Social care 'catastrophe' facing the Capital
Social care 'catastrophe' facing the Capital
Plus: Dalry Road to close to daytime through traffic under 20-minute neighbourhood plan
£220m cuts spark fears for care homes and most vulnerable
Edinburgh’s councillors are being asked to seek “immediate financial support” from the Scottish Government after the funding delivered for city services left health and social care services needing to find huge savings.
The Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board - which is operated by NHS Lothian and the city council and plans and delivers community health and social care services - is facing more than £220m in cuts over the next three years.
The carers’ charity Vocal has warned that cuts in social care packages is heaping ever greater demands on unpaid carers and may be putting lives at risk. Care homes have also been affected with two council-run facilities - at Clovenstone and Ford’s Road, Saughton - earmarked for closure.
Councillor Euan Davidson, a member of the joint board, is asking his colleagues to call on the Scottish Government for emergency help to avoid a “direct negative impact to the delivery and outcomes for health and social care services in Edinburgh.”
The context: In recent weeks, the Inquirer has highlighted the funding issues that mean Edinburgh receives less per capita funding than other parts of Scotland for the public services delivered through both NHS Lothian and City of Edinburgh Council. Pointing to cuts of £58m for the coming financial year, rising to more than £108m in 2026/27, councillor Davidson’s motion to the council’s policy and sustainability committee meeting on Thursday states: “This has been exacerbated by the decision of the Scottish Government and COSLA to award funding for the real living wage on the basis of a formula which has repeatedly left Edinburgh as the lowest funded local authority in Scotland, well below the national average.”
‘Catastrophic impact’: Liberal Democrat councillor Davidson warns health and social care cuts of this scale “will have a catastrophic impact on some of the most vulnerable groups in society, including unpaid carers, people with learning disabilities, care home residents and people residing in the most deprived areas.”
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
DOCTOR’S DEBUT: The first incarnation of The Doctor to come from Edinburgh - well, he’s still originally from Gallifrey, obviously - will launch his debut season on 11 May. The BBC has confirmed Ncuti Gatwa’s eagerly-awaited first full run in the Tardis will hit our screens on the Saturday evening with the first two episodes available on iPlayer earlier in the day for those who can’t wait. The former Boroughmuir High pupil will be the 15th Doctor, starring alongside Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday.
DALRY ROAD TRAFFIC PLAN: Dalry Road will be closed to through traffic from 7am-7pm as part of plans to turn the area into a pedestrian-friendly ‘20-minute neighbourhood’. A traffic filter would stop general traffic entering or leaving the Haymarket end of the street during the day, allowing only buses and taxis through. Segregated cycle lanes along part of the route - with a gap at the ‘town centre’ - and wider pavements are also part of the plan. The proposals cover the area from Haymarket to McLeod Street and is set to go out to public consultation shortly.
School safety: The project includes much-needed safety improvements around Dalry Primary School and Tynecastle High as well as to the 5-way junction at Ardmillan Terrace.
‘Locally popular’: The independent local councillor Ross McKenzie said on X (formerly Twitter): “Engagement prior to design shows overwhelming support for these changes locally - not surprising in an area where the vast majority of people do not have access to a car”.
SUCCESSFUL TIME: Top Swiss watchmaker Omega is to join the increasing portfolio of luxury brands at Edinburgh’s up-market Multrees Walk, currently home to international brands including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Mulberry and Hyundai’s prestige Genesis car marque. Omega, favoured by man of the moment Cillian Murphy and James Bond star Daniel Craig, currently has an outlet in the nearby St James. Multrees Walk, anchored by Harvey Nichols, has lined up a number of new brands due to open this year as Edinburgh continues to attract high-end international retail investment.
FRINGE PROTEST: Classes attended by more than 1100 adult learners are facing an uncertain future after being told they will have to move out of the South Bridge Resource Centre to make way for a headquarters for the Fringe. The Fringe was awarded £7m by the UK Government for the project which will safeguard the future of the rundown building. However, those running the classes say their needs have not been considered, while the council says it is working to find alternative premises.
BEER BIKE: A pedal-powered ‘beer bike’ has been seized by police after being stopped at 11.20am on Saturday. The bikes, which serve beer to passengers on sightseeing tours, are popular in a number of European cities. Police Scotland said the bike was stopped for road traffic offences and inquiries are ongoing.
POLICE STOP: The closure of the police station at Balerno has been confirmed by Police Scotland as part of cost-saving measures. The community is served by the station at Wester Hailes five miles away. The stations at Portobello, Leith and the West End are also earmarked for closure, as well as the force planning to sell off the old Lothian and Borders Police headquarters building at Fettes.
RUGBY POINT: The property investor, developer and hotelier Chris Stewart has been appointed as a non-executive director of the Scottish Rugby board. The award-winning developers is the man behind The Edinburgh Grand on St Andrew Square and the regeneration of Advocate’s Close off the Royal Mile.
