Thread by @EdinburghGreens

Good morning from the City Chambers! At today's Full Council meeting, Green councillors are bringing motions & amendments on:

🏳️‍🌈 Diversifying monuments & public art
🐮 Gorgie Farm
🗳️ UK Gov voter disenfranchisement
🛏️ Drum Brae care home
⛪ Access to St Giles Cathedral

& more!

At Leader's Questions, @AlysGreens questioned the council leader's commitment to the cap on short term lets after his Planning and DM Sub Committee convenors did not use new planning legislation to refuse an STL and retain much needed residential housing. 🏘️

@AlysGreens .@CllrBenParker also asked the council leader to show climate leadership and join the @StopCambo 🚫campaign in calling for the EICC to pull all and any support for events hosted by the Scottish Energy Forum and make our city a hostile place for companies who deal in fossil fuels.

@AlysGreens @CllrBenParker @StopCambo The council leader also gave some deeply concerning answers to questions concerning LGBTQ+ rights by other councillors - full statement to follow.

@AlysGreens @CllrBenParker @StopCambo The scandal of Drumbrae care home sitting empty has been a recurring item on our council agenda thanks to Cllr Claire Miller, and we were pleased to hear praise from across the chamber for her tireless work to bring this modern care home back into use. 👏

@AlysGreens @CllrBenParker @StopCambo We were also pleased that @KayleighFONeill's amendment to a motion on preventing voter disenfranchisement as a result of the UK Gov's Voter ID legislation passed, and will welcome a report on how we can ensure everyone can exercise their right to vote. 🗳️

@AlysGreens @CllrBenParker @StopCambo @KayleighFONeill Greens won unanimous approval for moves to help staff and volunteers of Gorgie Farm who have looked after animals 🐮🐔🐇 at their own expense, and to ensure that entry to the farm will not be charged for when it re-opens.

As Green Culture spokesperson, @CllrDanHeap also intervened in a proposal to allow charging for visitor access to St Giles ⛪. Council will now get info on the impact charging would have access to free activities, warm and safe spaces 🧣 and toilets 🧻.

@CllrDanHeap Council also unanimously (!) passed a motion by @KayleighFONeill stating that new statues, monuments, buildings, and street names should reflect the diverse history of Edinburgh. 🏛️🎉

@CllrDanHeap @KayleighFONeill There are over 130 structures in the city – shockingly, 79 represent men, 15 represent animals and only 8 represent women 🤯, and the Pride Bridge 🏳️‍🌈 is currently the only monument to LGBTQ+ people. As @Alex4Craig_Dudd argued, our city needs to get better at embracing diversity.