Corstorphine and Murrayfield councillor Paul Edie has been elected to lead Edinburgh City Council's Liberal Democrat group.

Cllr Edie has previously been praised for his work as the Convenor of Health, Social Care and Housing under the previous Lib Dem led administration.

Commenting, Cllr Edie said:

"I am delighted to be leading the Liberal Democrats on the City council. I am proud to be adding to the Capital's strong Liberal tradition.

The Liberal Democrat candidate John Knox has cycled round all 367 streets in his Liberton/Gilmerton ward in a single day....a distance of 60 miles.

"I wanted to pass by everyone's front door," said John. "Local politics is about geography, knowing your territory and seeing how people live. I'd already visited 90 streets on foot, talking to people on their doorsteps, but in the last few days of the campaign I wanted to put all the pieces of the jigsaw together."

A contract worth an estimated £80m to build around 800 new homes in the Pennywell/Muirhouse area of Edinburgh has been advertised by the Lib Dem led Edinburgh Council.

The project is the second phase of Edinburgh Council's 21st Century Homes programme which aims to build up to 1,400 mixed tenure homes for sale and rent across the Capital over the next eight years.

Lib Dem candidate John Knox (pictured) for Liberton/Gilmerton is highlighting the Liberal Democrat council pledge to invest more in cycling by attempting to cycle along every street in his ward between sunrise and sunset on Friday 27th April.

The Edinburgh Liberal Democrats aim to spend a minimum of 5% of its transport budget on cycling for 2012/13, an increase of around 70% on this year. The Liberal Democrats want to make Edinburgh the green transport capital of the UK and improve on the 25% increase in cycling in the city over the last two years. The increase in spending will help to develop a 'Family Network' of safe, signed, cycle routes across the city along with other improvements for cyclists. The Lib Dem led council has also passed a leasing scheme, endorsed by cycling campaigners SPOKES, that offers the public the chance to use cycling as a mode of transport, without having to buy a bike. Up to 200 new and refurbished cycles are now available for hire.

Edinburgh resident and former Scotland rugby star Scott Hastings officially opened Inverleith Park's new fitness trail yesterday at a special ceremony yesterday.

The Lib Dem led Council funded the project, which had wooden fitness equipment installed across ten stations around the perimeter of the north side of the park. Fitness enthusiasts will be able to complete a circuit of the park whilst tackling bench sit-ups, the tyre run and wobble board among others. The park is used by a number of sports clubs, fitness groups and a vast array of individual users, particularly joggers.

Latest crime statistics in Edinburgh show a 5% fall in crime levels over the last year. Since the Edinburgh Liberal Democrats entered administration in 2007, crime has fallen by total of 21%.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Edie (pictured), who is Convenor of the Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership, said: "Much of this fall is down to the changes in policing introduced over the last five years. The very close partnership working between local council and police, coupled with good information sharing protocols nip many problems in the bud before they spiral out of control."

Over 200 young people from across Edinburgh were awarded for successfully completing their Job, Education and Training Programme (JET) at an awards ceremony last Thursday.

The ceremony marked the completion of the unique year-long work experience course that sees S4 pupils undertake work placements every Friday with Edinburgh's major employers. The programme is aimed at S4 students who may be at risk of leaving school without a job or further training arranged.

A report has been issued today to councillors calling for the construction of the new Portobello High School to begin as soon as the current appeal by PPAG (Portobello Park Action Group) is either withdrawn or concluded in the Council's favour.

If the report is approved at the Council meeting next week, the only remaining obstacle to work beginning immediately will be PPAG's court appeal.

The Edinburgh Liberal Democrats have made bold commitments in their manifesto for the 2012 Council elections.

Edinburgh Liberal Democrats will commit to continuing to reduce the percentage of roads and pavements in need of repair over the next 5 years, building on the progress made since 2007. Liberal Democrats will also commit to ensuring that all potholes are fixed permanently first time.

The Edinburgh Liberal Democrats launched their local election manifesto today at the City Chambers. Liberal Democrats have moved Edinburgh forward since 2007 and are building a better city.

Despite tough economic times they have secured the city's finances and made Edinburgh a safer, greener and more democratic city. The Edinburgh Liberal Democrats have taken tough decisions but have always put residents' interests first.