Call for pilot schemes to help city’s poorest

THE city council should look at special pilot schemes to help the Capital’s poorest citizens, former Lord Provost Eric Milligan has told fellow councillors.

His call came after John Mulvey, once the Labour leader of Lothian Regional Council, led a deputation to the City Chambers from North Edinburgh Fights Back, and presented councillors with the Edinburgh Anti-Poverty Charter 2012, calling for the living wage, more help for pensioners, no cuts in nursery education and action to tackle fuel poverty.

Mr Mulvey said: “If we want a decent society for all our citizens, the demands of the charter should be taken seriously.”

Cllr Milligan said the council’s own finances were constrained. But he said: “We should be looking at an innovative programme of pilot schemes that could alleviate some of the hardship that some of the most vulnerable people are suffering.”