June Leader's Report

June 2014
Mortonhall         Cllr. Andrew Burns Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council   Last month I welcomed the proposal to establish a multi-agency working group, including parents' groups and other relevant agencies, to consider Dame Elish Angiolini's recommendations into practices at Mortonhall Crematorium. The group, chaired by the Chief Executive, has now produced a detailed action plan for consideration at next week's special council meeting. The willingness of all the participants, especially the parent representatives, to work together has been to their immense credit and the publication of the plan is testament to their hard work over the last month. It also marks a significant step forward to ensuring that the highest possible standards are adhered to at Mortonhall and that nothing like this can be allowed to happen again.     Trams are go It's hard to believe that Edinburgh's new trams have only been taking passengers for close to three weeks; they already feel like an integral part of our public transport system. The launch day on 31 May got things off to a very encouraging start, with crowds of passengers thronging the route to try the trams out firsthand and taking 'selfies' on board to capture their experiences. It's been great to see how quickly residents and visitors have embraced tram travel and we expect the trams to really come into their own as the busy tourist and festivals season gets under way this summer. However, we mustn't miss the opportunity to learn essential lessons from what has gone wrong during the project. The Council welcomes the announcement of the inquiry by Lord Hardie and we are prepared to provide whatever information and assistance we can to support it. Jimmy McIntosh MBE It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Jimmy McIntosh earlier this month. Jimmy spent his life fighting tirelessly for the rights of disabled people, not just in Edinburgh, but nationally and abroad. He was instrumental in fighting for accessible transport and was an active campaigner against bullying and hate crime, joining councillors and police officers in 2009 to set up the 'Take control against hate crime' forum. Jimmy landed many accolades and awards over the years, including the MBE in 2006, while he was also named Scotland's charity champion in 2010 by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. Typhoon Haiyan When Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in November, leaving a terrible trail of devastation in its wake, a major international aid effort was required and, as chair of the Edinburgh Disaster Response Committee, I called on residents to donate via local relief agency, Mercy Corps. I'm pleased to report that, thanks to your generosity, they were able to rush immediate assistance - food, shelter, water and clothing - to families in the hardest-hit areas. In the seven months since, the team have delivered funds to 140,000 people, helping them to purchase the goods they need to recover and rebuild. You can find out more about their continuing response from the Mercy Corps website. Countdown to Glasgow Excitement in the city is building ahead of the Commonwealth Games following the visit of the Queen's Baton last weekend. I was delighted the people of Edinburgh got right behind the relay, with thousands taking to the streets to cheer on the arrival of the baton and to take part in a series of Council organised events along the length of the route. It really was a tremendous advert for Edinburgh - and for the Games. The baton also visited the Royal Commonwealth Pool, which closes its doors to the public today in order to prepare for the Glasgow 2014 diving competitions, when Edinburgh will become the only city in the world to host Commonwealth Games events for a third time. And finally... I promise this will be the last time I mention the marathon! But I wanted to thank everyone who took the opportunity to sponsor me and to remind those that haven't that my justgiving page stays open for another couple of months. I'm over 70% of the way towards my £5,000 fundraising target for Venture Scotland, who run an outdoor-based personal development programme for young people who face complex and difficult problems. I managed to complete the course in one piece, beating my personal target time of 4 hours 50 minutes (just!), making good on my 30-year wager with my Dad. Never has a pint tasted so sweet! Stay in the picture Keep yourself in the picture with our news section online. Watch live full Council and some committee meetings on our webcast. Join the debate on Twitter #edinwebcast    If you wish to unsubscribe please email us.
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June Full Council Meeting

The June Full Council Meeting is this coming Thursday (26th) ...

... all the reports are now up on Committee Papers On-Line (CPOL) and you can access the main agenda/s directly here; and each of the individual reports separately via these two links:

- 10am meeting
- 1pm meeting

Of course - as ever, if you're so minded, you can watch all the proceedings live here ... or the meeting will be archived a few hours after it finishes for viewing at your leisure!

Tynecastle High School Fair + BAKE OFF !!

TYNECASTLE SCHOOL FAIR (Juniors' School)
--- is this SATURDAY 14th JUNE 2014, 12-3 PM
There will be lots going on to appeal to the whole family including:

• cafe area with hotdogs
• smoothies
• scones
• bands/busking 
• fencing taster sessions
• sponge the teacher/pupil 
• hook the duck
• coconut shy 
• plants 
• bicycle servicing for £5
• green team
• bric a brac 
• beat the goalie 
• face painting 
• nail bar
•  and raffle etc.
  
  And - a BAKE OFF !!

Enter your cakes

12-12:15 Saturday 14th June

at Tynecastle High School

Our home baking stall would welcome any contributions and we also have a BAKE OFF competition with 2 categories and prizes for which you can enter:

• a single cake of any size to be judged on DESIGN;
• cake/tray bake/cup cakes to be judged on TASTE (needs to be sufficient quantity to provide lots of small tastes for multiple judges)

Bring your Bake Off entries along on the day between 12 and 12:15pm; please see our entry form on the parent council page of the Tynecastle school website: www.schools-online.co.uk/tynecastle/

WIN PRIZES

FOR DESIGN OR TASTE

2014 Tynecastle Bake Off Competition

General Rules

1.     Entry is open to everyone: adults, students and primary pupils.

2.     Drop off your cake(s) at the Bake Off Stall at Tynecastle High School on Saturday 14^th June between 12:00 and 12:15 pm.

