West Edinburgh Greens Sub-branch Report 2024

WEG Bi-Monthly Meetings

Due to Co Convenor commitments and small meeting turnout mid-election cycle, we
now run the WEG meetings every second month. The intention is to move these back
to monthly later in 2024 when co co capacity allows.

The meetings are held online to make them accessible to all members given the
large geographic spread of the sub branch and both Co Convenors have caring
responsibilities.

All new members to WEG receive a welcome email from Anne and Chris, and we have
welcomed new members intermittently to our calls. Two new joiners came along to
the Edinburgh branch wide new member event in February.

The agenda in recent months has largely focused on the LTN roll out in
Corstorphine given local challenges to that, and engaging with local planning
applications given the large urban developments across West Edinburgh including
West Town.

Focus from May onwards has been on supporting the wider branch General Election
activities.

Liaison with the Branch

Our Co Co, Anne Scott is also Co Co of the Edinburgh Branch and brings updates
to each meeting based on any recent activity and topics of interest.

Our Co Co, Chris Young is an SME on local traffic planning matters and engages
with branch reps and councillors on an ad hoc basis, offering his support and
working knowledge of the area as required.

The local teams member support officer, Dave Owen, attended our December meeting
to check in and offer support.

Cross team activity

WEG have "fostered" Pentland ward, who do not have a sub branch of their own.
The teams work together informally and WEG support this ward in facilitating
Green News production and runs, and share information with the ward members on
an ongoing basis. Pentland are included in all WEG member communications to
ensure members are informed and included as to opportunities to support and be
active in the local area.

Membership as at June 2024 is as follows, where numbers in brackets are the
member numbers as at June 2023. It's disappointing to see a drop across all
wards, however, this is consistent with the wider Edinburgh branch.

Almond: 33 (37)

Corstorphine/Murrayfield: 41 (44)

Drum Brae/Gyle: 24 (31)

Pentland Hills: 29 (40)

Finances: WEG did not spend any funds during the year 2023/4 and did not hold
any WEG fundraisers.

Future plans

Anne Scott attended the recent sub branch away day to learn from other branches
with regards to building up a more active team. After the GE campaign, we will
turn our attention to planning ahead for the 2026/27 election cycles and plan to
request DORAS training in preparation for data gathering, which we'll need if we
are to be seriously considered as TTW for any of our wards in 2027.