Local authorities will need more powers for raising revenues after the coronavirus crisis, Edinburgh City Council has said.

Writing in response to a call for views from the Scottish Government on the economic response to coronavirus, it said there should be more freedom when it comes to business rates and land value uplift taxes.

The expected recovery cannot be co-ordinated effectively through national schemes and will have to be administered closer to affected communities, the council said in its response.

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"That means more powers for local government and more flexibility to shape and apply national economic provisions and investment plans", it said.

Devolution of some financial matters to local government should be used, the council said, as well as the Scottish Government following up on promises to bring in a tourist tax that will add to the incomes of local authorities.

The Scottish Government pledged to bring such a levy before Holyrood this year in its 2019-20 programme for government.

The coronavirus outbreak and the associated economic downturn, the document warns, could create a more unequal society, a possibility which should be met with a "re-positioning of powers and decision making that is as close to communities as possible".

Edinburgh City Council leader Adam McVey said: "It's important to recognise the significant challenges we face and also that business as usual isn't an option.

"We're taking a 'Team Edinburgh' approach to our city's recovery and working with the Scottish Government and national partners to do the same for the country.

"By collaborating with Government and authorities at national and local levels we are doing everything possible to develop our economic and social recovery in the fairest and most sustainable way.

"Our capital is in many ways Scotland's gateway to the rest of the world and a driving force for the country's economy so it's crucial for our city's interests to shape the national plans."

The city had to cancel the summer festivals due to the coronavirus outbreak.

They bring approximately 4.4 million people to the capital during the summer, with the Centre for Economic and Business Research claiming the economic uplift could be as high as £1 billion.

Businesses in the Scottish capital also told the council in early engagement sessions to channel the response to the 2008 financial crash in the recovery from Covid-19.

The document said: "One key message from that engagement so far has been to reflect on how the city responded and recovered from the last global economic crisis in 2008-09.

"Edinburgh's recovery from that crisis, which in financial services similarly impacted on sectors which were at the core of the city's economy, was built on inherent core strengths which allowed the city to renew and adapt to new economic conditions.

"These assets - including a highly skilled workforce, good connectivity and infrastructure, world recognised natural, cultural, and built heritage, strong anchor institutions (including world leading higher education providers), and an innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem - all remain in place and their protection and strengthening will form the basis of the next renewal of the city."

Mulberry is to cut its workforce by a quarter after demand for its luxury products was hammered by coronavirus.

The UK business, which is famed for its handbags, said it has launched a consultation on plans to reduce its global workforce of around 1,500 staff by 25%.

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Mulberry said the majority of its stores have remained closed since it first shut sites in March in the face of the virus.

It said it has recently reopened some sites in China, South Korea, Europe and Canada, and will reopen some UK stores on June 15.

The retailer said its digital sales have been "good" during the lockdown, but "cannot fully offset the decrease in demand experienced from store closures".

It said the job cuts have been proposed as it expects social distancing measures, lower footfall and fewer tourists to continue to hit revenues.

Mulberry said it expects the economic impact of the outbreak to result in a "gradual" recovery in overall sales.

Chief executive Thierry Andretta said: "We reacted swiftly to manage the impact of Covid-19 and continue to execute a well-developed plan to manage capital, reduce costs and maintain a robust liquidity position.

"In spite of the good performance of our sector-leading digital and omni-channel platform, and our global network of digital concessions, the shutting of all our physical stores has had, and will continue to have, a marked effect on our business.

"Launching a consultation process has been an incredibly difficult decision for us to make but it is necessary for us to respond to these challenging market conditions, protect the maximum number of jobs possible and safeguard the future of the business.

"We remain confident in the strength of the Mulberry brand and our strategy over the long term."

It comes amid a testing period for fashion retailers, with rivals such as Debenhams, Laura Ashley and Cath Kidston tumbling into administration during the outbreak.

A trade union has called for railway enhancement works to restart in Scotland in a bid to protect jobs.

The RMT has written to the First Minister saying it is confident the industry can get going with the strictest possible health and safety guidelines.

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It pointed to the sector recommencing in England and Wales as well as ongoing renewal works still taking place north of the border.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "For some reason, despite our reassurances, the Scottish Government is insisting this sector remains under lockdown which is now putting hundreds of my members' jobs potentially at risk.

"RMT believes that if this current illogical position remains in place rail infrastructure workers will potentially be thrown on the scrap heap simply due to political decisions being made which are totally contrary to the advice being given to Scottish Government ministers by Network Rail on behalf of the rail infrastructure contracting supply chain and by RMT on behalf of the workforce.

"We are ready to offer those reassurances to the First Minister and Scottish Government and have today requested an urgent meeting to agree a way to protect jobs whilst ensuring the highest standards of health and safety."

Railway enhancement works were halted amid the coronavirus outbreak as part of lockdown measures.

The industry has fallen under the same restrictions as the wider construction sector in Scotland.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Whilst we share the RMT's desire to get the industry back to work, we are taking a cautious approach to restart.

"It is important that we restart gradually and safely to protect workers and avoid a second peak of the virus."

He added: "The First Minister confirmed on May 28 that construction, including the rail industry sites, can begin planning and site preparations for a safe return to work.

"We don't want restrictions to remain in place any longer than is necessary.

"We are working with businesses, trades unions and industry bodies to get the sector back to work as soon as it is safe to do so."