The dark nights are rolling in, temperatures dropping and the budget looming, but that doesn’t stop our Green Group delivering and providing hope and ambition for the city and our communities.
This month has seen Green wins at Culture and Communities Committee, Policy and Sustainability Committee, Full Council and a handful of local planning and licensing meetings.
We want to thank everyone for their ongoing support of the Councillor group and we look forward to keep engaging with everyone in the run up to our budget, to Holyrood 2026 and Local Authority 2027 elections.
Take care, Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill and Chas Booth
Councillor highlights from the month
Asked to pick one highlight from the month, our councillors chose:
Alex Staniforth
In their ward Alex has been helping the Northfield and Willowbrae Community Council seek solutions to traffic and anti-social behaviour at Cavalry Park.
Alys Mumford
Alys wrote a motion for Full Council questioning why so-called ‘green’ data centres didn’t require an environmental impact assessment, and seeking clarity on their governance – thanks to branch members for raising it in the first instance and providing useful ideas!
Ben Parker
Ben has been representing the Green group on the council’s ‘Dunion Review Working Group’ – the group set up to look at internal council processes following the conclusions of the investigation which was conducted earlier this year looking into allegations against the former Council Leader Councillor Day. Whilst the topics covered under the group’s remit are very challenging, it has been good to be the Green voice in the room speaking truth to power.
Chas Booth
Chas has been working with council officers, trade unionists and other councillors to get flags removed from lampposts across the city, which have been attached as part of a far-right campaign with the clear intention of intimidating immigrants and people of colour. Chas worked with others to get cross-party agreement with all other parties except the Conservatives at full council on 30 October for action.
Claire Miller
At Policy snd Sustainability Committee, Claire got agreement to back third sector partners in health and social care who have asked the council to focus on prevention with clear asks around a whole-system approach and implementing policies which are proven to work.
Dan Heap
At Culture Committee, Dan won support for an investigation into how making better use of tenement gardens and backgreens can be incorporated into the council’s Right to Grow; got tackling poverty and inequality in our communities to be added to the aims of the Community Centre Strategy and was able to get councillors to agree for officers to help the Abandoned Artists Collective to find a new space, after losing their space at the Gyle.
Jule Bandel
Jule is unwell and taking time off from council business.
Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill
Kayleigh has been working with Alex ahead of budget planning which is an exciting new mission! She has been helping local organisations and constituents who have been concerned about far-right threat and flags on lampposts cropping up in North Edinburgh. The group have brought motions to address this city-wide at Full Council.
Steve Burgess
Steve took part in the recent EIS ‘Any Questions?’ event for young people at Augustine United Church, where panellists responded to a wide range of topics including misogyny, screen time and support with mental health. Steve also ensured that Greens were (the only party) represented at the Grand Opening of the Corporate Parenting Hub and the following day’s Corporate Parenting Symposium – both vital in promoting the welfare of care-experienced young people in Edinburgh.
Susan Rae
Susan has had a quieter month, which always gives an opportunity to ‘bed in’ existing work, which she has done: primarily working with Living Rent on rogue landlords, Leith Chooses and Regulatory Taxi issues.
Committee updates
Committee updates and other things to look out for in the coming month.
Education, Children and Families
Greens have revealed that, shockingly, the council has no policy on what sort of companies have access to pupils in schools including at careers fairs. Steve will be proposing a Green amendment calling for a policy to be drafted using the council’s existing policy on advertising as a basis, that excludes arms company and climate damaging advertising – as previously achieved by Ben Parker.
Finance and Resources
A chance for people to call for council tax to be scrapped and replaced has come up with a COSLA/Scottish Government consultation on the future of council tax: https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/the-future-of-council-tax-in-scotland/
Transport and Environment
At the next TEC Chas and Kayleigh will be making decisions on brown bin uplifts for community gardens, action on the Longstone Sinkhole, and supported bus services. There are also papers for scrutiny on our Road Safety Delivery Plan, protection of the Union Canal, addressing the Nature and Climate Emergency, and the extension of 20mph network.