The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 27 Feb - 1 March 2026
Council tax changes confirmed, more university strikes planned, Lucy Rose at The Queen's Hall + Jamz Supernova in Porty
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. It will be March on Sunday. I've barely got my head around last year being 2025 but here we are, racing in to spring 2026. Enough morning waffle (mmm), here's your weekend Minute.
🌦️ Weekend weather: A dry but cloudy Friday morning with a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. Sunnier on Saturday with a low chance of rain. Wetter on Sunday, then sunnier again on Monday and Tuesday. A high of 11C on Sunday and a low of 2C on Saturday morning. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🏫 Asbestos has been found in 90 schools and nurseries in Edinburgh, reports Rachel Fergusson in The Scotsman. The council insists it has a 'robust and comprehensive' building safety plan.
🗳️ Council tax will go up by 4% instead of 5% after the local Labour administration made deals with the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to get a budget approved yesterday. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News.
- The Labour-led council said the biggest win in the budget was on housing: "Thousands of new homes are set to be delivered in Edinburgh over the next five years thanks to an additional £1.6 billion agreed by councillors." - The council press release is here.
- Local Tory councillor Iain Whyte said: "We are disappointed that, following discussions with other groups, it became clear there was not sufficient support across the chamber to deliver that ambition. In these exceptional circumstances, we took the difficult but necessary decision to compromise. We gained the agreement of others to lower the planned increase to 4% – which we believe will be the lowest in Scotland."
- The local Lib Dems pointed to new funding for park lighting, school playgrounds and road pothole repairs.
- Leith Scottish Greens councillor Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill said: "By rejecting proposals to increase funding for anti-poverty measures, for community cohesion projects, and for improving road safety for pedestrians, Labour have shown their true colours, and we are angry on behalf of the public who are crying out for ambitious leadership which recognises the struggles they are facing."
- SNP group leader Simita Kumar said: “Not only have the Labour administration done yet another grubby deal with the Tories, that sneaks in last minute cuts." - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
- Betty Stone, convener of Edinburgh Tenants Federation, told the meeting: "Edinburgh is one of the most expensive cities in Scotland to live in. Every week ETF hears from people who are struggling to make ends meet, falling behind with their bills and rent, and relying on food banks."
- ⮑ 'Pay-and-display parking charges frozen' - There's more budget coverage from Ian Swanson in the Evening News / Scotsman.
- 'Limiting the council tax increase to 4% could result in future cuts to council services', reports Phyllis Stephen in The Edinburgh Reporter.
- 'Edinburgh council tax four per cent increase confirmed: Find out how much you'll pay' - Local Democracy Reporter Joseph Sullivan on Edinburgh Live.
- You can compare your new council tax rate with other areas of Scotland in the interactive tool at the end of this BBC Scotland News report.
BBC News
🎓 Staff at the University of Edinburgh are voting on further strikes over '£140 million cuts and up to 1,800 job losses, workload, hidden redundancies and meaningful consultation with unions.' - The University and College Union published this press release.
- ⮑ University Principal Sir Peter Mathieson said: "While we respect the right to ballot, further industrial action risks undermining the progress we have made, and we urge union leaders to keep working with us to secure a sustainable future. Standing still is not an option, it would leave the University in a much more precarious financial position." - Rose Moncur, The Herald.
🔪 Armed police responded to reports of people with weapons fighting ain the Asda carpark at The Jewel on Wednesday. - Jacob Farr & John-Paul Clark, Daily Record.
🎵 The Terminal V techno festival will leave Edinburgh after nine years following April's event, with organisers blaming costs of policing its Royal Highland Centre site. - Gemma Ross, Mixmag.
📚 A fundraiser with a goal of £300 to help Edinburgh Community Bookshop volunteers tackle graffiti on their shop shutter (mentioned in yesterday's newsletter) has raised more than £1,500 in a day. More than 300 readers clicked through) - The fundraiser is still going here, with organiser Alasdair Corbett saying: "Wow we're just absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity and support of our community. We cannot thank you enough. While this started as a little bit of paint to make our shutter less of an eyesore, we'll now be able to afford some more improvements we just didn't think would be possible."
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
🎶 Library Musical Instrument Maintenance - Edinburgh City Libraries musical instrument lending has/is a fantastic success. Such is the scale they are struggling to maintain the instruments. Volunteers sought to tune, look over and do some basic maintenance - Thanks to Judy, for sharing this.
🎷 Mike Daly and the Rhythm Kings at the Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive
Today, Fri 27 February - 🎺 Mike Daly and the fabulous Rhythm Kings serve up Jazz classics for ears & feet alike! Whether you're here to listen or dance-Lindy, Balboa, Shag, Jive, or Blues-we've got the rhythm. Pull up a chair or hit the dance floor! 🎶
8pm to 11pm | Heriot's Rugby Club, EH3 5QN | £12.00 & £15.00 - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club.
👥 Edinburgh Wikimedia Meetup
Tomorrow, Sat 28 February - This is a casual social event, with both keen Wikipedians and newbies. An open invitation to anyone interested in finding out more about Wikipedia, other Wikimedia projects, projects re-using Wikipedia, and other collaborative wiki projects.
11.30am to 2.30pm | Grassmarket Community Project & Coffee Saints Cafe, EH1 2QA | FREE - More details here, shared by Donald.
🧘🏻♀️ Winter Warmer Active Yoga - Edinburgh Iyengar Yoga Centre welcomes you to classes focused on renewing energy. Every Saturday 12.30–13.30 - Thanks to Tony Geyve, Iyengar Yoga Teacher, for sharing this.
🥘 Free Family Soup Lunch
Tomorrow, Sat 28 February - A warm and welcoming bowl of homemade soup. Everybody welcome!
12pm to 1pm | The Heart of Newhaven Community, EH6 4HY | FREE - More details here, shared by Flora, Heart of Newhaven.
♟️ Edinburgh Chess Mates [Monthly]
Sun 01 March - Chess, mates, beers - what more do you need on a Sunday night? All abilities welcomed, very social, be prepared for bughouse
4pm to 8pm | Fierce Beer, EH2 4LS | FREE - More details here, shared by Andrew Pollok.
🎶 Aurora Ensemble feat. Marcus Vinícius: Double Bass Concertos and Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty
Sun 01 March - Dynamic Brazilian Double Bassist Marcus Vinícius premieres new versions of Thomas de Hartmann's bass concerto and Amy Beach's Romance. Also features Tchaikovsky's glittering ballet music and a makers market with work by orchestra members and friends.
7.30pm to 9.30pm | Broughton St Marys Parish Church, EH3 6NE | £10, £5 concessions - More details here, shared by Tim Espin, Aurora Ensemble.
🎥 Leith Kino screens Dogfight (1991) this Sunday - A love story about lovers is usually not much more than a romance, barely achieving any raising of consciousness, but a love story can be a thread that weaves together a fabric of political reality. Dogfight screens at Leith Depot this Sunday at 7.30 - Thanks to Morvern Cunningham of Leith Kino, for sharing this.
🛝 Find family-friendly things to do this weekend in Gayle's Guide, including: archaeology family fun, a daytime all ages dance party, Wildflower Action day and more...
Gayle’s Guide
📆 What else is on this weekend in town? The next bit is for paying subscribers only…
Featuring Jamz Supernova, Lucy Rose, weekend food markets, stage shows and more
