Night Time Economy Motion
THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL 20 August 2009
CONSERVATIVE MOTION
Night Time Economy
Council:
i. notes the ambition stated in the Edinburgh City Vision ‘to lead the most successful and sustainable city region in Northern Europe by 2015’;
ii. notes that for ten years Edinburgh has pursued the development of a day and night time economy to strengthen the city’s position as a tourist destination;
iii. recognises the benefits to Edinburgh of having a living city centre inhabited by more than 20,000 residents and the valuable role they play in maintaining the heritage which gives Edinburgh its World
Heritage status;
iv. notes unacceptable levels of anti-social behaviour and noise occurring on the streets of the city centre in the early of hours of the morning, particularly at weekends, which impact negatively on the quality of life of residents in the affected city centre areas and the routes out of these areas;
v. notes that anti-social behaviour, if allowed to continue unchecked, will negate efforts to identify Edinburgh as a high quality destination and in turn, compromise the City’s 2015 ambitions;
vi. accordingly, instructs the Director of City Development to report on the impacts of Edinburgh’s night-time economy drawing on evidence from across the Council and from council partners, examining in particular:
• the economic benefits;
• policing and servicing costs;
• impact on residential amenity;
• implications for Edinburgh’s reputation – both positive and negative;
• ways in which existing legislation and regulation can assist in ensuring Edinburgh’s continued economic development without unacceptable impacts on residents’ quality of life;
this report to be brought back to Council within three cycles.
Proposed: Cllr Joanna Mowat