Council Leader marks first 100 days

Midlothian Council Leader Councillor Kelly Parry marked the first 100 days of the new Cabinet by looking back at just some of the council’s achievements.

Collective commitment

 Cllr Parry said councillors across all parties and council staff share a collective commitment to help local people and communities lead healthier, safer, greener and successful lives by 2030.

Ongoing work

 She said: “The ongoing work to achieve our vision has been heartening. Much has happened since the first meeting of the new Cabinet on Tuesday 7 June.”

Among the highlights are: 

• Councillors on a new, cross-party Cost of Living Taskforce have approved spending of £961,219 of Scottish Government funding to help low income households as part of the Live Well Locally project.
• More than 300 people shared ideas on regenerating Dalkeith town centre. The proposals have since gone on display at a special event in Dalkeith Library.
• With the site now approved, local communities are to be consulted on the catchment for the replacement for Beeslack Community High School, which will be Midlothian’s second Centre of Excellence.
• This year’s exam results show S6 attainment levels at the best every level with 22.42% of S6 pupils getting at least one Advanced Higher pass at A-C grade. This compares with 17% in 2019.
• The most ambitious energy-efficient council housing programme in Scotland continues apace in Midlothian. The council is building 182 'green' council homes of the future. All of them will meet the demanding ‘Passivhaus’ building standard.
• The Single Midlothian Plan has been published, setting out the outcomes local services are expected to deliver for local people in Midlothian.
• Over the summer, children across the county had even more reason to visit King’s Park in Dalkeith thanks to a new 5 metre high space net in the play area.

Working with and for communities

Councillor Parry said: "Our list of successes is testament to what can be achieved when we work with and for our communities. This partnership will be key in coming months and years.

Now planning further ahead

“This is because we now need to plan much further ahead, to give us the financial stability needed to deliver our 5-year Strategy for Midlothian.

Consulting with local people

 “We’ll be consulting with local people on tough decisions ahead if we are to continue to balance our budget and improve the lives of local people.

A more equal Midlothian

 “I’m confident though we can create a more equal Midlothian where the environment and our communities prosper.”