Sanity prevails

A little bit of sanity prevailed in the City Chambers yesterday, and thankfully my earlier prediction was wrong :-)

Council Meeting went on until pretty close to 8pm, and the whole day was totally dominated by the Care and Support Services tender. I've rarely heard such powerful deputations from members of the public ...

... and, after the formal debate, it all led to the Labour/Green Joint Amendment (supported by the Conservatives) defeating the SNP/Lib-Dem Administration Motion by 29 votes to 28. One of the Lib-Dem Councillors declared a pecuniary interest (employed by one of the tenderer's) and left the Chamber.

The Administration now need to swallow a bit of political-pride and acknowledge (even privately, if not publicly) that they've got this whole process very badly wrong. As endless people yesterday said, this isn't a tender for electricity, water-supply or road-maintenance ... it's a tender for personal support services for the most vulnerable people in our city.

A bit of reflection on how those people have been treated over recent weeks, and a serious attempt to apply a bit more dignity to the whole process, could really make all the difference - and the Joint Amendment provides a short period of time to start to put that into practice.

We intend to work very hard over the next couple of weeks to ensure just that happens.

2010-11 Budget

'Budget packs' were published today for the City Council's 2010/11 budget ... pretty weighty documents, and it will take a bit of time for myself and colleagues in the Labour Group to digest the detail.

Numerous previous posts have dealt with the wider picture - most lately this post, and the links therein ...

... but as the main Opposition Group, our primary concern for 2010/11 is going to be pretty clear: to put up the strongest defence possible of front-line public services. Many of these services in Edinburgh have already suffered over the last few years, and I certainly do not feel they should bear the brunt of any further financial-savings required. Quite the opposite.

Full Council week

I know I've concentrated on the 'Care and Support Services' issue (for good reason) over the last few days ... but there are several other reports at the Council Meeting this coming Thursday!

The complete agenda can be found here ... and the individual papers can be located by searching via Committee Papers on Line (CPOL) here.

For sheer comedy value you should have a look at item 8.1 on the main agenda ... I'll give £100 to anyone's charity of choice if you can spot either of the words 'manifesto' or 'promise' anywhere in that 35-page long report??

... I wouldn't waste too-much time looking :-(

Care and Support Services update ...

As predicted last Thursday, late this afternoon a supplementary paper was released for Thursday's Council Meeting concerning the issue of Direct Payments - you can find it here - which does indeed contain a partial climbdown.

But - by no stretch of the imagination - does it go far enough :-(

• the level of Direct Payment being offered will NOT give any users real choice (see paragraph 3.7) ... those figures are nowhere near what is currently paid for (by the Council) for the delivery of these services and the reassurances in the following paragraph are worthless in that context.
• Paragraph 3.9 makes it clear that all those applications currently frozen will NOT get the old rate but move straight to the new rate ... that simply doesn't see equitable to me as many of the applications have been on-hold for some considerable weeks.
• and paragraph 3.11 gives the whole game away and is just NOT acceptable. It basically says that if the level of Direct Payment applications leads to some of the contracts (laid out in earlier reports) not going ahead, then that will be fine and us Officers won't bother telling you Elected Members any more.

Frankly, the whole process is now unravelling in front of our eyes. This just confirms what we were arguing at the Finance Committee a few weeks ago:

'Direct Payments' have been suspended for one reason - and one reason only - because if they hadn't been, then the contracts which are about to be awarded (if the Administration get their way on the 19th?) would not be viable in terms of scale and/or financially?

And now, this is just what is about to happen:

• the 'contract process' will be pushed through by the SNP/Lib-Dem Administration on the 19th
• they will though back off (to some extent) on the un-freezing of Direct Payment applications
• applications for Direct Payments will thereafter go through the proverbial roof
• most of the contracts will subsequently not be let, because they simply will not stack up financially
• there will be no need to report any of this back to Council
• all the angst, worry and stress for hundreds of service-users will have been entirely avoidable

And, I have to say, I think Officers have known this 'could' happen all along and were praying that the contracts would have been quietly approved at the Finance Committee a few weeks ago ...

... and, they would have been, if it wasn't for "our weird 25% rule" and the "student stunt" inflicted on the poor Finance and Resources Committee on the 27th October :-(

How different it all could have been - instead of pressing for a massive (potential) saving of some 21%, the Council could probably have achieved a respectable 10% saving via open dialogue with current providers and good consultation with present users.

But no - it's become yet another exemplar of "knowing the cost of everything and the true value of nothing" :-((

What a weekend!

