Five things you need to know today
Engineering cruise, late night at the Botanics and student flats on Causewayside
This week at the council
Monday, 9 June, 2025
10.00 am Special Meeting, Finance and Resources Committee - Dean of Guild Court Room - City Chambers At this meeting the council hopes to approve the purchase 38 homes at Dreghorn from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Ministry of Defence, which have sitting tenants. All properties are less than 10 years old. The Dreghorn Tenants' Association have requested to speak to the meeting. The council has already purchased 40 of the homes with the help of around £4 million of grant funding from The Scottish Government, and were made aware of the possibility of this batch of 38 becoming available in February of this year. If the council had not stepped up the proposal was to evict all tenants, (15 of whom are civilian tenants and who could have become homeless) and sell the homes on the open market in spring 2026. It is not within council policy to buy tenanted properties except in certain circumstances but this purchase is recommended by council officers. The price will be £6.65 million plus Land and Building Transaction Tax - but with a proviso that if any homes become vacant within three years there will be an uplift payment due to the Ministry of Defence to reflect the lower price the houses are being purchased at now.
Tuesday, 10 June, 2025
10.00 am Education, Children and Families Committee - Dean of Guild Court Room - City Chambers
Wednesday, 11 June, 2025
10.00 am Development Management Sub-Committee - Dean of Guild Court Room - City Chambers. At this meeting the council will consider the Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) for a development of student flats at 140 Causewayside. The developer seeks permission to demolish the existing buildings and built new purpose built student accommodation in its place.There will be two public consultation events - Event 1 - 19th June 2025 from 3.30pm to 7.00pm at Mayfield Salisbury Church, 18 W Mayfield, Edinburgh, EH9 1TQ and Event 2 - 17th July 2025 from 3.30pm to 7.00pm at Mayfield Salisbury Church, 18 W Mayfield, Edinburgh, EH9 1TQ
Thursday, 12 June, 2025
10.00 am Governance, Risk and Best Value Committee - Dean of Guild Court Room - City Chambers
10.00 am Edinburgh Partnership - North Edinburgh Arts - 12C MacMillan Square Edinburgh EH4 4AB.
Friday, 13 June, 2025
10.00 am - 3.00 pm Additional, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee - Dean of Guild Court Room - City Chambers
HRH The Princess Royal in Edinburgh
HRH The Princess Royal had a busy time in Edinburgh over the past few days - first of all at Saughton Park on Friday, and then on Saturday first of all in Princes Street Gardens followed by taking the salute at the Beating Retreat outside The Royal Scots Club.
As Patron of The Royal Scots Regimental Association, Her Royal Highness unveiled a bronze medallion containing a figurehead of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a final addition to The Royal Scots Monument in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.
The monument, originally unveiled on 26 July 1952, commemorates the service rendered by The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) to 16 monarchs from its founding in 1633 under a Royal Warrant from King Charles I until its amalgamation under Defence Review in 2006. The additional medallion marks the final monarch under whom the Regiment served.
Read more here. and see our photos from the Beating Retreat here.
The Edinburgh Canal Festival 2025
This takes place on 21 June. It is free and open to everyone from 2pm to 5pm.
"Residents and visitors are invited to explore the Union Canal between the Lochrin Basin and Harrison Park and to meet some of the great organisations that operate year round on and near to the canal. There will be loads of free activities and entertainment as you travel along the canal in the heart of Edinburgh."
https://edinburghcanalfestival.org.uk
Botanics Late
On Friday 20 June the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh invites everyone in to the garden for a late night event with art, food and music. But not just any music - the music will feature Auntie Flo - an award-winning sound artist, DJ, music producer and live performer. Brian d'Souza who performs as Auntie Flo won the Scottish Album of the Year in 2019.
Shunpike Social Club will play at 7.45pm and 9pm
"Brass, reeds & rhythm section on a big scale! Shunpike Social Club is a collective of players bringing Cumbia, Brazilian and Cuban music alive with big band flair."
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/botanics-late-tickets-1350339274119?aff=oddtdtcreator
https://www.rbge.org.uk/whats-on/botanic-lates/57538
Maid of the Forth Bridge engineering cruise
This is a cruise with a difference for all the bridge enthusiasts among you.
"Join us as we look to explore the civil engineering of the landmark bridges that lie on the Forth of Forth. This spectacular 90 minute cruise will provide a cruise under all three Forth Bridges and around the other major engineering sites such as Hound Point Oil Terminal and Rosyth Dockyard. It is by far the best way to view the magnificent engineering of the Forth Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing."
It takes place on 28 June and there are more details on the Maid of the Forth website.