Access to banks in Scotland – have your say

(adapted from an email from the Scottish Parliament)

The big issue

The UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee wants to hear your experiences of accessing financial services in Scotland.

The Committee is examining how access to financial services in Scotland has changed since last year, and what impact ATM and bank closures have had on rural communities.

As a community that has recently had a bank branch closure, your experience would be welcomed.

How can you help?

Send a written submission. The deadline for submissions is Monday 25 March 2019.

The Scottish Affairs Committee is following up on its previous work on bank closures and ATM networks in Scotland by launching a short inquiry into access to financial services.

Your answers don’t have to be long and they don’t have to cover all of the questions – even if you only feel able to answer one question, we want to hear from you.  Questions include:

  • What challenges are there to accessing financial services in Scotland?
  • What impact have recent bank branch closures, and the changes in ATM funding, had on access to financial services in Scotland?
  • How practical are alternative methods of accessing financial services, such as online banking or mobile branch banking?
  • What impact has reductions to the interchange fee had in Scotland?
  • How effective is the Financial Inclusion Programme, at ensuring access to cash is available in more remote areas?
  • How effective have financial services regulators been, in ensuring continued access to financial services in Scotland?

Read more about the inquiry.

What are select committees?

Find out more about select committees, how they affect Government policy and how they can get involved: learn more about select committees.

Stay in touch

For the latest news and events from the UK Parliament join our mailing list or follow @YourUKParl on Twitter.

City Plan 2030 – NE of Edinburgh Community Spring Briefing – Monday 4 March 2019

(adapted from an email from Edinburgh Council, with apologies for delay in posting) 

We invite you to join the City Plan team to find out more about the latest progress of City Plan 2030.   We will be updating you on the timetable for City Plan 2030, in particular the forthcoming consultation stage.  That will be when you can let us know your thoughts and views about the choices for the new plan.

We are keen to connect with other community and amenity groups e.g. Residents Associations, Friends of groups, youth groups etc.  It would be great if you would invite and bring along representatives of other community and amenity groups to this session.  We would ask you or they get in touch with us directly to book a place, so we can know in advance if we have enough space.

  • Date: Monday 4 March 2019
  • Time: 6pm – 7.30pm, registration and light refreshments from 5.45pm.
  • Venue: Piershill Library, 30 Piersfield Terrace, Edinburgh, EH8 7BQ

Map of Venue

If you would like to participate, please book your place by contacting the City Plan team either by email to cityplan2030@edinburgh.gov.uk or phone 0131 529 4692.

Please note that the City Plan team are unable to comment on any live or individual planning applications during the session.

Judith Fordham
Development Plan Support Officer

City Plan team| Place Directorate| The City of Edinburgh Council | Waverley Court, Level G3, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG| Tel 0131 529 4692 | email:cityplan2030@edinburgh.gov.uk | http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/cityplan2030

LHNCC minutes: January 2019

Minutes of the Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council ordinary meeting, held at Leith Community Centre on Tuesday 22 January 2019 at 6.30pm Continue reading

Community Councils Together on Trams/Trams Team meeting, Thursday 30 January 2019

Minutes of the Community Councils Together on Trams/Trams Team meeting, held in Leith Community Education Centre on Thursday 30 January 2019 at 5:30pm

Actions and decisions are red italic. Continue reading

Public consultation on fireworks

(adapted from an email from the Scottish Government)

A public consultation on the use and regulation of fireworks in Scotland is now live, running until Monday 13th May.

The Scottish Government seeks views on how people use and enjoy fireworks, the impact they have on people and communities across Scotland, as well as their impact on animals. It also seeks views on the sale of fireworks to the general public, and ideas on what action can be taken to ensure fireworks continue to be enjoyed safely and responsibly.

While much of the current legislation on the sale of fireworks is reserved to Westminster the consultation will help to identify gaps, issues or unintended consequences with the current regulatory framework.

