Leader’s Report

City of Council 12 May 2005

LEADER’S REPORT - MAY 2005

1. UK General Election

1.1 Polling was under way at the time of the Leader’s Report going to print. I wish all of the candidates the result they deserve and have no doubt that the overall outcome will be a matter for healthy debate at the Council meeting.

2. G8

2.1 I am completely and utterly opposed to Edinburgh Council Tax payers picking up the tab for any damage caused during G8. If there are any requirements for extra funding necessitated by the presence of large numbers of visitors to the city, this funding should be provided by the Scottish Executive or the Westminster Government. I will again be writing to the First Minister and to the Prime Minister to raise this issue.

3. World War II Veterans Commemoration

3.1 City of Edinburgh Council has been at the forefront in progressing arrangements for properly commemorating VE and VJ day. A reception for veterans, organised by the World War II Commiseration Project Team, will be held in on 22 June. Commemorative events are planned to take place in capital cities of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 10 July, a date chosen as the mid point between VE and VJ day. In Edinburgh, this will take the form of a family day of activities involving World War II memorabilia and a parade down the Royal Mile to Parliament Square. This will be followed by a musical tribute to the Veterans, a wreath laying at the Stone of Remembrance in St Giles Cathedral, a fly over and a Civic Reception for World War II Veterans.

3.2 A report will also follow shortly outlining Edinburgh’s proposals to provide a lasting reminder and appropriate commemoration of VE and VJ Day. 4. Business Assembly

4.1 I am delighted that the Edinburgh Business Assembly will be launched at an event to be held in the Merchants’ Hall on Wednesday 11 May 2005. The Assembly, which is being promoted jointly with Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, will be chaired by a leading figure in business and there has been a very positive response to invitations. I am particularly pleased that Sir George Mathewson, Chairman of the Royal Bank of Group, has agreed to speak at the launch.

4.2 In previous reports I have promoted ‘Capital City issues’ including the City Vision, the Case for Edinburgh and, more recently, collaboration with Glasgow. These Council driven initiatives raise issues which impinge upon, and in many cases can only be resolved by, working with the business community. For that reason, I believe that we need to establish a forum through which senior business leaders can bring forward views on major issues facing the city now and in the future. I am sure that the Assembly will fulfil that function and will be a very useful addition to our consultative and action oriented approach to partnership in Edinburgh.

5. “Achieving the Vision” - The Edinburgh City Region Conference 2005

5.1 Last year’s Edinburgh City Region in the 2Ist Century Conference, organised jointly by the Centre for Scottish Public Policy, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian and the Council, proved a tremendous success. This year‘s conference, ‘Achieving the Vision’, will focus on the practical interventions that policy makers, firms and organisations in South-East Scotland will need to make if the vision for Edinburgh city region as a leading European location for investment, prosperity and quality of life is to be realised.

5.2 Tom McCabe MSP, Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, will deliver a keynote speech alongside civic leaders and leading speakers from business, media, government and universities. I am particularly pleased that an elected member of Glasgow City Council will be joining me in a panel discussion on the need for collaborative working. The conference will be held at Dynamic Earth on Thursday 26 May. Further details can be obtained from Pat Herd, Conference Officer, Centre for Scottish Public Policy, on 0131 558 8179 or at [email protected].

6. Capital Review

6.1 Since its launch in 2002, the Capital Review website has attracted high visitor numbers. To keep pace with this interest, the site was relaunched on 12 April with a fresh look, more regular updates, more economic research and more useful data. This new, improved website provides a fund of information for anyone interested in the economic challenges that Edinburgh faces today. Designed to complement Capital Review, the quarterly economic bulletin published by the Council’s own Economic Development Division, the new website can be accessed at www.capitalreview,co.uk.

7. Business Rates

7.1 The table below clearly demonstrates the extent to which businesses in Edinburgh help subsidise the rest of Scotland. Edinburgh has made a net contribution of nearly f700m in business rates to the national purse over the last 9 years. It is important that we do not kill the goose that lays the golden egg! We need to ensure that Edinburgh receives a fairer share of the wealth created in order to best provide for the continuing success of our businesses and to help support Edinburgh’s burgeoning population.

