which echoed many of the themes in the Green councillors own report in June 2020.  Our response is here.
  • A very fast-moving debate on schools returning and on re-opening public toilets. Read Cllr Melanie Main’s blog here.
  • In different ways a time for reflection on the very difficult challenges facing the council’s arms-length companies like Transport for Edinburgh, Marketing Edinburgh and Edinburgh Leisure.
  • Implementation of the Spaces for People programme, creating extra space for people walking and cycling, amplified by the tragic deaths of cyclist James Harrison and toddler Xander Irvine.
  • Securing council support for action on holiday lets without planning consent.
  • Paying tribute to the work of community campaign Leithers Don’t Litter.

On a day to day basis councillors have been busy on the sitting council committees like Policy and Strategy and Governance, Risk and Best Value; and on “quasi-judicial” work like Planning, Licensing and Schools Placing Appeals. And, of course, helping hundreds of residents with queries.