The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition 20 - 22 December 2024

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute followed by the weekend guide for paying subscribers.

🗳️ The local Labour party clung on to the leadership of the city council at a tense meeting yesterday. Jane Meagher, the council’s former Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener was appointed following last week’s resignation of Cammy Day, who is being investigated over allegations he sent sexual messages to Ukrainian refugees.
⮑ Day joined the meeting remotely, keeping his camera off throughout before leaving immediately after the vote. Local Lib Dems and Tories teamed up to back the Labour minority administration, with councillors voting 32 to 28.
⮑ Meagher, who joined the meeting from around 7,000 miles away in Tanzania, issued this statement:

“This has been an extremely difficult and damaging time for the Council. Today was an opportunity to restore stability and to get on with the business of running the city. As we count to down to 2025 – and to the challenging budget and other decisions that await us in the new year – we need stability, confidence and consensus. I am, by my nature, a consensus builder – willing to take on board others’ views, willing to compromise and willing to take the type of decisions that will help and benefit the people of Edinburgh – particularly those most in need of our support. That’s the kind of leadership we need, and that’s what I’m determined to deliver for the city I’ve lived in for 50 years.”

⮑ There was criticism from backbench Labour councillor Katrina Faccenda, who abstained from voting, saying the process allowed: “people who put their own vanity, self interest, and also ambitions to be seen as kingmakers, in positions of too much power.” - Donald Turvill, The Herald.
⮑ The two-hour meeting was described as a ‘farcical spectacle’ by the SNP and ‘perpetual pantomime’ by People’s Story Museum campaigner Jim Slaven. - Steph Brawn, The National.
⮑ Local Green councillors vowed to ‘hold the administration to account’, while independent Ross McKenzie described leaders as ‘completely incompetent’.

🚎 Edinburgh council transport leader Stephen Jenkinson and Lothian Buses bosses have called on the Scottish Government to remove free bus passes for young people who are guilty of anti-social behaviour on city transport. - Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News.

🚄 The quickest trains from Waverley to London will now take around four hours after LNER shaved roughly 30 minutes off the journey. - A new timetable has been published here.

🚢 The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith is to open a new ‘world-class’ visitor centre and gift shop. - Neil Johnstone, Evening News.

🗑️ Edinburgh’s festive bin collections 2024: When to put your rubbish out over Christmas, by Gary Flockhart in the Evening News.

🌳 Architects planning a new entrance to the Omni Centre have ‘confirmed their proposal retains the trees’, according to the local community council.

🏠 A listed house in Edinburgh has been turned into a ‘Californian-style’ expansive contemporary residence, writes Jonathan Bell in Wallpaper.

⚽️ Volunteers are needed in Ratho to help with building a fence and repairing the grass after the local football team’s pitch was torn up by someone driving a car. - The team published this appeal for help.

📌  Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

Thank you to everyone who has sent in a notice this week. I have so much appreciation for what you do and hope being featured has helped! - Michael.

📌 “Homelessness is up 5% in Edinburgh this year. Visit Social Bite's Tree of Kindness on Castle St to donate a gift or warm clothing for someone homeless to open on Christmas Day. The tree is open 11am-7pm until Sunday. If you can't visit, please consider donating £10 now to buy a good quality pair of gloves.” - Thanks to Amy Brewer of Social Bite for sharing this.

📌 Friday 20 December:

• Illustrator, designer & accessories maker Evannave will be at Leith Walk’s Argonaut Books between 11am and 6pm today.

• “LARDER SESSIONS - Edinburgh Larder Morningside is having an evening of live music and festive drinks this coming Friday. Join us for some jazz, cocktails and beers. No ticket or entry fee - drinks from 6pm, music from 7pm.” - Thanks to Katy for sharing this.

📌 Saturday 21 December:

• “Local comedian Daniel Sloss has become one of the biggest global stand-up names and releases his new special this Saturday 21 December on DanielSloss.com at 6pm. The show started life at his kitchen table in Edinburgh just before the pandemic hit, toured the world for two years as countries gradually reopened post-lockdown and was eventually filmed in Glasgow's SEC. Expect Scottish level swearing and jokes, nothing more and nothing less.” - Thanks to Daniel’s team for this.
• “Saturday 21st at 6pm - Triptic bring their joyful music to the Stockbridge Music Hub at 6pm. All ticket sales goes towards Edinburgh Direct Aid. Tango, klemzer and Balkan styles!” - Thanks to Clea Friend for sharing this.
• “St Andrew Camerata return with their annual Christmas concert at 7.30pm on Saturday 21 December in the beautiful setting of Canongate Kirk. Conducted by Kenneth Taylor and featuring John Kitchen on the organ, this Christmas we celebrate the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France with a selection of festive music from each country, and of course some carols with the audience too. Tickets £12/£10 via Eventbrite, or on the door.” - Thanks to St Andrew Camerata for sharing this.

📌 Sunday 22 December:

• “The Vintage Chorus will be singing Christmas Carols and festive songs at Edinburgh Street Food, Leith Street on Sunday 22nd December from 1.00 to 1.30 pm with conductor Wendy Weatherby and accompanist Sandy Brechin. Come to sing along with us some well known Christmas favourites and help support our work in aid of charitable causes and community outreach.” - Thanks to The Vintage Chorus for sharing this.
• “Experience the beloved Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Sunday, 22 December, at 18:00 at St Michael and All Saints, Tollcross. Exceptional choral music takes centre stage in the atmospheric surroundings of one of Edinburgh’s architectural gems. A cherished tradition, this service offers a moment of reflection and connection to the heart of the festive season.” - Thanks to The Revd Oliver Brewer-Lennon, Rector of St Michael and All Saints for sharing this.
• “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols with the Choir St John's Princes Street, Sunday 22 December at 6pm. Our beautiful church is cozy, our tree is up, our voices are warm, our candles are ready, and we have carols old and new. We can't wait to see you for our most magical night of the year.” - Thanks to the lovely choir members for sharing this.

📆 There’s more in your weekend guide, including: new exhibitions, gigs, club nights, theatre, family-friendly events and all the food market details. It’s for paying subscribers only, so please support this newsletter for just a fiver a month to read on and boost your weekend social life.