7.2 Appendix 1 also details the net contributions/receipts by each local authority from 1996/7 to 2004/5. Edinburgh can clearly be seen as the prima ry contributor.

Contributed to NDR Received from NDR Net Contribution Pool Pool

Estimated 253.00 168.10 84.90

1,933.80 1,241.30 692.50

8. Collection of Rent Arrears

8.1 Housing Rent Arrears have reduced dramatically in the last year, following the implementation of the Council’s Rent Collection Strategy and an Action Plan to reduce arrears, which involved setting up a dedicated team of housing officers in each local office and improvements to systems as part of the Council’s Smarf City initiative.

8.2 In 2004/05 a major reduction in arrears of f930k was achieved, a performance record which places Edinburgh fourth in a list of ten comparable Councils. From a level of f3.21m in April 2004, Edinburgh’s rent arrears fell to f2.28m at 31 March 2005, which was below the target of f2.35m set by the strategy. 8.3 This is also good news for tenants. The number of households in arrears has decreased, from 8,947 in April to 6,988 at the end of February 2005. The number of court orders and subsequent abandonments and evictions has fallen from 522 in 2002 to 237 in 2004.

8.4 This success will have a direct impact on the Housing Revenue Account, because of the ability in the future to lower provision made for bad debt. A robust rent collection policy will continue to be implemented in the forthcoming year, including pursuit of former tenant’s arrears, and further work to ensure tenants who require it, receive money advice.

9. Enterprise Finance

9.1 The Council’s new Enterprise Finance system went live successfully on 1 April. This system allows us to introduce smarter procurement practices across the full range of services provided by the Council and partner organisations. It will also provide better financial information for managers, contributing to stronger budgetary control and improved analysis of expenditure trends. The savings anticipated from improved procurement are significant and completely in tune with the Government’s efficiency agenda.

9.2 Alongside this, there have been organisational changes, with finance staff in service departments transferring to the Finance Department. This will streamline the Council’s financial procedures, making them more effective while reducing costs by almost flm per annum. These changes were approved by the Executive of the Council in March and are an excellent illustration of the approach the Council needs to take to respond positively to the drive for improved performance and greater efficiency.

IO. Gross Disposable Income

10.1 I was interested in recent figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on gross disposable household income (GDHI) across the various regions and countries of the UK. The estimates show that, in 2003, the region with the highest GDHI per capita was London at f15,235. Edinburgh fares very well at f14,156 against the UK average of f 12,610, the Scottish average of f 11,753 and Glasgow at f 10,749. This means that the average Edinburgh household has an extra f 1,546 to spend per annum once bills, pensions and mortgages or rent have been paid than the average UK household, and f2,403 and f3,407 more to spend than their average Scotish or Glaswegian counterparts respectively. Further details can be obtained at :- ht t p ://www. statistics. q o v . uk/a rt ic Ie s/n o i o ur n a I/ Re q iona I HH %2 0 In co me 1995-2003.pdf. 11. Road Maintenance Issues

Utility Works

11.I After the Best Value Review of Network Services and Edinburgh Roads Services, a team dedicated to supervise Public Utility works across the city has been established. This team will be able to scrutinise more closely the working practices and the quality of reinstatement work.

11.2 By taking samples of the reinstated material, the team will be able to determine whether or not works have been carried out in accordance with the Council’s specification. Sampling activity will increase considerably during the current financial year and a contract for this work is currently under consideration. Approximately 750 samples will be taken initially. This equates to 6% of the number of utility openings, although that number may increase, depending on the team’s findings.

11.3 Responsible contractors have nothing to fear from this scheme but the Council has a responsibility, within the constraints of current legislation, to protect the road network from work by utilities which does not meet the required standard.

