Blindcraft closure?

At today's Council Meeting, I think its safe to predict that the potential closure of 'Blindcraft' (the full report is here) will be the most politically contentious issue ...

... there's no doubt the Council is facing a challenging financial settlement this year, but that doesn't make it any better - or worse - a time to potentially close such a facility.

Any final decision has to be based on the long-term prospects, and not taken with just the next couple of years in mind ... and surely we must remember that the true mark of any City is how it relates to those who are most vulnerable and in most need of assistance?

Full Council meeting & the Pope!

Full Council meeting today - main agenda can be found here, with all the individual papers on CPOL as usual ...

... the meeting starts at 2pm, not the usual 10am start, due to the Pope arriving in Edinburgh this morning!

As an atheist, his visit doesn't have any personal religious significance for me, but I do believe that much larger crowds than are being expected will come to Edinburgh today to mark his presence here?

And the mere fact that the whole affair is a full 'State Visit' (unlike the last Papal visit in 1982), with the Queen welcoming the Pope at Holyrood Palace at the bottom of the Royal Mile here in Edinburgh, has huge historical significance - indeed, its the first time such a visit has been given this status.

I do think central Edinburgh will be exceptionally busy all day!

Maggie's Kitchen Menus!

To anyone who has campaigned during a General (or Scottish) election in Edinburgh South West or Edinburgh Central ... Maggie Darling's food is legendary!

... so, its great to read that she has started up a food blog, which you can find here!

Now you don't have to wait until election time to sample Maggie's fantastic food :-))

New Council Web-site

New Council web-site up and running this afternoon ... of course, it inevitably means that almost none of my previous links to the old CEC site will now work :-(

... frankly, I reckon it's all a sinister plot to secretly try and hide the last three-and-a-half years from public view ;-)

Labour won by a thundering mile

You really should have a quick glance at paragraph 2 of this article --- you have to admire John's honesty!

But frivolity aside, he does raise some serious points about the lack of awareness of the scale of the devastation which is about to hit the public sector ... evidenced at a local level by coverage in today's local paper :-(

And whilst I appreciate that these local proposals are for consultation and no final decision will be made until next February, it does appear to me that the brunt of the suggested cuts will hit the weakest and most vulnerable in Edinburgh the hardest.

That just can't be right and we'll certainly be developing alternative local savings that have less impact on those who need front-line services the most.

One would have hoped the Lib-Dems down south (now part of the UK-Government) would be thinking along the same lines - but it certainly doesn't appear so from where I'm sitting :-((

All eyes on next May

From last Friday afternoon --- the winning Liberton/ Gilmerton candidate is third from the right ...

... we're smiling broadly as the result has just been formally announced and Bill Cook is now a Labour Councillor for Ward 16 in Edinburgh ;-)

Onwards to next May now!

Pedalled for Scotland ...

Pedal for Scotland event yesterday was a great success for our team of six ...

... weather was absolutely perfect all the way across from Glasgow to Edinburgh and, despite over 9,000 cyclists taking part, all the feeding stations seemed to flow quickly and efficiently.

It was my eighth-in-a-row Pedal for Scotland event but the first for my new(ish) Ridgeback Panorama --- it rode perfectly all the way and is considerably faster over 50-miles than the old bike ;-)

Of course, maybe I'm just getting a little bit fitter with all that daily commuting to work?

Anyhow - two more to go and it'll be ten-in-a-row :-)

Candidate Information and Training Day

Speaking at an Edinburgh Labour 'candidate information and training day' earlier this morning ... well attended event, perfectly timed to be the day after a rather healthy by-election result for the local Party :-))

... I'm certain today's meeting will lead to many new applicants, and eventually new Councillors come 2012.

Off to the second annual 'bring and share' event, organised by the Shandon Local Food Group, early this evening - taking along lots of allotment-inspired dishes of course!

And an early night definitely in order, before a 5.45am rise tomorrow; for our 8th-in-a-row Pedal for Scotland cycle ride event ... I can hardly wait ;-)

Congratulations to Bill Cook

My obvious congratulations go to Bill Cook this afternoon - the result of the Ward 16 by-election was declared just after 1.30pm and is a ringing endorsement of the huge effort Bill put into the campaign on behalf of Edinburgh Labour ...

