Making Local Government Local
Local Development Committees
Six local development committees have been set up across the city as a part of the City of Edinburgh Council’s new open way of working. These are intended to improve access to your Council and councillors and to give you the chance to comment on matters affecting you and your own area. You can now play a part in your area’s future.
A
public question time is included where you have the opportunity to ask a question on any local matter.We are encouraging local people and members of community to attend these meetings. Meetings are held in the evenings in local venues so that as many people as possible are able to come along and take part.
How do they fit into the bigger picture?
Local development committees deal with local issues and have no impact on any part of the city outwith their area. They are accountable to the
full Council.There are six local development committees which have been formed from existing parliamentary constituencies.
Local councillors sit on these committees.
The six committees are:
Generally your own local development committee will cover matters you wish to ask questions on. Please do double check though before going along to a meeting. For instance if you wish to ask a question on a street lighting, you should check which local development committee deals with that location rather than where you live.
If you are uncertain as to which local development committee you should go to, please call us on 0131 529 3186.
When and where is the next meeting?
Your local development committee will meet at least five times a year. Look out for details in the local press, libraries and community centres for dates and venues of your next meeting.
or
contact us on 0131 529 4091 or
council.secretary@edinburgh.gov.uk to check dates and venues.The aim of the local development committees is to allow local issues to be discussed at a local level. You now have the opportunity to ask questions on local concerns and matters with your committee on a regular basis.
These committees will also be used as sounding boards where you will have the opportunity to discuss any council plans which will affect your local area before they happen. An example of the type of issue which would be discussed is community safety.
Councillors will take on board your views when they make decisions about local issues.
Other ways in which the new local development committees will improve the way decisions are taken locally include:
They can advise the Council’s Executive on any issue which affects their local area. They must also submit an annual report on their performance and future plans to the Council.
What
type of matters will be discussed?The emphasis is on open decision making. Each committee will discuss issues that affect your area such as deciding how some Council budgets are spent locally and influencing the delivery of key services including:
You can raise other matters of local interest or concern, except for specialised or legal issues such as planning or licensing applications, personnel/staff issues or school catchment areas. Issues like these are dealt with by the relevant committee or board. For more details or how to contact them telephone 529 4091.
We will review the committees after their first twelve months with the view of further extending their responsibilities and powers for instance the allocation of grants and parking and local traffic issues.
Each meeting will be chaired by a local councillor. Sitting with them will be:
Each person on the top table will have a clear nameplate and namebadge letting you know who they are.
If you would like to ask a question or the subject you wish to discuss is not on the agenda you have two options:
The
agendas for meetings are available two weeks before each meeting.We hold a public ‘question time’ during each meeting where you are able to ask questions of your local councillors and can take part in discussions about local issues and concerns.
You can ask any question on specific issues of local concern during the Public Question Time. You must let us know in advance at the meeting what your question is either by filling in a form or talking to a member of council staff at the meeting. You can also ask your local councillor to ask your question. Forms are available at the meeting and cam also be posted with copies of agendas and minutes. Your local councillor or clerk will read out your question if you wish.
Your local councillors do not the chance to prepare their answers in advance of the meetings.
All questions will be answered during the meeting, but if an immediate full reply cannot be given, a written response will be sent within 14 days.
You can view copies of agendas and minutes on
Council Papers Online, or we can mail you a copy of the agenda for the next meeting plus a copy of the minutes from the last meeting.Please email us on
council.secretary@edinburgh.gov.uk or call 0131 529 4091.The Council has several sources of funds available for grant aid for local organisations to be administered through local development committees.
The types of local grants organisations can apply for are:
The Council has now decided to give local development committees powers to approve ‘one off’ project grants for local organisations. £290,000 per year has been allocated to this new Community Grants Scheme. The total value of funds for local projects is now over £400,000.
Full details of all local grants and how to apply will be available on-line in the coming months. In the meantime, you can call us on 469 3541 or refer to you’re a to Z of Council Services (due to delivered to your home in June).