SportScotland 'Active Schools' event

Speaking very briefly at a SportsScotland Active Schools event later this morning ... more details about the event can be found at this Scottish Executive news link.

Patricia Ferguson MSP (Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport) was the principal guest and speaker and I'm pretty amazed by the increase in primary school participation, as she announced and you can read via the news link above.

My prompt notes were relatively brief, and follow below, but do also indicate a hugely successful couple of years for Active Schools in Edinburgh:

• I should start by thanking the Minister, and Scottish Executive, and Stewart, and SportScotland, for their funding and partnership support for the Active Schools programme. It is very much a partnership and the success in Edinburgh simply would not have happened without the support of the Executive and SportScotland
• And very briefly, it’s that success of the ActiveSchool programme in Edinburgh that I want to touch on – just to try and make ‘real’ the very significant impact and benefits of the programme for one part of Scotland – I’m certain what I’m about to illustrate has been replicated all over the country
• The ActiveSchools programme has been running for some 2-years now in Edinburgh
• I cannot stress enough, that although entitled ActiveSchools, the programme has had a much wider community impact through links that have ensured participation in a wide variety of activities has continued into the after-school hours and weekends
• In this way the 'changes in choices' that young people are making about their activities are indeed being embedded into their wider community lives and not just being given up at the school gate
• The funding for the programme has enabled Edinburgh to have an ActiveSchool team of some 16 full-time primary co-ordinators, 23 part-time secondary coordinators and 2 Additional Support Needs coordinators
• This has led to a very wide range of activities being on offer, not just the traditional football and hockey but climbing, sailing, dancing and many, many more alternatives
• The programme, in just the one year of 2006, has led directly to the participation of literally tens of thousands (over 40,000) of Edinburgh’s young people in a variety of some 33 different activities
• 55% of the participants have been male and 45% female
• and over 1,200 people have helped physically deliver the programme, with over half of that number being volunteers
• there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever in my mind that the vast majority of these tens of thousands of young people simply would not have had access to such a variety of opportunities had the ActiveSchools programme not been running
• it is relatively straightforward, as I’ve briefly done, to quantify actual participant numbers in the programme in Edinburgh – it’s much more difficult to quantify the benefits, both physical and emotional, of the scale of participation that the ActiveSchools programme has allowed in Edinburgh. It will be of vast, long-term benefit … of that there can be little doubt
• So, I very much welcome the ongoing support of the Executive and SportsScotland in the ActiveSchools programme and do hope that it will continue over the coming years so that Edinburgh – and the rest of Scotland – can build on the undoubted success of our first two years.

... not sure about putting this much text in an entry, but it is an interesting success story ;-)

"Just what is it you do??"

Several 'far flung' readers of the blog have recently e-mailed me to ask if I can give a bit more background to exactly what it is I do - answering that simple question could prove interesting!

Here's the last Council meeting I attended ... no, seriously ...

... no easy place to start, but the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) web-site is as good as any; have a look at this link first. This site gives you a full explanation of how the Council works politically ... if you follow the link to "the Executive" and scroll down a bit, you'll see I'm listed there as Executive Member for Children and Families. In essence, the politician responsible for that area of Council business. Further information at the EGFL site ...

At a wider level, have a look at one of the links on the left of the first CEC page marked "elections" and you'll get a huge amount of general information about the political elections in Edinburgh, including those for the local authority (CEC) of which I am an elected Member (currently Ward 28 Moat). Thus, as well as the 'Children and Families' city-wide responsibilities I have strong local Ward (area) responsibilities as well. You can read a bit more about all of this on my own website here.

This is all about to change in May - thus my recent ramblings - when Scottish local government (including Edinburgh of course!) moves to STV-PR ... a form of proportional voting. Much more information on this topic at the Electoral Commission Scotland's new site - here!

On a daily basis - this can mean a range of meetings, discussions and decisions ranging from helping to get a constituent's blocked drain fixed on a Sunday afternoon through to strategic planning for the future provision of education for the whole of Edinburgh.

