Scottish Budget today
Operation Quarterlight
Desire Lines
Burns Night
Scottish Evening News
Ahead of stage one of the budget debate today Finance Secretary John Swinney confirmed the Government’s commitment to increased funding of the NHS in Scotland as he took part in a final site visit to the new South Glasgow University Hospital.
As part of the budget process the resource health budget will increase by £380m taking it to over £12 billion for the first time. The funding increase for health will exceed the Barnett consequentials received from health consequentials in England.
Speaking ahead of the visit Mr Swinney said:
“Spending on Scotland’s health service will increase in real terms next year, taking Scottish health spending above £12 billion for the first time.
“The overall increase of £380 million in health resource spending will take the total health budget to record levels.
“The Scottish Government’s commitment to increase the NHS budget demonstrates a continuing commitment to protecting the health service, and keep it in public hands.
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Operation Quarterlight which began yesterday is aimed at the repeat offender who steals cars or breaks into them, but as Chief Superintendent Mark Williams explained it is also aimed at encouraging the public to take some steps to protect themselves and their property:
The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.
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The third phase of Desire Lines, an open conversation about the cultural and creative future of Edinburgh, will take place with two discussions on the afternoon and evening of Tuesday 3 February at the Assembly Rooms. Following a lively and stimulating discussion about what makes Edinburgh a culturally successful city in Summerhall on December 8 2014, and a survey to explore perspectives and priorities for the cultural future of the City, this essential conversation will enter its next stage.
Presented by critic and commentator Joyce McMillan, two sessions will take place, with those in attendance actively participating and contributing ideas and proposals around the key themes that have emerged from the consultation so far. The events will seek to gather a range of different perspectives from citizens across the capital, including leading artists and grassroots cultural producers.
Topline results from the Desire Lines survey will be shared with the assembled group, with participants encouraged to openly share thoughts on which areas to prioritise and recommend ideas for action.
As the City of Edinburgh Council reviews its Cultural Policy, the Desire Lines conversation will provide a range of important new opportunities to explore and address the big questions about Edinburgh’s cultural future. The results of this consultation will help to inform the revision of the Cultural Policy in 2015 and to inform how the cultural sector in the city can work together to ensure Edinburgh’s future cultural success.
A spokesperson for Desire Lines said: “As we enter the next phase of Desire Lines it is vitally important that we gather and focus the thoughts and ideas of all who care about the cultural life of Edinburgh to help us to inform Edinburgh City Council’s future cultural policy and shape approaches that all those who work and engage with the arts can embrace.”
Two sessions will take place at the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday 3 February, the first from 2-5 pm and the second from 6-9 pm.
Participants can register attendance here for the 2pm event: Participants can register attendance here for the 6pm event.
For more information on Desire Lines please visit www.desirelines.scot.
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There are some Burns suppers taking place in the town starting from tonight. We have details over here of what is going on in the capital over the next few days.
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A pilot project called Scottish Evening News emerged last year which aimed to bring an independent daily news bulletin for the whole of Scotland to an audience on either an online or broadcast platform. This project has gathered some funds by way of crowdfunding site Indigogo but to make it a reality it will take what they describe as a ‘seven figure sum’ to make it work.
This means it is probably not going to happen right now, but they remain optimistic about fundraising proper cash on a full-time basis to make their community interest company work
Watch the latest in their five video reports here:
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