... I'm really looking forward to having his energy and focus as part of our team in the City Chambers ;-)

Bill took 2,974 1st preferences (45%) with the SNP nearly 1,600 behind and the Liberals in 4th place. Overall there was an 8% swing from the SNP to Labour, with a collapse in the Liberal vote - a terrible indictment of the current Lib-Dem/SNP Council Administration.

So - congratulations to Bill and many, many thanks to all the Edinburgh Labour activists who put in a sterling effort to ensure such a stunning result.

Polls Open - Vote COOK 1 :-)

Polls now open in the Liberton/Gilmerton by-election ... and it's not actually raining!

Going to be a very busy day, with the polls open until 10pm as usual - but no result until tomorrow :-(

Count starts at around 9.30am Friday, so hope to post the final result confirming Ward 16's new Councillor before midday.

Family time?

Mother-in-law staying in Edinburgh for a few days; from this afternoon through to next Monday morning ...

... needless to say, the chance of some family time coincides with:

• local by-election tomorrow
• the count on Friday
• candidate training-day on Saturday
• Pedal for Scotland event on Sunday

Family time indeed :-(

Neighbourhood Partnership meeting

Local South West Neighbourhood Partnership meeting this evening ... main agenda can be found here.

Very informative presentations (under item 6) about the development plans for parks, allotments and the canal ... all subjects close to my heart: being a frequent user of Harrison Park; looking after an allotment at Saughton; and a daily user of the canal towpath!

Appears to be a bit of local controversy around the path-plans in Harrison Park, but I did establish that the proposals will have to go through due-and-proper planning processes, so everyone will be able to have their 'formal' say in due course.

Lothian Valuation Joint Board

Lothian Valuation Joint Board meeting this morning - for those interested, the main agenda can be found here ...

... later, I've got a local surgery at 6pm up at Craiglockhart Primary School; then some more, many and various, by-election activities for the rest of the evening!

Already looking forward to Friday ;-)

Campaigning Sunday

Back in Edinburgh on Saturday evening, and all day today spent campaigning ...

... out in Ward 9 this morning and then up at the Liberton/Gilmerton by-election for the afternoon. Really good turnout of activists and the weather was perfect for the afternoon's activities ;-)

Just a few days to go now until Polling-Day and the local team seem in very good spirits ... still numerous jobs to complete before Thursday mind you, so if you've any spare time between now and then --- ;-))

London for a few days

Off down to London first-thing this morning ... couple of days of ERS events and meetings to attend.

Back on the train ;-)

Ricky Henderson for Edinburgh Pentlands

Well, a few weeks ago it was "Paul Godzik for Edinburgh Southern" ... and after tonight, its now Ricky Henderson for Edinburgh Pentlands!

An extremely close-fought contest between Ricky and Eric (Milligan), saw Ricky selected as the Labour Candidate for next May's Holyrood elections.

Four of my colleagues from the Edinburgh Labour Group are now selected to fight next year's elections ... in the nicest possible way, I'd love to lose them all to Holyrood ;-))

ACAS to the rescue?

Received notification late yesterday that ACAS have been brought in to try and find a resolution to the refuse dispute ... not before time I say!

I very much welcome this move - I'll try not to feel too sore about the fact that the Labour and Green Groups on the Council suggested this move about 9-months ago and were told that it wouldn't help resolve the situation :-(

Suppose we should be grateful for small mercies and, more seriously, hope that ACAS can bring the dispute to a resolution which is acceptable to both sides.

Policy and Strategy Meeting today

Well, rather shockingly - the Lib-Dem/SNP Administration basically agreed the broad outline of an amendment that we tabled on the ABM programme at today's meeting ;-)

... a new cross-Party grouping is to be set up (Group Leaders and Group Finance Spokespersons) to oversee the ABM Programme and to ensure that, that grouping has full involvement into the intended report (outlining any next ABM steps) which will be coming back to Full Council on the 16th December 2010.

I still can't get to read that Gateway Review, but at least we will now have some involvement - between now and December at least - into the next phase of the ABM Programme ... maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to influence its direction?