There - that's what I do. Clear as mud ;-((

Learning Hubs charity

Attended a meeting earlier today about finally establishing a 'Learning Hubs' charity ... have mentioned this briefly a couple of times before on the blog ... see here and here ... and now does seem likely that the relevant report, authorising the setting up of the charity, will go to the Council Executive (cabinet) on 23rd January.

I do think this all has huge potential for local school (and wider) communities - but I'm not a technical expert (as you can probably tell from this blog!) so do have a look at the local Learning Hubs website and associated wiki; both of which give you the background and some of the surrounding debate on these potential changes/developments to traditional educational methods.

As mentioned before, I really think that if this is going to run in Edinburgh then a pilot (of some description) is now what's needed - it's the only way that any benefits/dis-benefits can be flagged up for real. Watch this space ...

Labels

Had some further feedback that several readers would like the posts 'labelled' into categories to make reading certain subject areas easier - I'll get onto doing this, certainly from now on and will also try and retrofit 'labels' for most previous posts ...

Some photos now added!

Several readers of the blog have asked me to include more photos to liven the text up a bit - okay, I do agree it's necessary and I've now retrofitted several (not that many yet!) pictures for the last few months.

I'll include more as soon as I can and will try to continue the trend now started.

Any further, constructive feedback would be welcome.

Weekly Director's Meeting

Really feels like I'm back in the regular work pattern now, with the Friday morning weekly meeting with the Director of Children and Families taking place as normal.

Budget issues still to the fore - we're back in front of the Budget review Group (BRG) this coming Wednesday, and that will be (I guess?) our final, formal pitch for a settlement figure before the actual revenue and capital budgets for 2007/08 are set on Thursday 8th February ... all not far away now!

It's all a bit of a dilemma for officers (in particular) and politicians this year, as we'll be setting a budget that will be 'picked up' by a new Administration - for certain. All due, of course, to the implementation of Single Transferable Vote (PR) for Scottish Local Government elections on May 3rd.

Now, despite my own best interests (or in spite of them!) I've always been a long-term supporter of PR ... I'm a Director of both the Electoral Reform Society and Chair/Director of Fairshare ... and am wholly supportive of the moves to STV-PR for local government elections.

It is indeed, all going to mean a period of political flux in Edinburgh - but I'm pretty certain the local authority will cope with the change (whatever that may be politically and administratively?) which will certainly happen in May.

There is no doubt it's going to be an interesting 6-months!

Back to work

Back to work at the City Chambers and plenty awaiting me in the inbox (both e-mail and snail-mail) ... nothing too drastic it has to be said, and I've certainly not had a more restful (and quiet, work-wise) Xmas break for several years ;-)

No meetings at all today, so able to catch up quite a bit ... just as well really, as returning to the regular 8.30am Director's Meeting tomorrow - and bound to be nothing but frantic thereafter!

Suffering ever-so-slightly today after yesterday's heroic exertions in reaching the summit of Ben Lawers in what can only be described as "Alpine conditions" ;-((

Ben Lawers today

Up Ben Lawers today!

First big walking expedition for quite some time and both of us really looking forward to the day - was a bit of a challenge though given our lack of big walks in recent years.

Eventually made it to the top and did try jumping the 16 or 17 required feet to reach 4,000ft but the wind was just too strong to allow it ;-(

Posting a couple of photos here (thought it about time I gave this a try given the blog has been going for some time now!) which show how tricky the conditions were, but didn't stop a smile once we got to the top and the well-deserved coffee came out ;-))

Can't deny my legs weren't a little bit sore upon our eventual return home!

Fantastic day.

Cycle-ride this afternoon

Cycle-ride this afternoon ... an extremely vain attempt to try and clear our heads a bit!

Just look at those hats ;-((

Joking aside, really enjoyable ride along the canal out to Wester Hailes and beyond to The Calders before heading over to The Gyle and back along the Busway (well, the cycle-way parallel to it to be precise!) to Stenhouse and then home via Slateford Green.

Good to limber up for tomorrow's epic expedition!

