Breaking news

In early 2016 the First Minister began an external review of how non-domestic rates could better reflect economic conditions and support investment and growth. 

The resulting report by Ken Barclay, published last summer, contained 30 recommendations ‘to support growth, improve administration and increase fairness’. 

The last of these recommendations was that ‘Commercial activity on current exempt parks and Local Authority (council) land vested in recreation should pay the same level of rates as similar activity elsewhere so as to ensure fairness’.

New Picardy Place proposals emerged today in a report going before the Transport & Environment Committee on 25 January.

They may be the last.

The changes partly fulfil what the public asked for in the extended consultation process before Christmas, which drew around 1,000 responses from Edinburgh stakeholders and residents. 

The 34-page report lists key features of the revision as:

How best should Scotland’s capital support Gaelic and Gaelic Medium Education? 

Mary Campbell – Scottish Green Group education spokesperson in Edinburgh, and councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar – reflects. 

Lively debate 

Clear skies, low winter sunshine and a layer of snow made a wander about Broughton and the ascent of Calton Hill an absolute pleasure this morning.

And the slippery descent, something of a nightmare. The steps down to Waterloo Place appeared not to have been gritted, and were particularly treacherous.

Conditions in Old Calton Burial Ground were deep and crisp and uneven.

Could Powderhall be the new gateway to Edinburgh's Gaelic Medium Education at secondary level? 

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information about Finnish tourist Riina Elisabeth Sjögren who went missing on Tuesday 9 January.‎ We reproduce their press release below. 

The 38-year-old was last seen on Tuesday 9 January when she arrived in York Place at around 10.20pm.

Riina had bought a plane ticket at Edinburgh Airport earlier in the day but left the airport at around 8.50pm to take the tram to the City Centre. 

TIME TO HAVE YOUR SAY 

Parents, carers and friends of Broughton Primary School will meet this evening to discuss the controversial residential development immediately adjacent to the main playground. 

Readers will recall the parent-led campaign to oppose development of 154 McDonald Road, and how that campaign was eventually lost on appeal in March 2014 (Breaking news 6.11.13; 26.3.14 ). 

Last month we reported the idea being floated in a Council Report that Drummond Community High School could become a dedicated Gaelic Medium Education School (Breaking news, 8.12.17; Report, 3.15–3.19).

When the first (and probably last) snow of 2017 fell on Broughton this morning, Spurtle – with all the grace of a hippopotamus in high heels – went up Calton Hill to meet it. 

A good 5mm had settled by lunchtime, hardly enough to excite winter purists but just enough to dust the Observatory’s dome.