Author: Jim Scanlon

Setting the Council Budget 2018/19

Setting the Council budget 2018/19

City of Edinburgh Council is planning the budget for 2018/19 and is once again looking for your feedback.

The changes faced, just like other cities, continue:

  • our population is changing and growing
  • demand for our services, such as for schools and health and social care, is increasing all the time
  • Council income has not kept up with rising demand.

In 2017/18 the Council invested over £900m on services for residents, businesses and visitors. It focussed on the things you said are important like education, care for older people, culture and services for vulnerable children and adults.

The Council has saved around £240m since 2012/13 and continues trying to work more efficiently and to prioritise services.  Even with this, it is estimated that it needs to save at least £21m by 2019, over £100m by 2021 and £150m by 2023

Tell the Council what you think

Please give the Council your views on its budget proposals at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/playyourpart. You can also register to come along to Question Time on Monday 27 November, where you can put a question to a panel of senior councillors.

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Seafield Consultation

Last week we attended a meeting with the consultants, amec foster wheeler and Cranfield University who had been appointed to carry out the strategic odour review of Seafield Wastewater treatment works. The community now have until 12th January to make comments. LLCC will be meeting with Leith Links Residents Association and elected City councillors to formulate our response. Members of the public can also make their thoughts known directly to the consultants but the CC would welcome any comments to be included in our submission and these would be treated in confidence

The full draft report has over 100 pages but the consultants also prepared a summary which I’ve also attached. Seafield summary

The summary includes short, medium and long term recommendations which we will be commenting about after discussion with LLRA.

The Draft Report is available on the Scottish Water website, accessible here: www.scottishwater.co.uk/seafield

Comments should be submitted by e:mail to seafield-draft@cranfield.ac.uk no later than Friday, January 12, 2018.

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Cavity Insulation Project – Leith

A letter has been issued to all private properties within the EH6 area and will be landing w/c 30/10/2017 with local residents within the EH6 area.

The City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Government’s Home Energy Scotland are providing free cavity wall insulation* for suitable homes in the Leith area. If the cavity wall insulation has degraded, it can be removed and replaced for free. If properties do not currently have cavity wall insulation, they can be assessed and if suitable, insulation can be installed. It typically costs around £475** to install this type of insulation.  This offer is also available to private and social residents*** and will contribute to improving the EPC ratings of properties.

We would encourage you to ensure that householders are made aware of this offer as there is limited funding which may not be available in the future.  You can also contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 in order to verify any information.

Changeworks
36 Newhaven Road
Edinburgh EH6 5PY

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LEITH LINKS CC NEXT MEETING MONDAY, 30TH OCTOBER 7PM

Your Community Council

The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be on Monday 30 October, at 7 pm in the Shore Room, Leith Community Education Centre, New Kirkgate  All Welcome.

Did you know you can go and talk to one of your local Councillors, if you have a private matter you need to discuss (just turn up, no need to ‘book’):

  • Councillor Chas. Booth (Scottish Green) Termtime Tuesdays 5:30 – 6:30 Leith Library , Ferry Road.
  • Councillor Adam McVey (SNP) 3rd Wednesday of month, 6pm Leith Library, Ferry Road.
  • Councillor Gordon Munro (Scottish Labour) 1st & 3rd Mondays of month 6:30 – 7:15 Leith Community Education Centre, New Kirkgate

Agenda Monday 30 October 2017         Draft Minutes September 2017

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SEAFIELD

On behalf of the community council I attended a meeting at Scottish Government with members of Leith Links Residents Association. The statement below was released by Ben MacPherson MSP as Chair of the stakeholders group.

We, the Seafield Stakeholders Group, welcome the Strategic Review into the operation, physical infrastructure and overall performance of the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works, commissioned by the Scottish Government and being undertaken independently by Amec Foster Wheeler and Cranfield University.

“Today, Friday 29 September, we welcomed the opportunity to hear first-hand about the comprehensive investigative work being undertaken by consultants Amec Foster Wheeler and Cranfield University into odour-related issues at Seafield and the surrounding network, including consultation with a large number of individuals and residents from the local community. The Group also welcomes the approach that the independent consultants are engaged in and acknowledges that a thorough investigation is being undertaken.

