SNP Council election manifesto

FINANCE

• Roll out more efficiency measures to ensure maximum value for money from the public purse.

• Introduce the Living Wage of £7.20 an hour for all council employees, and encourage contractors to adopt it.

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• Commit to a policy of no compulsory redundancies in the council.

• Commit to council tax freeze.

• Strengthen neighbourhood partnerships and the particpatory budgeting model.

• Establish a more sustainable funding framework for the Third Sector.

ECONOMY

• Develop the Edinburgh Business Gateway, Canal Quarter, St James’ Quarter and BioQuarter, Leith and the Waterfront to build on city’s reputation for inward investment.

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• Establish a Consultative Board for all council group leaders to attend to discuss strategic matters and put Edinburgh above politics.

• Support the Small Business Bonus scheme which provides exemptions from business rates.

• Develop the Edinbugh Guarantee apprenticeship scheme.

transport

• Protect Edinburgh from the imposition of major transport projects, such as trams, by ensuring people have given their support.

• Immediately embark in restorative programme to ensure roads network is up to scratch, increasing the road repair budget to £20m.

• Protect and develop bus services through Lothian Buses.

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• Consult on extending 20mph zones and low-emission zones to improve air quality.

• Support the allocation of five per cent of transport budget to cycling and look to increase it.

• Roll out programme of cycle training for children and driver awareness of cyclists.

CULTURE/LEISURE/SPORT

• Continue to invest in festivals and events.

• Strengthen the development of Club Sport Edinburgh and devolve decision-making process over awarding of small sports grants to it.

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• Aim to provide smaller-scale skate parks where there is demand.

• Replicate the recently opened Drumbrae Library and Community Hub elsewhere.

• Ensure library opening hours match the needs of residents.

education/children

• Establish a business partner for every secondary school to foster relationships to help school leavers.

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• Implement a statutory guarantee of over 600 hours of free nursery education for every three and four-year-old and looked-after two-year-old in Edinburgh.

• Examine ways to provide all-year-round nursery provision,

• Commit to rebuilding of Gillespie’s and Boroughmuir high schools.

• No reduction in the number of school crossing patrols.

ENVIRONMENT

• Extend the collection of food waste.

• Reduce the city’s carbon footprint by more efficient waste collection, improving recycling and transport policy.

• Roll out low-emission and electric vehicles in city fleet.

• Achieve a Blue Flag status for beaches.

HEALTH

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• Appoint a Care Champion to represent carers and their interests in the council.

• Prioritise further care home development.

• Continue commitment to direct payments for care and shift balance so elderly receive as much care at home as possible when that’s what they prefer.

housing

• Build more affordable homes.

• Continue to work for and invest in higher standards in public housing.

• Continue to implement the strategy to reduce homelessness numbers.

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• Strengthen enforcement against bad landlords and HMOs, and seek a solution to party flats.

PLANNING

• Improve the process and ensure a one-stop shop for applications and objectors and increase access for potential objectors.

CRIME

• Continue to invest in police officers who work with council environmental officers dealing with littering, vandalism, dog fouling and excessive noise.

• On serious crime, improve on how we deal with persistent and hardcore offenders, putting the victim first.

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• Work with Scottish Government to tackle the underlying causes of crime.

• Encourage communities to apply for funding under the Cashback for Communities scheme, putting proceeds of crime towards projects.

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