11.4 The detailed results of coring tests of the thickness of reinstatements, and the number of notices issued annually by each utility are attached in the table below :-

CORE RESULTS

Statutory Undertaker Number of Number of Percentage notices issued core samples pass rate

British Telecom 1863 18 Cable &Wireless (Atkins) 30 1 100.0% Global Crossing HNS 13 5 Scottish Power 1578 31 Scottish Water 3594 64 Telewest Communications 393 5 Thus 97 5 Transco 3577 76

11145 205 Defect Repairs

11.5 Nine defect repair squads are currently operating across the city to deliver a speedy response to road defects. From 11 to 22 April, over 1,800 repairs were undertaken. All defects reported through the Clarence system will be made safe within eight working hours of the report being received.

11.6 It is important that we do not just rely on calls from the public through Clarence and, now that winter is over, City Network Services are also undertaking an intensive inspection of of the roads throughout the city. Approximately 200 km have been closely inspected since 11 April and all roads and pavements will be looked at as soon as possible. This is in addition to the normal periodic inspection regime which is determined individually for each street.

Major Road Maintenance Works

11.7 Approximately 200 individual road and pavement schemes are being undertaken across the city. This results from the Council having allocated a four-fold increase in funding for road maintenance in its Capital Budget for 2005/06, over and above the Revenue Budget allocation used primarily for cyclic and reactive repairs. This level of funding will result in a significant improvement in the condition of the road network and it is important that this investment is maintained in future years.

11.8 Work commenced on the first day of the financial year. Once the operations are fully under way, it is inevitable that some disruption to traffic will occur. Every effort will, however, be made to keep this to a minimum and the public will be kept informed of any potential delays throughout the course of the year.

12. Hermiston GaitlLitter on City Bypass

12.1 The Edinburgh City Bypass creates the first initial impression for visitors to the city, I have, therefore, been extremely concerned about the presence of litter on this trunk road and have written to the Minister for Transport. Amey is contractually required to clear litter and other debris from motorways and other special roads, such as the City Bypass.

12.2 The Minister has advised me that Amey have a rolling programme of litter picking on all routes under its management and that the City Bypass is subject to weekly inspection. The Bypass has been identified as an area of significant concern and litter picking is ongoing with particular attention being given to Hermiston Gait. I have, however, been disappointed to note a lot of litter, particularly at junctions but also caught up in shrubbery along each carriageway. I shall continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that full and proper clean-ups are regularly completed. 12.3 The Council has undertaken a comprehensive clean-up of its own arterial routes. I should like to congratulate staff on the tremendous improvements that have been made. I have ‘before and after’ photographs of the improvement in cleanliness that I would be happy to share. I do hope that the standard of the By-pass will soon complement the efforts council staff are making.

13. Council Away Day

13.1 Members have already been advised that a Council Away Day is to be held on Thursday 19 May 2005. Topics identified for discussion include (i) Council Review 2007 and (ii) Political Management Arrangements - “Mini Review”. It is also hoped to consider other major issues facing the Council and the city in the next few years and national developments which are likely to impact on the role of local government in the future.

13.2 The Away Day will provide us with an opportunity for an extended discussion of these issues on a more informal basis than is possible during meetings of the Council and its constituent Committees. There will, of course, be a number of differences between the political groups on these issues. I hope, however, that we can focus on issues of common interest. 14. Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh - Quincentinnial

14.1 It is a rare event for a local authority to be able to help celebrate a 500th birthday. However on 1 July 1505, our predecessor, the Edinburgh Town Council, presented the Royal College of Surgeons with its “Seal of Cause”. In the ensuing 500 years, the College has worked to promote and maintain the highest standards of surgical practice, through its keen interest in education, training and assessment. It is through organisations of this professional standing that Edinburgh can boast one of the country’s best educated populations in the UK.

