SNP Council election manifesto
• 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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad• 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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad• 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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad• 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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad• 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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad• 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
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad• 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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad• 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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad• 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.