Canvassing, apologies and toads

I knew I'd regret that prediction of a quick meeting :-(

... dragged on until 3.30pm, with several divisions that I didn't foresee. Anyone would think that the Lib-Dem/SNP Administration knew we were all due up at Liberton/
Gilmerton at 3pm?! Anyhow - we did get there for 4pm and Bill Cook still got a very good reception on the doors :-)

Being more charitable to my Lib-Dem colleagues' motives, I'm pleased to report that the Council Leader gave a verbal apology for the way the recent budget-briefing was released to the Press (and everyone else!) prior to the Opposition --- and I'm willing to take that apology at face-value and welcome the fact that she had the good grace to say sorry.

Laugh of the day though came when said Council Leader explained that the stone toad (I'm not kidding!) on the Committee Clerk's desk was a present given to the Capital (by Hull City Council) and that she would try not to look at the Councillor in the Chamber whom it most resembled ...

... as she sat down, I swear I saw her glance at her Deputy Leader ;-))

A new way of doing the budget?

Just not convinced this was exactly the form of participatory budgeting that I had in mind when I wrote my last post?

... it's not the content of these proposals - because, frankly, we haven't even seen that yet - it's the way it has all been announced, and is now going straight to the September Full Council where scrutiny will be lost in the political theatre of the Council Chamber.

No Committee involvement at all it seems ... unless I'm missing an obvious message here?

Very sadly, I think not :-(

Full Council week and budget looming

Full Council meeting this coming Thursday - main agenda is here, and the individual papers can be found on CPOL here.

I'll regret saying this, but doesn't look like anything hugely controversial in the 'New Business' section of the agenda so it could be quite a prompt meeting?

Nothing further in the Leaders Report, this month, about the upcoming budget-process ... I welcomed the hint in June's report (see section 2 on page 2 here) that this could all be about to change and hope that we may get a further verbal update on progress ...

... stating the obvious, this upcoming budget is not going to be easy and the more all the political parties can be involved, as well as - crucially - the public, the more chance of some consensus on the big decisions which are undoubtedly going to have to be made.

COOK No.1.

The Liberton/Gilmerton by-election is now featuring on the front page of the Council website ... all the details here!

Less than 4-weeks now until actual voting day on Thursday 9th September - and any Ward 16 blog-readers have until 5pm on Wednesday 25th August to request a postal vote; and 5pm on Wednesday 1st September to request a proxy vote - details here and relevant forms here.

... oh, and Labour's candidate is COOK and a number 1 next to his name would be my choice ;-))

Blogging-mania

One of my City Council colleagues has just started up a new blog - Ricky Henderson - and all the gory details can be viewed by going here ...

... I've also added a new link to my right-hand side-bar.

Yet another 'Edinburgh Labour' blogger - its just what you've been waiting for :-))

Restful Sunday ... not :-(

Sunday evening and the bloody hall is completely painted ... twelve and a half litres of silk emulsion for the walls and ceilings; and five litres of gloss for the various doors :-(

... unsurprisingly, I'm not too keen to see another paint brush (or pot of paint) for quite some time now!

It's definitely a case of getting back to work for a rest tomorrow :-)

Refuse stalemate continues ...

Local paper has picked up on the ballot-result of the ongoing work-to-rule by Council refuse workers - 84% rejection rate :-(

... I remain completely astounded that this dispute has now dragged on for over 14-months --- yes, that's right, one year and two months of working to rule!

I know it takes two to tango; but the fact this whole saga remains unresolved speaks volumes about the current Council Administration's priorities ... and one of them clearly isn't good industrial relations with their workforce :-((

Four weeks to go!

Just four weeks to go now and back on the campaign trail in Liberton/Gimerton this afternoon ... at least the sun was shining for a bit of local leafleting ;-)

Last weekend, this Saturday/Sunday, before Junior starts back at Tynecastle; so no electioneering for the next couple of days - instead, as I'm dutifully committing to some family-time over the weekend, they've lined up the hallway to be painted :-(

Those who have actually seen the size of our hallway (typical Edinburgh tenement flat!) will understand when I reckon that a bit of electioneering might be light-relief by comparison :-((

Oh joy.

Local planning bid rejected

Well - excellent news on the Flower Colonies planning application ... it was unanimously refused yesterday!

I've been on the Local Authority for 11-years now and can't remember another case where the application was up for approval by Officers, but subsequently rejected unanimously by Councillors?

Quite an outcome - a real reflection on the impressive campaign that local residents have managed. They should be proud of themselves.

Terrible confession ...

I've a terrible confession to make - regular readers will have noticed I've been in London quite a bit in recent weeks for endless ERS meetings etc. - and I was down again today.

Well, I've finally had to make one-leg of the journey by plane :-(

My first flight since way back in December 2006 :-((

I do take my carbon reduction actions pretty seriously - trying very hard to take a lead in living my own life aligned to what I believe and not falling foul to the "do as I say, not as I do" trap ...

... so, somewhat galling to have to take a flight - I'll just need to make sure the next one is at least another three-and-a-half years away!

Flower Colonies planning application

The Flower Colonies planning application that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago is up for final determination at the relevant Council Committee tomorrow ...

... final meeting with some of the local residents this evening.

My Ward colleague, Gordon Buchan, is speaking tomorrow - I've got to be in London unfortunately - but I'm increasingly confident this scheme will be rejected by the Committee.

Here's hoping.

Paul Godzik for Edinburgh Southern

Another one of my local Edinburgh Labour Group colleagues (Paul Godzik) was selected to stand in the Edinburgh Southern Holyrood seat tonight ...

... he'll be an excellent candidate, and if the current Lib-Dem MSP isn't worried; he should be ;-)

Actually - with Pentlands being contested by two of my other colleagues (Ricky Henderson and Eric Milligan) and Ewan Aitken being candidate in Eastern and Lesley Hinds the candidate in Western; it makes a quarter of the Group standing for Holyrood next year!

I've taken a bit of ribbing about them all seeking to bail-out of the Edinburgh Labour Group ... actually, I see it in a rather different way: I've positively encouraged them all to stand, they're all good local politicians and would be an asset to the Holyrood Labour Group. I'm delighted that so many local Edinburgh Labour politicians are being selected to potentially represent the city in the Scottish Parliament.

And why wouldn't I want to have four city MSPs who had previously been Councillors in Edinburgh and had the best interests of our Capital City at heart?

Bit of a no-brainer really.

Aberdeen this weekend

Weekend spent up in Aberdeen, visiting a friend we hadn't seen for quite some time ...

... very relaxed, and enjoyable, couple of days.

And not a single Labour Party leaflet in sight ;-))

Non-stop electioneering ...

Out on the doors with Sarah Boyack again this afternoon ...

... Sarah receiving a really positive reception wherever we go; and at this rate she will have spoken to most of the constituency by early May next year ;-)

By-election in 5-weeks!

Liberton/Gilmerton by-election now just 5-weeks away ...

... Edinburgh Labour's candidate, Bill Cook, is putting up a great campaign and is receiving a really positive response on the doorsteps.

Taking nothing for granted though, and we'll be working hard right through to 10pm on Thursday 9th September ...

London today ...

Down in London today for an ERS Officer Group Meeting ...

... planning and preparation for the 5th May referendum is now progressing apace ;-)

Policy and Strategy Committee

Policy and Strategy Committee Meeting earlier today - main agenda can be found here; and all the individual papers are available via CPOL as usual ...

... all scintillating stuff.

Canoe-mania

Junior started a week-long canoe club this afternoon - up on the local Canal ...

... needless to say, a great time was had by all: despite several short, unplanned swimming sessions :-))