14.2 The College will be holding a Quincentenary Week from 28th June to 3rd July, a period full of celebration as well as reflection on its heritage. It has designated 2005-6 as a full Quincentenary year with a number of special events. During that time, the Council will be playing its part by relaying, in high quality natural stone, the paved area outside the college. This will be a long lasting and fitting way to celebrate this remarkable milestone in the history of the College and to provide an appropriate setting for this wonderful building.

15. Planning and Building Control ICT Project

15.1 I am sure you will be pleased to know that the Council’s Planning and Building Control ICT Project picked up the Runner-up Award in the category “Government to Business”. Since their introduction in 1996 the awards, organised by Government Computing magazine, have become recognised as the prime accolades for those working on electronic delivery of public services.

15.2 There were seven award categories. The winners - emerging from a record entry of 118 projects from 73 organisations - were announced at a gala dinner at Madame Tussaud’s in London on 27 April. This is recognition of the hard work by all Council and BT staff involved in the project over the past three years.

16. M9 Spur Extension/ A90 Upgrade

16.1 The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (of which the Council is a major partner authority) has just secured very significant funding for work that will result in a major upgrade of the road network between the existing M9 and the A90 at Queensferry.

16.2 The major element of the work will extend the existing M9 spur for 3 km to a new junction with the A90 near Dalmeny. This will provide a high quality motorway standard link between the A90 and the M8/ M9 motorways. The link is being funded by the Scottish Executive to the tune of f24m.

16.3 The design is now being finalised to ensure that there is no conflict with the proposed Edinburgh Airport Rail link. It is hoped that work will commence in June 2006 with the new link road being open to traffic in February 2008.

16.4 Before this work can get underway, old mineworkings in the area have to be consolidated. This important work is necessary to provide stable ground conditions to enable the main work to go ahead. This element is being funded by FETA at a cost of f6.8m. Subject to contract acceptance, the work should start within about a month and should be complete by April next year.

17. Edinburgh City Centre Management Company

17.1 Underground Car Parking in the City Centre

ECCMC has researched the options for underground car parking for shoppers in the city centre, in accordance with its remit in the City Centre Strategy and Action Plan. Discussions are under way, with a view to providing car parking at no public cost, in locations to be agreed with the Council.

17.2 Farmers’ Market Goes Weekly

Edinburgh Farmers’ Market is already the most successful farmers’ market in the country and ECCMC now has planning permission to commence weekly markets (currently, they operate twice monthly). The target date to commence weekly markets is 14 May 2005. 17.3 Strategy and Action Plan for Edinburgh City Centre 2003 to 2008

The Plan, approved by the Council in 2003, is currently being ‘reviewed in light of changing circumstances and in order to ensure its continuing relevance. Together with of over 60 business and civic leaders, I attended a business breakfast on 15 April to participate in the initial stage of the review. It is intended that a revised plan will be produced by July 2005.

18. The Douglas-Miller Family ()

18.1 The Lord Provost shall host a civic lunch to recognise the contribution that the Douglas-Miller family has made to the city. Opposition Group Leaders will also be invited to the lunch.

19. Unemployment in Edinburgh

19.1 The latest unemployment bulletin for Edinburgh, as at March 2005, shows a decrease of 121 persons unemployed when compared with the previous month. It also highlights a reduction of 382 persons unemployed in Edinburgh when compared with March 2004. The overall rate of unemployment in Edinburgh is 2.4% (down 0.1% on March 2004).

20. Violent Crime down by 18% over last 2 years

20.1 End-of-year performance figures have recently been made available for ‘A’ Division, Edinburgh’s unitary policing structure. Police routinely monitor crime under five headings. These are listed below, along with a brief explanation of each, numerical comparisons to 2003104 and solvency rates*.

20.2 Crimes of Violence

Basic definition: attacks on the person at the more serious end of the spectrum - serious assault, threats and extortion, robbery, etc.

Annual recorded incident totals: fell from 1,694 to 1,513, a drop of some 11YO. This is on top of a reduction from 1,846 in 200213.

Solvency: a rise from 50% to 54% ensures that more than 1 in 2 of these crimes are being solved.