GOOD FIT: Edinburgh Leisure has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive. Jen Holland joins today, arriving from Scottish Borders Council. She takes over from former CEO, June Peebles, who retired at the end of February 2024. Jen has previously worked with various public sector and charity organisations including Fife Cultural Trust, NHS Fife, Live Borders.
CITY BLOW: The fate of one of Edinburgh’s senior football teams has been sealed after just 29 matches – with poor form allied to a six-point deduction for financial transgressions the reason. Edinburgh City suffered the penalty in January after failing to pay players and other debtors, and have won just twice in 29 league games in Scottish League 1, the third tier of the professional game. Here’s hoping for a speedy return from League 2 next season.
LOBSTERS AND BEACHES: North Berwick has been named the best place to live in the UK in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide. The East Lothian town is the first Scottish winner in the 12-years the list has been in existence, with judges impressed by its lively independent retail offering, the seafront lobster shack, its proximity to the outdoors and its beaches, as well as its easy access to Edinburgh. Leith was also recognised as one of the best neighbourhoods in Scotland.
THE BUSINESS
Business hopes for interest rate relief will go unmet this week
Edinburgh’s business comm unity are likely to see hopes of a cut in interest rates go unanswered when the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee meets later this week.
While a Chambers of Commerce survey in the past few days showed that a third of companies are negatively impact by the current 5.25% rate, pundits expect the level to remain frozen, with any cuts unlikely to be delivered for at least a few months.
The Bank's decision will be influenced by new Consumer Price Index inflation figures which are set to be released the day before they meet, and economists expect Wednesday’s consumer prices inflation for February to come in at 3.5%, down from 4% at the beginning of the year.
However a labour market which remains relatively tight, wages growth, and inflation within the service sector remain deterrents to a rate cut for the majority of decision makers on the MPC. At its last meeting, only one member voted to cut, two voted to increase and the remainder backed the status quo.
The survey of 1000 firms conducted by British Chambers of Commerce reported that small and mid-sized firms were most likely to report negative impact at 39%, with manufacturing companies at 36% and business-to-consumer firms at 37%. Only 9% reported a positive impact of higher interest rates, through higher returns on surplus funds.
The main negative effect cited by businesses was increased costs for new and current finance, which is either restricting investment or limiting cashflow. Firms also referenced a tightening in consumer spending, reduced demand for housing, and higher costs for Covid recovery loans. However, the scale of the negative impact has fallen from 46%, when businesses were last asked the question in July 2023.
NOT HANGING AROUND: A new business will be hoping to scale the heights of success when it opens in Edinburgh a week from today. Climbing centre operators The Climbing Hangar will open at East Telferton near Portobello next Monday, aiming to encourage people to experience the sport at a variety of levels. The new 18,000 sq ft centre will include a fully equipped strength-training gym area, plus hundreds of climbing routes and a cafe offering fresh food and drinks.
OFFICES PRIME FOR GROWTH: A leading international property consultancy is forecasting strong returns for Edinburgh’s prime office market. In its forecasts up to 2028 BNP Paribas Real Estate UK says that Edinburgh offices could see annual prime total returns average up to 11% over the next five years, looking at both capital growth and income return.
Gary Cameron, head of Scotland at BNP Paribas Real Estate added: “The serious lack of new and pipeline space in the city centre has seen Edinburgh hit the joint highest rents in the UK Big 6 markets…Until there is more a balanced supply dynamic – there is less than 1 year prime supply – strong rental growth is expected and £50 psf predicted.”
“Edinburgh’s draw as a global capital city and a key finance centre has always attracted institutional capital, particularly German and more recently French. However, looking ahead over the next 3 years, we expect UK institutional capital to return.”
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
SINGING STAR: Scottish songstress Eddi Reader, renowned for her captivating live performances and significant contributions to Scotland’s music industry over the past 40 years, is set bringing her 2024 spring tour to Queens Hall, Edinburgh on Friday 26 April.
BLUE BEARD: Everyone knows that when you are told not to open a door, the only possible outcome is that you have to peek inside. This is the conundrum explored in the steampunk reimagining of Blue Beard at the Lyceum. We’re hearing good things about Emma Rice’s by turn beguiling and disturbing update of the classic tale which runs until 30 March.
ROCK ON: Prepare to be blown away by the classics as the Edinburgh Rock Choir stages a charity concert in aid of the brilliant Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts at Murrayfield Parish Church on Saturday at 11.30am-12.30pm.
QUICK BITES
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: The Spanish Butcher is set to open its first Edinburgh restaurant in May, in the Capital’s North Castle Street. The new 90 cover restaurant, which builds on the success of its innovative Galician offering at the original in Glasgow, will create 45 new jobs.
SAD FAREWELL: Another city hospitality business – and this time one that has charitable purpose – is closing down due to adverse trading conditions caused by high energy prices, food inflation and rent increases. Peggy’s Café, which is part of The Open Door charity that looks after vulnerable people in Morningside, made the announcement on their social media channels that they would close at the beginning of April 2024.