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Councillor report

Green councillors’ report June 2019

Mary Campbell

In Education, Mary Campbell ensured that future grant processes would be done as a co-production, as the current process created some issues by not having service providers and service users involved from the beginning. June also saw the result of Mary’s ‘blue belt’ motion, with a report coming to Transport and Environment Committee outlining the work being done to create a continuous active travel Promenade from Joppa to South Queensferry, including working with East Lothian to create a link to Musselburgh.

In Portobello/Craigmillar Mary Campbell has been working to set up a public meeting about the future of Portobello Town Hall, and also helped organise a couple of Prom tidy up days to get the beach ready for the summer holidays.

Gavin Corbett

As city canal champion Gavin Corbett opened this year’s Edinburgh canal festival on 15 June, attended by over 4,000 people.

In Fountainbridge-Craiglockhart Gavin Corbett’s campaign to reduce car parking pressure and improve road safety in Shandon took a step closer with the approval of a council report on parking improvement.

Claire Miller

In the city centre, Claire was out and about in the ward. She visited the team in charge of developing the new Dunard concert hall, which is going to be a significant project in St Andrew Sq. She visited residents in Abbeyhill Crescent for a walkabout to discuss possible improvements in their housing estate. She also held busy surgeries at both Dumbiedykes and Tollcross.

On the Housing & Economy Committee, Claire was successful with a proposal to look at introducing wellbeing measures of economic success, rather than economic growth, so that the economy serves the people.

Susan Rae

Susan’s work in June consisted of normal casework, further work supporting #SaveLeithWalk, planning & statistical analysis for £eithChooses 2020, visits to Shakti Women’s Aid and preparation for the switch to different portfolios. Article in Edinburgh Evening News.

Alex Staniforth

As culture spokesperson Alex Staniforth put a motion to full council which set the ball rolling on the establishment of a night-life co-ordinator role for the city.

In his ward Alex met with a local residents’ association and has begun working with them to improve services for people in assisted living arrangements. He also sought assurances that the shutdown of Seafield Recycling Centre would be a one-off incident and that services there would improvements to the service.

Chas Booth

As co-convenor, Chas held the coalition to account for their administration’s failings in full council, in particular ensuring that a greater focus would be placed on environmental strategy in the coming years.

Steve Burgess

Steve continued his work pushing for a stronger sustainability strategy and for Edinburgh council to take the climate crisis seriously and develop a concrete plan for reduction in carbon emissions.

Melanie Main

In the Meadowbank ward, Melanie held a successful litter pick for underused woodland area in Greenbank, with further work  by the new group planned to bring the area into community use:  changes to road layout, including one way sections and safety measures in Braid Crescent have been agreed by Roads staff with a budget in place for this financial year, and the formal process started.

At full Council Melanie’s motion on introducing the new Bike to Work policy and encouraging and enabling staff to use bikes, including electric bikes,  for transport in work  as well as to work – such as care at home staff was agreed with an implementation plan to come forward in August.