20.2 Sexual Crimes

Basic definition: a miscellany of sexual crime from rape to indecent exposure.

Annual recorded incident totals: rises by 15%, from 686 to 791. Analysis reveals, however, that a substantial proportion (513) are in fact historical crimes, some dating back decades, with the earliest reported last year dating back as far as the 1940’s. We should welcome the fact that women are now more comfortable in coming forward and reporting crimes of a sexual nature.

Solvency: up by 8% to 62%

20.3 Crimes Involving Dishonesty

Basic definition: wide range of offences, from theft by housebreaking to fraud, to shoplifting.

Annual recorded incident totals: drops by 5%,from 34,163 to 32,408.

Solvency: up 2% to 36%

20.4 Fireraising and malicious mischief

Basic definition: small number of crimes, revolving around damage to property - for example, vandalism - and offences involving some form of ‘reckless’ conduct.

Annual recorded incident totals: up by 5% from 10,668 to 11,240.

Solvency: no change at 13%

20.5 Other crimes

Basic definition: again a broad range of offences, chiefly relating to drugs misuse and other offences pro-actively detected by police.

Annual recorded incident totals: no significant change from 6,129 to 6,135.

Solvency: static at 99%

20.6 In summarising performance, senior city officers report that they are ‘delighted’ with what constitutes a 2% drop in total recorded crime (53,340 to 52,087) and a 2% increase in solvency across the five groups (standing now at almost 40%).

20.7 These figures are particularly striking when one considers the surge in the city’s daytime working population, the boom in commercial and residential property and Edinburgh’s growing international reputation.

*based on census figures estimating population at 448,000 21. Housing Development (Development Funding)

21 .I In July 2004, the Council assumed responsibility for the management of housing development funding previously managed by Communities Scotland. This involved the transfer of responsibility for a core programme amounting to around f 18.5m each year.

21.2 This was followed in July by the announcement that the Council would join the Scottish Executive’s Community Ownership Programme (COP), bringing a further f45.m over three years in new investment to the city, targeted at generating new supply in advance of housing transfer.

21.3 This year’s core programme has successfully delivered 341 new homes and acquired land for a further 122 homes. The COP funding has delivered around 45 new homes this year and acquired further sites which will deliver 365 new homes during the next two financial years.

21.4 Malcolm Chisholm MSP, Minister for Communities, recently confirmed that the Council’s core programme will remain at f 18.5m next year, with allocations from the COP bringing that total to f42.089m. This will generate 718 new homes from both programmes this year and around f23m in private finance, bringing the total investment in new and improved housing to some f60m.

21.5 Another significant milestone has been reached in the delivery of Capital City Homes’ development programme, with the transfer to it of five sites by the Council. These sites at Wester Hailes Park, Mitchell Street, North Fort Street, Stenhouse Avenue West and Saughton Mains Bank will be developed over the next three years to provide 184 additional, much needed homes for rent and, including the 94 homes at West Pilton, will deliver up to 278 new homes for rent.

22. Scaffold advertising and statutory repair notices

22.1 In a Scottish first, an initiative between the Council and advertising specialists Megaposter/blowUP to provide attractive shrouding on scaffoldings will act as a platform for advertisements to raise money to help property owners pay for statutory notice repairs. On 25 April, the first advertisement was unveiled on a St Giles Street tenement. The shrouding also carries a one-to-one image of the building itself.

22.2 While some sites will be more attractive to advertisers, it is hoped that up to a dozen buildings each year could benefit through the scheme. The level of revenue will depend on the location, time of year and the length of time the scaffolding is there.

22.3 Property owners are responsible for ensuring that their buildings are in a safe condition. The Council responds to over 5,000 requests for help relating to problems with privately owned buildings every year. Around 1,900 building defects are subject to statutory repair notices, with over 100 repair projects costing more than f20,OOO. This is a positive way to help owners offset the cost of their repairs with advertising revenue, as well as providing an attractive faqade during repair work.