Well, if that by-election result wasn't good enough news ...

... what about the story running across the media today that a panel of scientists have suggested that the recommended daily intake of calories for adults could be too low?

As a self-confessed 'gannet', this is just music to my ears - I'll need to start eating even more on a daily basis ;-)

... I just hope Alan Johnson doesn't go and sack them all :-))

Allotment afternoon

Had a group of students from Wester Hailes Education Centre (WHEC) come and visit the allotment this afternoon!

They're thinking of setting up their own allotment out at the school - thankfully the sun was shining, and I think they found the tour of the site useful ...

... everything looking very autumnal now, but still plenty of veg growing :-)

Pot calling the kettle black

I've just read this BBC report on yesterday's by-election ...

... is it just me, or does anyone else find it hypocrisy of the highest order for the Deputy First Minister to accuse Labour of campaigning on "grudge and grievance"?

Unbelievable.

Congratulations due to Willie Bain

Well done Willie Bain - what a contrast eighteen months can make ...

... some analysis here on just how radically the two contests differed in both campaigning style and techniques - some important lessons for next year, one would hope!

The importance of decent scrutiny

Rumour around the City Chambers today is that the Administration are about to back down on the freezing of existing applications for Direct Payments ... not that anyone has had the decency to inform the Opposition Groups of this formally :-(

... it would be a welcome move, if true - but by no means would it go far enough.

What about all those who were told to wait until the tender was awarded to see if their existing provider had kept the contract? They haven't yet (or have only just) applied for a Direct Payment - are they to remain frozen? And - the rate of the Direct Payment will be all important ... if it's to be at the new contract rate, then that's going to be very, very different from the current rate (see paragraph 2.6 here).

And one very important point needs to be remembered - if it wasn't for "our weird 25% rule" and the "student stunt" inflicted on the poor Finance and Resources Committee on the 27th October, this whole policy would have been approved there and then. Current Direct Payment applications would now be frozen - full stop.

The whole sorry episode, and the appalling way its been politically managed, just underlines how crucial decent scrutiny is for any local democracy ...

... and that democratic process needs to be defended, as its obvious to a blind-man that the current crop of politicians in charge would diminish - even further - the Opposition's ability to scrutinise their decisions at the slightest opportunity :-((

Interviews and roundabouts

Spent the day over in Glasgow, helping with interviews for the Electoral Reform Society Scotland office ... very good calibre of candidates for the vacant post in question.

Back to Edinburgh late afternoon for local surgery and Tollcross Community Council meeting this evening - quite a bit of debate about that junction re-configuration at Fountainbridge!

YouTube infamy

The whole 'Care and Support' saga is now even featuring on YouTube ...

... worse than that - you can even watch it from within the Council whilst sitting at your desk ;-)

What goes around, comes around ...

Care and Support tendering

I know I've mentioned the tendering of 'Care and Support' packages on a couple of occasions recently - here and here ...

... but it is worth emphasising that I don't recall seeing as much constituent mail crossing my desk on any issue since the proposed closure of "6 Nursery Schools, 13 primary Schools, 3 Secondary Schools and 4 Community Centres" (all in one go!) back in August 2007 :-(

It really is that bad - people are very, very angry and I'm not at all convinced that the SNP/Lib-Dem Administration have yet realised just what a full-scale public revolt they have on their hands?

To boldly go ...

I thought this story from the weekend was all a bit of 'significant speculation' ... until I clicked on the link to the 'Virgin Galactic' site ...

... you can even pre-book your space flight, right now, for a small deposit of some $20,000 :-(

Even better, looks like these space missions may well take off from right here in Northern Scotland?

... just waiting for the Holyrood Parliamentary motions to be tabled any day now - or have I already missed them? ;-)

Allotment day

Late morning spent down at the allotment today - in glorious sunshine, believe it or not!

Still a fair crop of stuff growing: brussel sprouts, onions, garlic, swedes, spinach and swiss chard!

Not to mention those 'soon-to-be-planted' late cropping potatoes ;-)

And, as you can see from the picture, still plenty of 'flowering-colour' even though we're now into November.

Fountainbridge Junction Improvements

Pretty significant changes proposed for the road junction at 'Fountainbridge/Gardner's Crescent' ... currently a roundabout, soon to be a traffic signalled controlled junction?

All the details can be found here (including maps of 'before' and potentially 'after') and the Council are looking for comments/feedback on the plans prior to Friday 27th November.

