Here's what Edinburgh's major parties are promising in the Council election
We've been speaking to the leaders of the biggest political parties in Edinburgh to ask them what they are pledging to do ahead of next week's Council elections
Last updated 28th Apr 2022
There's one week to go until Scotland goes to the polls to vote in the Council elections.
In Edinburgh there are plenty of debates to be had.
Here at Forth News we've been speaking to the major parties in the city about what they are promising to do.
We asked the candidates "What is something you are pledging to do, that will make life better for the people of Edinburgh?".
SNP
Starting with the SNP, the half of the current administration with the most seats in the Chamber.
Group Leader Adam McVey highlighted two key manifesto items.
"The congestion levy that we're talking about at peak times, is going to make a huge difference to people in the West of the city, and in the South and in the East.
"People who are struggling to get around Edinburgh because of the number of cars coming in
"We want to make sure public transport is the way more people are doing that."
This levy would involve charging people from outside of the city a fee to drive a vehicle into the Council area.
"If you live in the city centre, the short term let change is going to be massive." Said McVey, looking at another policy.
These changes effect properties based in residential areas which are being used for short term stays, like an AirBnB.
A control area will mean reapplying for permission to operate in their current form, with it being unlikely as many will be permitted to continue in the way they currently do.
The party hopes this will open up the housing market.
McVey said: "People have been hugely affected by a reduction in housing by communities literally being hollowed out
"and our plans will address that and make sure these areas of residential properties are for residents in Edinburgh."
Labour
The other half of the administration, Labour, have a heavy focus on finding ways to address the cost of living crisis and the job market.
Labour Group Leader Cammy Day tells us:
"There are things that council can do. And even simple things like we're investing in the next 10 years, people have just agreed in the last administration to invest over 700 million pounds in tenants homes to make them energy efficient.
"So that's our aim was to try and put money in people's pockets and do whatever the council can, whilst at the same time lobbying the Scottish Government and UK governments to dig deep when they need to. And if they ever needed to do that. Now's the time."
Another aim of the party revolves around taking services which are currently fulfilled by private contractors and bringing them into the local authoirty.
"We have seen well over 100 million pounds spent on private contractors in the city - which is profit driven.
"One of our ambitions is to bring these services back in house, create good quality jobs, not zero hours jobs, good quality jobs, terms and conditions and give people a good rate of pay for a good day's work.
"If we could even bring in 10% of that, that would be millions of pounds worth of jobs created by the council to deliver services for the council."
Conservatives
The Conservatives actually currently have the most Councillors of any party in the chamber - one more than the SNP.
But the nature of local authority elections means they may have to find another group to form a coalition with if they want to be part of the administration this time around.
Speaking to us, group leader Iain Whyte admitted a major focus is cleaning up the city and improving it's roads and pavements.
"We've seen the whole place deteriorate both in terms of litter, weeds and, and overflowing bins, all of those kinds of issues, but our roads and pavements are in a terrible state." He said.
"We want to fix that we'll fix the backlog in roads and pavements, the 77 million pounds that's outstanding there. And we've planned to clean up the city. And a lot of that includes enforcing the rules.
"If you think about it, there were four fines for dog fouling last year in the City of Edinburgh.
"There's no enforcement going on. And that's why the place looks a mess."
The cost of living is also an area the Tories want to look at, Whyte telling us that the likes of the congestion levy would only make the problem worse, so they pledge not to put it into place.
"We're looking at practical ways to help people, that's limiting their council tax, limiting the rent increase to two and a half percent maximum.
"And actually, if we can persuade the Scottish Government to give Edinburgh a fair settlement as it should have, then we would freeze the council tax." He summarised.
Greens
The Greens are looking to expand on their eight seats won in 2017.
Co-Convener Claire Miller believes there are ways to tackle the cost of living crisis, whilst also benefitting the environment.
"One of the big issues that's been coming up for me when I'm talking to people on the doorstep is the cost of living crisis." Said Miller.
"People are really frightened about not being able to pay for their electricity and their gas bills, the fact that people's bills are basically doubling plus the fact that rents are so expensive in Edinburgh, it means that actually the cost of living in Edinburgh is sky high, and people are really frightened."
A solution the greens suggest involves providing the resources in order to make homes in the Capital more energy efficient.
"We are proposing that we fully fund an energy scheme, which will help people to refit their houses and do deep energy retrofits.
"And that means that their houses are energy efficient, it means then that their fuel bills come right down. And it means that their lives are better, they're living in warmer, easier to heat homes."
Liberal Democrats
For the Lib Dems there are two big focuses, similar to the Conservatives there's a desire to work on the city's roads and pavements.
But another point highlighted by group Leader Robert Aldridge is people power.
Asked what he'd do to make life better for the people of Edinburgh he said:
"I think actually, it's giving power to local communities to make decisions which affect them, and giving them the budgets to spend on that.
"Because there's always different priorities in different areas. In this area it might be the parks, in another area, it might be something entirely different.
"But if people got the chance to really influence how the money is spent in their area, then that makes local government relevant to them."
The current Drum Brae and Gyle Councillor added:
"The number one on the doorstep is the state of the roads, the potholes, the pavements, the pathways.
"And what needs to happen is getting our streets and pavements into a safe condition, which is good for pedestrians, it's good for cyclists, as well as being good for motorists."