Green councillors have been busy working to implement a Green recovery budget in Edinburgh Council. As children and young people return to in-person teaching, councillors are working hard to make schools safer and more accessible.
Council business
At Education committee in March, Steve Burgess submitted a Green amendment towards ensuring that Playscheme holiday provision for children with a disability was not going to be reduced after the lockdown period as had been recommended.
Steve also supported parents of James Gillespie’s High School in trying to ensure adequate classroom space for young people taking their Advanced Highers.
At the full council meeting, Claire gained support from the council leader to be at the forefront of implementing the Green budget win of free bus travel for young people aged under 22. With our publicly-owned bus company, Edinburgh is in a unique position to be able to lead implementation of this Green policy.
At council-wide level Gavin Corbett’s main role has been completing the Green Budget motion for 2021-22 which was themed around Green Recovery. As part of the budget, Gavin co-ordinated a successful alliance of opposition parties in the council to secure a rent freeze for council house tenants.
And in the wards…
In Southside-Newington ward, Steve has been working with SE Greens on their ward plan aim to improve recycling facilities in the Southside. Steve also took part in an online meeting of Southside Community Council and gave a report on the council budget 2021/22.
In Portobello/Craigmillar ward Mary Campbell has been working on tackling issues with drivers ignoring Spaces for People measures outside Brunstane Primary School and St John’s RC Primary School. She has also been supporting community efforts to tackle litter and fly-tipping in Magdalene Glen.
In Fountainbridge-Craiglockhart Gavin Corbett has been preparing for a Spring with a series of projects to take place as public health regulations are eased on canal clean-ups, neighbourhood litter picks, and new events in the area.
In the city centre ward, Claire has picked up her previous work on creating a buffer zone around the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre on Lauriston Place. Previously Claire had raised the issue of anti-abortion protests outside the health centre and had been successful in bringing all partners together to agree how to collect information/evidence on the problem. With a new public petition, the subject came back to the council for debate, and Claire has supported calls for a national approach and is actively working with colleagues in COSLA to find solutions for Scotland.
In Craigentinny & Duddingston Alex Staniforth has set a date for the first Neighbourhood Network meeting to be held since the Covid crisis began, the first to be set in the North East locality! He has also been addressing questions regarding the proposed Willowbrae Controlled Parking Zone.