I think it's important to stress that as well as the obvious vehicular traffic changes, these alterations will link up all the cycling routes from the canal (and the residential areas alongside!) to the West End, Lothian Road and the financial area of the city.

One can only hope that it all goes a bit more smoothly than the works at the Kings Road Roundabout last year :-(

... surely?

Change still on?

Looks like the News Statesman could make interesting reading this week?
... at least for some of us ;-)

Poor communications

I mentioned the recent report on the award of contracts for the provision of Care and Support Services just last week ...

... well, since that meeting last week myself, and many of my colleagues, are completely awash with correspondence from concerned service-users who are very, very vocally expressing serious worries about just what is taking place.

Obviously yet another classic example of significant changes being poorly communicated ... I sense a lot of angry people may be present at the Full Council Meeting in a couple of weeks time :-(

Transport spending

I know this story from today's Scotsman is trying to get over a different message ...

... but, it has reminded me about the cost of the mere 5-miles of that M74 extension ... some £700million!

Mind you, that's not nearly as high as that 'much-needed' additional Forth Road Bridge, which will cost somewhere between £3billion and £4billion ... yes, that's billion :-(

Amazing what a bit of Government support can make happen ...

Priorities, priorities ...

Talking about 'balancing the books' earlier ... nearly forgot to mention the other "priorities" being promoted by the SNP/Lib-Dem Council at this morning's Committee Meeting:

• spending £4,000 on a 2010 Burns Supper (see paragraph 8)
• promotion of the Gaelic language, including the possible use of bilingual road-signs and stationery letterheads
• protecting holidays for Chief Officers (see paragraph 6)

Not to mention their recently reported use of 'recorded delivery' mail :-(

That should all help balance the books this coming (difficult) year?

Balancing the books

That report on the Scottish Budget (for 2010/11) was duly approved at today's Policy and Strategy Meeting --- at last a recognition that monies are increasing, in both cash and real terms, for next year!

As I've repeatedly argued over recent weeks, this is not to deny there are serious and difficult financial challenges facing this Local Authority - but declining income next year IS NOT one of them.

As I've already said - for the last 10-years, the rate of 'expenditure-increase' has been covered by an equally sizeable rate of 'income-increase' - for the next 10-years a similar (and continuing) rate of 'expenditure-increase' isn't being matched by an equivalent rate of 'income-increase' ... but income is still rising.

Solution: levels of local expenditure need to be controlled by those locally in power - it was ever-thus ...

... and despite all the puerile political posturing about financial control under previous local Administrations, the fact remains that for the whole 23-years of 1984-2007 there was NEVER ONCE a qualification on the accounts of the City of Edinburgh Council. They were signed off by the relevant Director of Finance internally, and approved by Audit Scotland (or the equivalent body) externally - EVERY YEAR for 23-years.

The current local SNP/Lib-Dem Administration have now accomplished that for 2-years and, despite the admitted difficulties, need to get on with achieving the same outcome for the 2010/11 budget and stop insinuating whilst doing so that 'income is falling'. It is not.

Blogging goes mainstream?

City Council homepage is not only finally promoting all those useful 'social networking' sites ...

...but today (bottom-right), it appears to even feature a promotion of a Council-blog!

... I wonder if its worth e-mailing the webmaster to see if they'll consider promoting Councillor's blogs??

A little Sunday cheer

It might be a pretty wet day, but the Sunday Herald (for once!) has cheered me up a little this morning ...

... do I sense a trend here? ;-)

Halloween

Halloween-madness in Cowan Road this evening ... door-bell hasn't stopped ringing all night.

I've tried my best to prove this American journalists' thesis wrong and turned nobody away ;-)

... and I've learned some great new jokes into the bargain :-))

Edinburgh West

Commiserations to my Council colleague, Paul Edie, who I hear 'just' missed out tonight in the selection process, over in Edinburgh West, to be the next Lib-Dem Westminster candidate ...

... shame that, I was really looking forward to an interesting by-election ;-)

Tram bosses ban cash?

The 'no cash on trams' story in today's local paper seems to have attracted a huge amount of attention ...

... but, hang on, isn't there a quote near the bottom of the piece that clearly states: "we have not taken the decision yet"?

Tram bosses ban cash??

Policy and Strategy meeting next week

Policy and Strategy committee meeting next Tuesday - main agenda here, and all the papers can be found on 'Committee Papers on Line' (CPOL) by searching here ...

... one report worth noting is at item 9 on the Draft Budget for 2010/11 - you can see it here.