23. Launch of Edinburgh Pass

23.1 I was delighted to attend the launch of the Edinburgh Pass, a new product to help maintain Edinburgh’s position in the lucrative city break market, together with partners from VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh & Lothian and Edinburgh Tourism Action Group. The first card of its type in Scotland is available for 1, 2 and 3-day periods, and after purchase the Pass offers tourists inclusive admission to 27 attractions and exclusive offers at 26 retailers, restaurants, festivals and leisure operators. Access around the city is straightforward as the Pass allows transport around the city using Lothian Buses network with offers also being available on the Airlink service and City Tours. The smart-card technology is commonplace in competitor destinations and will help visitors enjoy our unique city whilst also saving money.

24. Hotel Benchmarking Survey

24.1 The Deloitte Hotel Benchmarking Survey is the largest independent source of hotel performance data outside North America, surveying 6,500 hotels in 165 cities around the world. Indices are compiled of the top 20 performing cities based on Occupancy and Yield. It is a fantastic achievement that Edinburgh has appeared in both these indices for the first time. This clearly demonstrates that the city is operating in a truly global league. In fact, Edinburgh is one of only five cities to feature in both rankings (the others are Dubai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and London). The survey can be accessed via the link below : htt D ://www.hot e Ibe n c h ma rk .com/f rames . ht m? ht t D ://www. ho te I benchma rk .com/news/050316GlobalRanking.htm

25. Futuresport

25.1 Futuresport’s 2005-06 programme was launched on 14 April 2005 in the City Art Centre. Councillor Ricky Henderson presented the programme of fifty sporting events, which includes an impressive mix of grass roots sport, schools and community events and prestigious international competitions. The launch of the city’s fifth Futuresport programme was well attended. Guest speakers included Head of Marketing at Scottish Rugby, Alastair Russell, and Event Director of the Rat Race, Jim Mee, who both spoke highly of the Futuresport programme and their partnership working with the Council in delivering their events. More information on this year’s programme can be obtained at www.edinburg h.gov. u k/futuresport. 26 The BUPA Great Caledonian Run

26.1 The BUPA Great Caledonian Run returns to Edinburgh after an absence of seven years. The 10K event will take place on 8 May and will replace the September date in the calendar which the Capital City Challenge has occupied for the past five years. Entries for this year’s race have closed at close to 7,000. The race, to be televised on Channel Five, will take in some of the city’s most famous landmarks and will include magnificent views of the castle, Princes St and Holyrood Park. The race attracts many elite athletes with Ethiopian, Derartu Tulu, due to be running on the day, in addition to many celebrities running for charity.

27. Heineken Cup Final

27.1 I am delighted that Edinburgh will host Europe’s most important club rugby event, the Heineken Cup Final, on Sunday 22 May. Already, ticket sales for Murrayfield have outstripped those for any previous final. I am pleased that the Council has been an active partner in the steering group for the occasion and am confident that fans and other visitors will enjoy a stimulating weekend in Edinburgh as well as a great match at Murrayfield.

28. Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh

28.1 The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh (RBGE) is to receive an additional f1.7 million over three years, following a review of its operations. The funding, principally provided by the Scottish Executive, will enable RBGE to:

increase visitor numbers; develop its plant collections; and 0 promote plant science to a wider audience.

28.2 The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a world class visitor attraction which is extremely popular with both tourists and Scots. It is dedicated to helping people to explore the world of plants by educating them in plant evolution, conservation and biology. This funding will help RBGE develop its plant collection and promote the importance of plant science to a wider audience. The RBGE certainly got the thumbs up from the Anderson family on a recent visit.