Happy New Year!

New Year's Day and suffering a little in true Scottish-style ;-(

Spent last night with some family and friends ... didn't go too over-the-top, but clearly now being 43 is restricting my stamina ;-((

Happy New Year to one and all.

Lord Provost's Party this evening

Xmas over - really great time had by all in the Burns' Household, although celebrations ever-so slightly dampened by my mother not being in great health for the holidays.

Lord Provost's Party this evening ... two of these now held every year, one before Xmas and one just before the New Year. Think I've always gone to the one just before New Year, and there was a really good atmosphere again this year with elected Members asked to invite guests from their local community who have made a positive contribution to the city during the year - great idea.

Most of the Hutchison and Chesser Community Council members were my guests and think they really enjoyed themselves.

Xmas Eve & excitement high!

Excitement now reaching a high-point in the household! Various family members can hardly contain themselves - and that's just the two adults who live here ;-)

Here's tomorrow's Xmas table nearing completion!









Xmas Eve and round to some friends house for a bit of yule-tide spirit (literally) ... some eventually went to the local church Chris-tingles Celebration, whilst others remained to continue with the alternative pre-Xmas build up ;-))

Xmas lunch

Xmas lunch for the Labour Group and all the support staff this afternoon. Was down at The George Hotel for the second year running and was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon ... except of course the bit were the 'tables are announced' and despite our loudest efforts, its still hard to convince many of the benefits of their local authority ;-(

Back to the office afterwards and the usual mad panic to clear my desk before the Xmas break. Managed to escape at a reasonable hour, having cleared all the essential stuff and a good deal of non-essential work as well.

Nice evening at home, with a slap-up meal provided by the family as it's my 43rd Birthday today!

Very much looking forward to the next few days now ...

Full Council Meeting today

Full Council Meeting today - looks like it could be a very long meeting ... and the agenda includes several items relevant to Children and Families.

Three main issues:

- an update on the progress being made with the PPP2 project ... report here.

- another report surrounding a further set of proposals for a third-round of school building, which I mentioned in a couple of posts last week ... report here.

- the third, the final decision on site-locations for the new Portobello High School and St. John's Primary School ... report here.

Was very pleased to get all-party support for all three of these decisions ... the minute of the meeting is now on the Council website here.

A constructive end to 2006 ... can only hope it augurs well for coalition decision-making next year - no matter who is in the coalition!!

Budget Review Group

Budget Review Group meeting this afternoon ... always difficult to know exactly how to make your 'Departmental Pitch' at these events!

The Budget Review Group (BRG) is the main body of politicians and officials that pours over the detail of the council-wide previous budget spending and future proposals ... calling before it a variety of senior Directors and elected Members to make their case for their respective Departments.

Can be a bit daunting, but hopefully it all went okay this afternoon - we'll know soon enough when the 2007/2008 Budget is set at a special Full Council meeting on Thursday 8th February!

Boroughmuir High School

Boroughmuir High School this afternoon ... for much the same purpose as yesterday's visit to James Gillespies - to talk to the Head Teacher and School Board reps. etc. about the report going to the Full Council next week.

Boroughmuir also being prioritised for the third round of school building - and despite them having been in this position on several occasions in the past, they showed a real pragmatism about the progress that's been made with their case in the last few months.

Very refreshing and positive ;-)

James Gillespie's High School

James Gillespies High School this afternoon ... brief visit to go over the upcoming report going before the Full Council next week on 21st December.

Although there is undoubted relief at the report actually prioritising James Gillespies for our next round of any school building programme (funding permitting of course) there were still several other issues that are obviously frustrating the School Board.

I'll obviously try my best to keep a constructive dialogue going, even though I can't promise instant solutions to all the school's wishes!

First of the Xmas Parties ...

First 2006 Xmas Party this evening ... Labour Group event in the City Chambers. Although these are always enjoyable evenings, almost impossible to relax properly with assorted press and others in attendance.

Nevertheless, enjoyed the first half of the evening before managing to escape around 9pm ;-))