Spring has sprung and we are leaping into the Holyrood short campaign! Councillors have been busy in their respective campaign teams and really enjoying meeting so many new supporters and activists.
Back to the day job (in theory) – our latest Full Council meeting was full of Green wins. We passed and supported motions on data centres and AI, equality for traveller communities, short-term lets enforcement, protecting nesting skylarks, affordable childcare and more! You can catch up with what Greens said during the meeting here.
Our next report will include updates from our group AGM (Annual General Meeting) where we elect office holders for the group and update our standing orders and portfolios. Keep an eye out for updates on 20th April.
See you soon on the campaign trail.
Councillor highlights from the month
Asked to pick one highlight from the month, our councillors chose:
Alex Staniforth
Following budget month Alex had a relatively relaxed March but did submit an emergency motion on taking deputations (public representations) to committee on late reports. Unfortunately it was not accepted as an emergency by the Lord Provost but will be heard next full council.
Alys Mumford
Alys successfully brought a motion to Full Council calling for a report into a moratorium on so-called ‘green’ data centres, which we will get in June. She’s already been contacted by lots of campaigners across Scotland hoping to get their councils to do the same!
Ben Parker
Ben has been taking time off during March.
Chas Booth
Chas worked with a group of party volunteers to try to amend and improve the council’s emerging policy on AI. While we were unsuccessful at persuading the council to go to public consultation on the draft policy, we did succeed at getting some additional safeguards into the policy and will continue to hold the council to account in its use of the technology.
Claire Miller
With the consultation on a safer drug consumption facility expected to launch in April, Claire has continue to engage with officers in the run up, and gained cross party support for the council’s ask that the consultation focus on the harm reduction outcomes for people with lived/living experience of drug use and ensure deep engagement with the local community in the areas where drug use is taking place.
Dan Heap
Dan attended an anti-racist counter-protest set up in response to a far-right protest seeking to take advantage of the tragic stabbing incident in The Calders, just outside his ward. Off the back of this, he called at Full Council for urgent proposals for the council to support community cohesion in the area.
Jule Bandel
Jule has been taking time off due to illness.
Kayleigh O’Neill
Kayleigh represented the group at the newly formed Lothian Shareholder Forum which looks at the public transport overlap and relationships in the region. She also enjoyed a trip to the Shore in Leith to help launch the opening of Leith Connection’s latest extension.
Steve Burgess
This month at Pensions Committee Steve was successful in getting a short life working group agreed on divestment from oil and gas.
Susan Rae
This month Susan has been working with Leith Chooses, feeding into the process of shaping the new participatory budget processes in advance of tourist levy funding coming on line.
Green-aligned Independent Councillor Ross McKenzie highlights from the month
Asked to pick one highlight from the month, Ross chose:
Ross went for a walkabout with a Green member in Sighthill and Wester Hailes to discuss community facilities, green space and the growth of the far right in South West Edinburgh. Greens are representing the interests of residents of Sighthill and Wester Hailes in many ways but this is not reflected at the ballot box. We resolved to work on plans to engage more in this area soon after the Holyrood election.
Green councillors in the news
This month Green councillors have been in the news for:
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- Data centres: Edinburgh Council approves temporary ban on AI data centres | The National
- Calling for more powers to license vape shops: Edinburgh councillors back vape shop licensing after Glasgow fire
- Defending the Braid Road quiet route: Edinburgh roads: Vote to remove controversial traffic measures must be retaken after councillors failed to declare interest | Edinburgh Evening News
- Winning support for fair trade school uniforms: Thousands of schools in Edinburgh to get free uniforms | The Herald
- Challenging Police Scotland for blocking our public paths: Council leader to take up issue of A-board with police – The Edinburgh Reporter
- Revealing short term let loophole: Edinburgh holiday lets operating without planning consent due to ‘loophole’ | Edinburgh Live
Committee updates
Committee updates and other things to look out for in the coming month.
Governance, Risk and Best Value
The committee signed off the internal audit plan for the year ahead, and Greens proposed adding in an audit of the council’s ‘Mixed Tenure Improvement Scheme’, after Living Rent Lochend branch raised serious concerns about the processes, governance and costs to residents.
Education, Children and Families
At Education Committee, Dan’s amendment ensured that all school uniform items bought by schools and distributed free to families will be produced according to fair trade and environmentally-responsible production standards.
Transport and Environment
At the next meeting Kayleigh and Chas will be considering reports on capital investment, electric vehicle charging, road safety delivery and improved signalised crossings. Chas is bringing a motion on the implications of a recent Standards Commission decision for the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route.
Regulatory
Susan and Chas responded immediately to the Glasgow Union Street vape shop fire by taking a motion to Regulatory Committee which agreed that Council should regulate these shops, but that resource to do so needs to be in place to facilitate the levels of work involved.
Equalities
The council has agreed its new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion framework for the next 4 years, called “Equal Edinburgh”, after a period of consultation and engagement. The framework will deliver three interlinked equalities outcomes:
- Council services are easier to access and engage with, and the needs of different groups are equally considered
- The council engages with diverse groups of people across the city in ways that are meaningful and helpful to them
- The council is equipped to make data-driven decisions about equality matters ensuring people are treated fairly and equally