Councillors seek details on shake-up

Councillors have asked for more information before they approve plans for a major shake-up of one of the city council’s biggest departments.

Proposals drawn up by council chief executive Sue Bruce recommended stripping planning, transport, building standards and public safety out of the city development department in order to allow the department and its director, Dave Anderson, to concentrate on attracting business and investment to Edinburgh.

Under the plans, each of the roles would be transferred to services for communities, headed by director Mark Turley, with only economic development staff remaining within city development. But councillors were unhappy about a lack of detail in a two-page report that went to the policy and strategy committee meeting this week and have asked for further information at a meeting of the full council later this month before they back the proposals.