29. Waste Prevention

29.1 Waste Action Grant Programme

The Waste Action Grant Programme was also launched recently at the Royal Botanic Garden. Part of the Waste Aware Edinburgh Campaign, the programme aims to reduce, reuse and recycle waste through encouraging local householders, community groups and supervised youth groups to establish voluntary Waste Action Groups across Edinburgh, or apply for funds to undertake local action on waste projects as part of their existing group remit. Grants of up to f2,500 are available for community initiatives that seek to reduce, reuse and recycle in local projects. Further information on the grant programme can be obtained from lona Beaumont on 0131 469 5070 or wasteaction@edinburg h.gov.uk

29.2 Progress on Waste Prevention

The City of Edinburgh Council’s scrutiny panel has agreed to uphold the Executive’s decision to award a contract for a multimaterial kerbside collection to Abitibi Consolidated Recycling Europe. An extension to the current paper kerbside contract, this new service will provide kerbside recycling of paper, cardboard, cans, textiles and drinks cartons to 120,000 households. This recycling service is projected to divert 16,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year and help Edinburgh reach it’s 27% recycling target by the end of 2006. The first collection date is scheduled for June 13th.

29.3 Kerbside Garden waste collections are currently being rolled out to 80,000 properties. Over 7,000 tonnes of garden waste was collected through this scheme last year for conversion to compost and use as soil improver. The scheme aims to collect more this year, as by the end of the summer, around 100,000 households will be on the scheme.

29.4 Packaging Points have been introduced to recycling points across the city during April. The introduction of over I00 of these points have replaced all the plastic points and the majority of can points, in an effort to make recycling easier for residents. The points accept cardboard, plastic bottles, cans and for the first time in Edinburgh, drinks cartons are now accepted for recycling.

29.5 Redevelopment work on Seafield Community Recycling Centre is progressing to schedule. It is due to reopen in June and the new layout of the site will make it easier for the public to recycle, rather than send their waste for landfilling. This will also be the first time that businesses will be given the chance to recycle their waste at a Recycling Centre in Edinburgh. Work on the remaining two CRC’s will commence this summer.

29.6 Compost Awareness Week is currently running until Saturday 7‘h May. It was also launched in the Royal Botanic Gardens and events are being held at locations across the city to mark the week. The City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with WRAP is in its second year of offering reduced price compost bins to Edinburgh residents. Over 7,500 subsidised bins have been delivered to Edinburgh householders to date. 30. Libraries

30.1 Muirhouse and Granton libraries, in partnership with the North West Edinburgh Community Learning team and CLAN, have successfully attracted funding of f7,000 from the Big Lottery to support after-school clubs. Granton Library plans to run a Book Club for 5-1 2 year olds, while Muirhouse will run clubs for 5-12s and 12-16s, to encourage friendship and positive learning experiences. The clubs open in the first week of May.

30.2 Edinburgh Central Library will host two significant exhibitions during May. The first celebrates the centenary of Norway’s independence and will commemorate the Race for the Pole between Scott and Amundsen. The second is an exhibition, which marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the first ‘Miffy’ book. Fifty years ago, Dick Bruna drew Miffy for the first time. This loveable bunny has been entertaining young children all over the world ever since and this interactive exhibition will enable children under five to discover the joys of reading. There will be live storytelling and organised craft activities.

31. Usher Hall

31.1 The Usher Hall was confirmed as the venue of choice for the Oasis concert on 15 May 2005. This is a very high profile event for the city, as reported across the media in reports which highlighted the Usher Hall’s growing stature as an international concert hall offering a diverse programme.

31.2 The Usher Hall is also delighted to have secured Andre Previn and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra to appear in November 2005 as part of the Notweg ia n Inde pende nce celebrations . APPENDIX 1 TOTAL NET CONTRIBUTION 1996/97 - 2004105 I I Local Authority 1996107- Council Band D 2004/05 2004/05 Ranked Position Ranked by Total Net Contribution fm Ranked by Band D Level f

I I I I I

Galloway East -151,868,888 Fa1kirk 951 29 Dunbartonshire~. ...~ South Lanarkshire -159,230,566 Orkney 940 30 Aberdeenshire -165,775,129 Shetland 936 31 North Lanarkshire -226.039.814 Eilean Siar 91 1 37