Alongside the consultation, there will be a series of engagement events to create opportunities for members of the public, alongside local partners, to deliberate on the key issues and discuss with others what could be done going forward. Details of events alongside access to the consultation on Citizen Space can be found via the following link https://consult.gov.scot/safer-communities/fireworks/

The consultation events that have been organised so far:

  1. Wednesday 13thFebruary, 6- 8 pm at Craigroyston Community High School, Edinburgh
  2. Monday 18thFebruary, 5 – 7 pm at Pollokshields Community Centre, Glasgow
  3. Thursday 28thFebruary, 1-3 pm and 5-7 pm at The Attic, Tolbooth, Stirling
  4. Tuesday 5thMarch, 2-4 pm at New Register House, Edinburgh
  5. Tuesday 19thMarch, 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Perth Leisure Pool, Perth
  6. Thursday 21stMarch, 2-4 pm at Spectrum Community Centre, Inverness
  7. Thursday 21stMarch, 6-8 pm at Jurys Inn, Inverness
  8. Monday 29thApril, 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Civic Rooms, Town Hall, Aberdeen

Events are also being planned in Elgin, Paisley, Dumfries and Galloway and the Islands.

LHNCC agenda: 26 February 2019

Shore Room, Leith Community Education Centre, Newkirkgate

Tuesday 27 November at 6.30pm

1          Introductions, apologies

2          Minutes of Previous Meeting

3          Matters arising

4          Police report

5          Forth Ports project team presentation: Western Harbour revised design

6          Reports: Secretary and Treasurer

7          Councillors/MSP/MP Report/s

8          Planning Update

detail available on LHNCC planning pages

8.a       CW properties: 139 Leith Walk 19/00415/PAN

Public Consultation: McDonald Road Library, Monday 22 April 2019 and Tuesday 23 April 2019 (both 14:30 to 19:00)

8.b        Cala: Waterfront Plaza (affordable block F) 16/03684/FUL

Building to start June/July 2019

8.c        S1: Skyliner 19/00414/PAN

Public consultation: Ocean Terminal, Wednesday 27 February (12:00 to 19:00)

8.d        POLHA: 2 Ocean Drive 14/05127/FUL

Building to commence April 2019

9          CCTT (Community Councils Together on Trams)

  • Publication of Final Business Case (FBC) 22 February 2019. CCTT considering a joint statement relating to issues that have not been fully resolved.
  • Chris Day (EBUG) and Jennifer Marlborough met with Darren Wraight (Tram Team) to discuss bus stops/shelters and cycle lane provision on Leith Walk.

10      Local events & feedback

detail available on LHNCC ‘other work’ page

10.a      Heart of Newhaven (formerly Newhaven Project)

steering group meeting to decide way forward 19/2/2019

10.b     LeithChooses voting: feedback

10.c      Save Leith Walk

  • CEC hearing – application refused. LHNCC presentation available on website
  • Meeting to discuss next steps and the possibility of some kind of Leith umbrella organisation/development trust: Newkirkgate 13/3/19 (time TBC)

11       CEC and Scottish Government consultations

detail available on LHNCC events page

11.a      CEC community council scheme

closes  22/4/19: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/edinburgh-community-council-scheme-review

11.b     Scottish Government consultation on fireworks

closes 13/5/19: https://consult.gov.scot/safer-communities/fireworks

11.c      SEStrans bus stakeholders congress

Victoria Quay 8/2/19

12      AOCB

12.a      Revive proposal regarding LRT route 21 via Western General Hospital

13      Date of next meeting

Tuesday 26 March 2019

 

Custom House: 2019 Open Days

(adapted from an email from the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust)

These are the planned SHBT open days at the Custom House:

Celebration of all things Leith – Saturday 27th April

Leith Festival – Saturday 15th June

Doors Open Day – Saturday 28th September

Christmas Doors Open Day – Saturday 7th or Saturday 14th December (This is still to be finalised.)