“We were able to question and comment on the methodology and process of the Strategic Review, to ensure it is robust and appropriate, and look forward to analysing the independent report when it is due to be published on 27 October.

“The Stakeholder Group also looks forward to working collaboratively upon the findings of the Review, to address and prevent odour nuisances emanating from the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works.”

 

Jim Scanlon

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Breast Screening

During August to October ladies, aged 50-70,  from Bangholm, Restalrig and Leith Links medical practices will receive appointment letters asking them to the screening centre at Ardmillan House in Gorgie. If you’re in the age group and attend Leith Links Medical Centre you should receive an appointment in the post. If you want to find out more please contact

South East Scotland Breast Screening Service, Ardmillan House, 42 Ardmillan Terrace

0131 537 7400

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Seafield Terms of Reference agreed

On behalf of the CC I attended a meeting at the Scottish Government at Victoria Quay on 1st August. Also in attendance were Ben MacPherson MSP, Rob Kirkwood from Leith Links Residents Association (LLRA), Prof R Jackson and SG civil servants.
Scottish Water have appointed consultancy firm, Amec, Foster Wheeler to carry out the strategic review of Seafield Waste Water Treatment Plant and the sewage network which supplies Seafield. The firm have been chosen to give an independent evaluation and have no financial connection to the plant and would not benefit financially from their report by awards of contracts if work was required.
Our meeting was to agree the terms of reference so that the consultants can gather information on the state of Seafield and we hope that they will be able to present their findings within 6 months but will also be in the position to give an interim report on progress to the Seafield steering group in October. The CC and Residents Association have asked to meet separately with the consultants in late September so that we can voice any concerns.
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham has ordered this review and at the meeting our local MSP Ben emphasised again that odour issues at Seafield have become a priority for the government.
The terms of reference instruct the consultants to undertake a detailed evidence based review of the operation, design and maintenance of the plant with a direct focus on the way odour is managed and to reduce as far as practicable odour nuisance under all operating and weather conditions .Using analysis of appropriate odour generation and dispersion statistics.

They will consult with community groups and relevant stakeholders (Scottish Water, SEPA, City Council) to gather information on our perspectives and what we want to achieve. The consultants have already met with LLRA and I plan to meet with them next week. They will also want to speak to members of the public about how odour nuisance from Seafield impacts on their lives.
When the review is completed the consultants will provide recommendations on improvements to infrastructure, repair, replacement or enhancement on the site.
In plain language this means that if capital investment is required the consultants will identify the areas where work could be carried out and how much each option may cost.
Reviews have been carried out at Seafield in the past but nuisance odours have continued because of lack of investment. Both Leith Links CC and LLRA have agreed the terms of reference for this latest review with some changes in wording.
We also gave our support to the review with some reservations and concerns that as in the past only the cheapest options will be considered. Over the following months I will keep you updated on progress as the consultation continues. Jim

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Leith Walk Phase 4 (Pilrig Street to McDonald Road) Land Engineering Administration

The community council and other stakeholders received the following email from Michael Motion, Senior Project Manager, Turner and Townsend

We have been formally notified today that the contractor responsible for the works currently underway on Leith Walk, Land Engineering, has been put into administration.

Having carried out a comprehensive assessment of the company’s financial stability prior to signing the contract, which did not highlight any concerns, this is unexpected and particularly disappointing.  As part of any assessment the Council seeks a third party credit agency opinion of the risk of business failure, and in relation to Land Engineering the third party opinion did not raise any issues.

We appreciate how frustrating this will be for businesses and residents.

We are currently in communication with the administrator and we are evaluating options to mitigate the impact and ensure the works, which to date have been running on time and to budget, are completed as soon as possible.

I am also aware that Land Engineering had recently issued a communication indicating that Brunswick Street would close on Monday 5th June to accommodate works to that junction.  As a result of the above, this closure will not go ahead on Monday, and we will be in touch in due course with a revised closure date to complete the works at Brunswick Street. 

Further updates will be issued as more information specific to completion of the works becomes available.

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