The City of Edinburgh Council scheduled a meeting for August 28, 2025, to discuss a range of topics from city management to recognising local achievements. The agenda included discussion of a new governance framework for arm's length organisations, and a referral from the Policy and Sustainability Committee regarding the Third Sector Resilience Fund. Motions covered topics such as ocean recovery, road improvements, EV charging prices, visitor levy implementation, and summer festival planning applications.

Arms Length External Organisation (ALEO) Governance Framework

A report concerning the Arm's Length External Organisation (ALEO) Governance Framework was scheduled to be presented. The report recommended the approval of the framework, designed to ensure robust governance and assurance controls across all ALEOs, and to improve the way the council manages its relationships with these organisations. The framework was designed to address recommendations from the tram inquiry, whistleblowing culture inquiry and review, and internal audit.

The report presented two options for consideration:

• Option 1: Approval of the ALEO Governance Framework, including elements from the Council decision on 20 March 2025.
• Option 2: Approval of the ALEO Governance Framework, including elements from the Council decision on 20 March 2025, with an amendment stating that while there should be a general presumption that all ALEOs comply with council policies, ALEO boards must consider compliance and reference specific policies in the relevant agreement. Any request to deviate from these policies in the relevant agreement must be agreed by the appropriate executive committee.

The report pack noted that the framework included a number of proposed changes, including:

• A change to the text regarding bonus payments to the senior executive team,
• A recommendation to restrict the number of councillors appointed to ALEO boards to no more than 33% of the total number of directors,
• A recommendation that any agreement with the council should include a requirement for ALEOs to outline how workers' voices are being listened to by the board.

The report pack also noted that a Shareholder Forum could be established where councillors are not on the board of an ALEO.

The report pack included the proposed terms of reference for the Elected Member/Shareholder Forum, noting that the forum would:

• Consist of one councillor from each political group, the ALEO chair, the most senior ALEO officer, the council observer, a trade union representative, and any other required council or ALEO representatives.
• Have a remit to provide regular updates on service delivery by ALEOs, ensure that the council is aware of any new and emerging risks, allow for the opportunity to provide expertise briefings to or from ALEOs, aid discussion on exploring opportunities to collaborate on projects, issues and joint ventures, and allow any issues or concerns to be raised directly with the council.

Third Sector Resilience Fund – Phase 2

The council was scheduled to consider a referral from the Policy and Sustainability Committee regarding the allocation of grant funding through the second phase of the Third Sector Resilience Fund (TSRF). The fund aims to provide short term support to third sector organisations in Edinburgh working to end poverty in the city who are facing financial challenges.

The report recommended:

• Approval of the proposed allocation of grant funding as set out in Appendix 1 of the report,
• Note of the learning and suggestions for improvement from Phase 1 of the Third Sector Resilience Fund, set out in Appendix 2,
• Note that this work is being carried out alongside and is feeding into the council's strategic review of support for the third sector in Edinburgh,
• Note that implementation of the allocations would represent the closure of the Third Sector Resilience Fund, and that future sustainable funding mechanisms would be outlined following completion of the ongoing Third Sector Support Review,
• Agreement that following closure of the Third Sector Resilience Fund, the remaining £33,344 of the initial set aside funding should be retained in the Council's reserves.

Appendix 1 of the report pack contained a table of proposed Third Sector Resilience Fund Phase 2 allocations, which included the names of the organisations recommended for funding, the amount they bid for, the recommended award, and any comments. The table showed that 32 organisations applied for funding, but that two did not meet the eligibility criteria. The table also showed that one organisation bid for £20,000, exceeding the maximum award of £10,000.

Motions

A number of motions were submitted for consideration:

• Councillor Conor Savage submitted a motion for the ocean, calling for a report to the Policy and Sustainability Committee on ways the council can begin an ocean recovery in Edinburgh, embedding ocean recovery in strategic decisions, plans and budgets, and working with partners to improve water quality and support a sustainable blue economy.
• Councillor Neil Ross submitted a motion on communicating road and pavement improvements, requesting a report on improvements that could be made to communications for residents around road and pavement improvement schemes.
• Councillor Neil Ross also submitted a motion on EV charging prices, requesting a report to the Finance & Resources Committee to review the pricing of EV charging at the council's charging points.
• Councillor Iain Whyte submitted a motion on Transient Visitor Levy Implementation, requesting that the Chief Executive prepare a report providing options for extending the implementation deadline until at least 1 January 2026, or such time as full Edinburgh specific guidance is available to operators.
• Councillor Kevin Lang submitted a motion regarding the Kirkliston Bus Service 72, requesting that officers make urgent contact with both West Lothian Council and Lothian Buses to determine what options exist around retaining the connection with Kirkliston through an additional subsidy from Edinburgh Council.
• Councillor Finlay McFarlane submitted a motion on piercing licensing, requesting a report to the Regulatory Committee reviewing the licensing requirement for piercers.
• Councillor Simita Kumar submitted a motion on summer festival planning applications, agreeing that all festival organisers should be communicated with and encouraged to complete and submit their applications at the start of April each year.
• Councillor Kate Campbell submitted a motion on data on impact of low pass military planes on air quality, agreeing that the council will work with the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, ahead of next year, to identify the flight paths and timings for these flights, and develop an appropriate regime of air quality testing before, during and after flights.
• Councillor Ben Parker submitted a motion regarding contempt for council policy and process shown by Spiegeltent International during this year's festival, requesting a short report to be shared with Culture and Communities and Planning committee to review how the council engages with stakeholders in advance of the festival season.