At last were getting some plain facts on next year's Scottish budget - paragraphs 2.3 and 2.4 indicate that for Scotland the budget is rising in real terms, with a welcome recognition of the mendacity being employed by the Scottish Government when it comes to 'capital acceleration'. Poor old SPICe (first bullet-point on page 3!) will probably have its funding removed and be closed down soon :-(

... and paragraphs 2.5 through to 2.9 (however grudgingly!) acknowledges that Edinburgh's financial allocation is also going to be a rise in real terms.

So, if income is going up for Scotland and for Edinburgh - in real terms, not just cash terms - then the problem must be levels of expenditure ... correct!

Those in charge just need to get it under control - it's called the responsibility of being in power.

Mind you, I'll take any bet that the actual truth of all this is completely ignored and those in charge continue to take no responsibility whatsoever and simply continue to blame someone else.

Truly depressing stuff ...

Phone problems

If you've been trying to reach me on the mobile today --- many apologies, but the Sim-card appears to have completely given up the ghost and died on me :-(

... fear not, as all has been repaired, as of around 4pm today.

... so my blissfully peaceful 'morning/early afternoon' is now over and I'm back to the constant sound of my ring-tone :-((

London-bound

Electoral Reform Society meeting in London this afternoon, so stuck on the train most of the day ... I have now reached the point where I wonder how I managed to ever survive without that recently-purchased Notebook ...

... sad, I know :-(

Finance Committee today ...

Substituted for my colleague, Donald Wilson, on the Finance Committee (agenda here) this morning ... the meeting lasted from 10am through to 2.30pm :-(

... I think Donald may have known something I didn't :-((

More seriously - two significant issues dominated the vast bulk of the time:

1. the report on the award of contracts for the provision of Care and Support Services - here
2. the report on the Council's 'Long Term Financial Plan' - here

On the former, the report was (on division) referred to the upcoming Full Council Meeting on the 19th November; and I have to say in my 10-years as a Councillor I've rarely seen professional Officers look so uncomfortable trying to defend a policy issue.

After 2 powerful deputations, the subsequent two-and-a-half hours of questioning Officers failed to convince almost any of the Opposition Politicians present that what is happening could not be handled a lot more effectively. The suspension of 'Direct Payments' (which isn't even mentioned in the report!) seemed to be the main point-of-contention, but it underlies a serious disquiet amongst users with the whole process of contracting-out such services - which are being provided to the most vulnerable in our City.

And, despite repeated denials, it still appears to me that 'Direct Payments' have been suspended for one reason - and one reason only - because if they hadn't been, then the contracts which are about to be awarded (if the Administration get their way on the 19th?) would not be viable in terms of scale and/or financially?

There's a lot more to come on this - of that I'm sure.


On the second issue --- I've posted at length on the current budgetary pressures facing us all, but most recently here and here.

In essence, I've been trying to get across the point that yes the budgetary pressures are indeed very real but that INCOME is still increasing and the main problem is actually EXPENDITURE.

And, despite all the negative language, what this report proves is that City of Edinburgh Council funding is going up and the main problem is the gap between that increasing funding and the levels of increasing expenditure. I don't disagree this is serious - and I don't disagree that solutions for the problem need to be found ... but the problem is not primarily because of income (which is still increasing), it is primarily because of expenditure which is increasing at an even greater rate.

For the last 10-years, that rate of 'expenditure-increase' has been covered by an equally sizeable rate of 'income-increase' - for the next 10-years a similar (and continuing) rate of 'expenditure-increase' isn't being matched by an equivalent rate of 'income-increase' ... but income is still increasing.

Appendix 1a of the report (page 39) shows just that - Aggregate External Finance (AEF: Government grant to Councils) going up year-on-year, but not as fast as the rate of expenditure. It's that divergence which leads to the projected funding gap ... income is still rising but not as fast as expenditure.

There is a huge difference between the problem being one of expenditure - which it primarily is - and the way the whole situation is being portrayed by many who insinuate that everything is down to falling income. Income is not falling - income is rising.

It comes down to this --- you can't blame someone else if the problem is primarily about the rate of your own expenditure ... much easier to accuse others of reducing your income, even if it's just not true.

Back to the grindstone

Back to the grindstone today :-(

... was very beneficial to take my 'foot off the pedal' a bit last week, but I do sense that the next few days are going to be pretty busy as a consequence!

Half-term week

Back up in Edinburgh now ...

... schools' October half-term this week - junior just finished his first term at Tynecastle (which has gone really smoothly), but I'm still generally knackered!

So, taking a bit of a blogging-break for the week. Normal service will resume soon :-)