Community News: City finance chiefs pocket top awards

The best local authority finance teams were recognised with a coveted LGC Investment Award at the gala dinner at Claridge's in London.

Innes Edwards, treasury manager, won Investment Officer of the Year for the approach he and his team have taken in cash fund management.

The insurance services team won the Quality of Service and Innovation award.

Bean backing for recycling

ACTOR Sean Bean is asking Edinburgh residents to "do battle against waste" and recycle their Christmas cards with the Woodland Trust to help celebrate the last year of its recycling scheme.

The Sharpe star is urging people to recycle their cards in special bins at TK Maxx, M&S and HomeSense.

Green fingers turn the pages

An exhibition of early 20th-century books on gardens and horticulture will run until January 9 at the Royal Botanic Garden.

The Secret Garden display is intended to coincide with the musical stage adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's playing at Edinburgh's Festival Theatre.

Wine bar takes responsibility

CITY wine bar Divino Enoteca is urging revellers to drink responsibly by trying its 25ml classes of vintage wine rather than traditional large 250ml glasses of cheap wine on Hogmanay. The Merchant Street bar is able to open and seal rare bottles using hi-tech dispensing machines.

Legal eagles swoop on warring pairs

A LAW firm is to re-introduce a special divorce advice hotline over the New Year period to deal with calls about marital disputes during the holiday season.

Gibson Kerr will be on hand to take urgent enquiries over the break from couples who are desperate for advice about divorce and separation.

The New Year holidays are traditionally the most common time of year for couples to consider a divorce.

Students and pensioners raise a glass to discounts

PUB operators in the Capital have been formally told by licensing officers that they are again free to offer discounted prices to groups such as students and OAPs.

Licensed premises had previously been warned that offering discount cards could infringe new licensing regulations.

But pub operator Mitchells & Butlers won a key test case in Dundee earlier this month.

Senior Edinburgh licensing officer Derek McGowan has now confirmed that they will no longer enforce the policy.