Questions

Councillors had also submitted the following questions for answer:

• Councillor Kevin Lang asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee about engagement regarding the Davidson's Mains roundabout.
• Councillor Euan Davidson asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee about the towing contract for gully cleaning.
• Councillor Kevin Lang asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee which parts of the A90 are being considered for bus priority measures.
• Councillor Kevin Lang asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee whether an application has been made for external funding for changes to rural road speed limits.
• Councillor Kevin Lang asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee what came of the investigation into the reopening of Braehead Recycling Centre.
• Councillor Kevin Lang asked the Convener of the Culture and Communities Committee for a list of play parks which have had their play equipment renewed or upgraded.
• Councillor Kevin Lang asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee about the status of work to extend yellow line restrictions on Station Road, near to Queensferry High School.
• Councillor Kevin Lang asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee what criteria are used to determine the priority categorisation of faded white line road markings.
• Councillor Hal Osler asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee about campervans overnight parking on Fettes Avenue.
• Councillor Hal Osler asked the Convener of the Culture and Communities Committee about the fitness trail in Inverleith Park.
• Councillor Neil Ross asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee whether he supports the council running a trial of continental-style low-cost zebra crossings on private land in Edinburgh.
• Councillor Neil Ross asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee when parking permits for carers are likely to be introduced.
• Councillor Kevin Lang asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee whether he believes there has been no reduction in the scope or quality of weed control in the city since the decision was taken to introduce a phased reduction of the use of glyphosate-based herbicide.
• Councillor Christopher Cowdy asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee when the service began displaying the notice that 'due to service constraints, we are currently unable to investigate light pollution issues'.
• Councillor Kevin Lang asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee what the current policy position is on the installation and use of cable gullies or other cross-footway solutions for the purpose of electric vehicle charging for properties without driveways.
• Councillor Danny Aston asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee in what percentage of cases additional road markings, speed roundels and signs result in the average speed on a street reducing to being within the tolerated range.
• Councillor Danny Aston asked the Convener of the Development Management Sub-Committee how many planning applications for PBSA developments are currently live at the full detailed stage or at the pre-application stage.
• Councillor Finlay McFarlane asked the Convener of the Planning Committee which department was taking forward the work to install gates at either side of the entrance to Tron Square and what the eventual reason was for the project ceasing.
• Councillor Finlay McFarlane asked the Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee what percentage of primary and secondary teachers have completed the Stages 1 and 2 of the national CPD platform for Inclusive Education provided by TIE on behalf of the Scottish Government.
• Councillor Finlay McFarlane asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee what enforcement action in relation to display of goods for sale has been taken since committee approval for the change in approach in March 2025.
• Councillor Martha Mattos Coelho asked the Leader of the Council to confirm she has written to UK's Prime Minister regarding proposed immigration policies.
• Councillor Simita Kumar asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee to explain the cause of the power outage on Monday 11th of August that brought the Edinburgh Trams to a halt.
• Councillor Lesley Macinnes asked the Leader of the Council whether she welcomes the additional £10m Changing Places Fund recently announced by the Scottish Government.
• Councillor Iain Whyte asked the Leader of the Council what plans she has put in place to conduct an annual appraisal and objective setting exercise for the Chief Executive.
• Councillor Max Mitchell asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee to set out in table form the current number of category 1-4 defects on both sides of the carriageway on 'Queensferry Road'/the A90.
• Councillor Christopher Cowdy asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee when the transition of the Parking Operations team to a new TRO system will be completed.
• Councillor Christopher Cowdy asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee about the phase out of the use of glyphosates on roads and pavements.
• Councillor Christopher Cowdy asked the Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee what the council's policy and procedures are to move unauthorised encampments off public land.
• Councillor Neil Caldwell asked the Convener of the Planning Committee how many planning applications containing Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) have been refused by the council, and subsequently successfully appealed to the Scottish Government's Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals, since 2020.
• Councillor Ross McKenzie asked the Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board for data on bed-based care services.
• Councillor Alys Mumford asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee what the agenda was for the meeting held on the 20th May 2025 at Portobello Town Hall to discuss the proposed CPZ.
• Councillor Sanne Dijkstra-Downie asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee about the proposed 3-year closure of Craighall Road during the construction works at Trinity Academy.
• Councillor Claire Miller asked the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee whether elected members or any other stakeholders are ever informed or engaged before a decision is taken to suspend a bus stop for an event.
• Councillor Ben Parker asked the Convener of the Culture and Communities Committee about arms company Leonardo's testing on the Braid Hills.
• Councillor Ben Parker asked the Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee for the latest update on renovations at Oxcars and Inchmickery Courts.
• Councillor Edward Thornley asked the Convener of the Culture and Communities Committee when he expects the playpark upgrade work planned for Clermiston Park to commence.
• Councillor Chas Booth asked the Convener of the Culture and Communities Committee about the removal of two benches from the Kirkgate, Leith.
• Councillor Alys Mumford asked the Leader of the Council how many incidences of fire there have been, per year, in Holyrood Park or other open parkland in Edinburgh, over the past 10 years.

Private Reports

A resolution was scheduled to be considered to exclude the press and public from the meeting for a report by the Executive Director of Place on additional funding for the King's Theatre Refurbishment, and a report by the Chief Executive on settlement apportionment for the Edinburgh International Conference Centre Hotel Project. The report pack stated that these items were to be considered in private due to containing information relating to financial or business affairs, proposed terms for contracts, and/or legal advice.