by Daniel Mittler

At first sight, Scotland�s Capital is in better shape than ever. The economy is booming, property prices are rising and tourists now even flock to Europe�s north in the unwelcoming month of December - eager to enjoy Edinburgh�s Hogmanay. In July the Scottish Parliament (at long last) reconvened. As a result, Edinburgh will gain another 5000 mostly well paid jobs as well as a good deal of international attention.

And yet, Edinburgh also faces challenges and problems. Edinburgh�s air pollution levels are serious and getting worse, killing at least 100 of her inhabitants prematurely each year (Friends of the Earth Scotland, 1996a). Over 20,000 properties in Edinburgh are damp; 8,155 publicly owned houses are by the Council�s own admission below acceptable standards. The number of long term unemployed is rising, with unemployment levels in deprived areas on the fringe of the city as high as 16% (Lord Provost Commission, 1998).

In order to address these challenges and to search for ways to put Edinburgh on a socially inclusive and environmentally benign path of economic development, the City of Edinburgh Council in early 1997 established a new type of private-public partnership body. This institution was christened, rather awkwardly perhaps, The Lord Provost Commission on Sustainable Development for the City of Edinburgh. The Commission was modelled on national Royal Commissions - such as the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution - but Edinburgh is the first city in the UK to adapt this type of institution to the local level.

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