3.     You may enter as many cakes as you like but please fill out a separate form for each entry specifying whether you are entering the design or taste competition.

4.     Cakes should be home-made, please use fresh ingredients and remember they will all be eaten so make them in hygienic conditions! Decorations should also be edible but can be shop bought.

5.     Cakes will be judged and winners announced on the day.  In the event of a tie, the headmaster (or deputy) has the casting vote.

6.     Please label any containers (e.g. cake tin) you wish to collect later.  Containers without labels may be used for transporting cakes bought at the fair.

7.     Any questions on the rules of the competition, please contact Sue (mckendrick2007@talktalk.net, 07824449265).

There are a few additional rules specific to the Design and Taste categories:

Design Competition

1.     Enter a single cake of any size, in any shape or size (i.e. from cupcake to gateau).

2.     Cakes will be judged on design and will not be cut for tasting but will be handed over to the home baking stall or auctioned after the competition.

Taste Competition

1.     Enter a batch of identical cupcakes or slices of tray bake, or a large cake (eg. Fruit loaf or Victoria sandwich).

2.     There needs to be sufficient quantity for approximately 32 judges to try a small taste of the entry (e.g. we suggest a cake based on 8 oz/250 g of margarine, sugar and flour and 4 eggs).

3.     Surplus cake will be sold at the home baking stall!

Happy baking!

===

Sadly, I'll miss all this as I'll be stuck at a Councillor-conference in Stirling ...

... oh joy :-(

Corporate, Policy and Strategy Committee next Tuesday

June's Corporate Policy and Strategy Committee takes place next Tuesday 10th ...

... all the papers are now in the public domain: the main Agenda can be found here - and the B Agenda here ---

--- and the individual reports are all up on Committee Papers on-Line (CPOL) linked from here.

Reports that may well attract some attention and debate:

• Health and Social Care Integration
• Sustainable Edinburgh 2020
• Corporate Performance - Annual Update

Just click on any of the above links for access (as a PDF) to the specific report.

That was the week, that was ;-)

I don't usually do this ... but it's been quite a week, so here's a quick pictorial record ;-)

SUNDAY 25th MAY

I blogged about this on the evening of 25th - you can see the post here ...

... I'm still somewhat over-the-moon at having completed 26.2miles, in 4hrs.49mins., in my 50th-year!

Life in the old-dog yet :-)

MONDAY 26th MAY

Again, I couldn't resist blogging this picture on Monday night ...

... the pint-and-a-fiver that I'd waited 30-years for - and had to run a Marathon to receive!

Best pint ever :-))


 


TUESDAY 27th MAY

Full Council week, this week - as mentioned in an earlier post - and that always means a Group Meeting on the Tuesday evening.

Just couldn't stop myself from taking my Marathon medal, and Garmin watch, into work so that I could show a few colleagues!

WEDNESDAY 28th MAY

What can I say - glad this didn't happen last Wednesday before I had to run that Edinburgh Marathon ...

... but cycling home this evening - in the pouring rain - had a bit of a nasty tumble, with the road-surface coming off better than my nose :-(

Here's the gory-outcome, prior to the application of copious make-up :-((






THURSDAY 29th MAY

Full Council today - not a day I can relax; with lots of interest in the Leader's Report as usual ... with plenty of questions from all sides of the Chamber.

Face still pretty sore from yesterday :-(

FRIDAY 30th MAY

Even with the sore face, it's Friday now and I just had to smile ;-)

Significant day for Edinburgh - after years of disruption, and acknowledged hardship for many - the Edinburgh Tram was given a soft Press-launch ...

... this is my first ever selfie (honest!) on my inaugural tram trip - just passing St. John's Church at the West End of Princes Street.

SATURDAY 31st MAY

First fare-paying passengers on the tram - from 5am this morning ...

... I didn't attempt that, but here I am at the Saughton Halt, on my way home from a friend's 50th Birthday celebration ;-)

Platinum ticket in-hand!

SUNDAY 1st JUNE

It's Sunday - so it must be the annual "Kirking of the City of Edinburgh Council" ...

... as friends and colleagues know, I'm not that religious - but do try and attend this Service, and the Remembrance Sunday Service, each year!


What a week.

Council Meeting webcast now up

The 29th May Full Council Meeting is now up on the webcast archive ...

... the specific recording is here: http://www.edinburgh.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/134343

Go on - you know you want to ...

Scottish results of European Elections

I posted up the Edinburgh results yesterday; so for completeness, here are the overall results for the whole of Scotland - the Council News Release can be found here and I'll simply re-produce the main text below:

---

The European Election results for Scotland have been announced at the City Chambers

The number of votes cast for each party and the individual candidates are:

BRITAIN FIRST, 13,639 (1.0%)
BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY, 10,216 (0.8%)
CONSERVATIVE PARTY, 231,330 (17.2%)
LABOUR PARTY, 348,219 (25.9%)
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, 95,319 (7.1%)
NO2EU, 6,418 (0.5%)
SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY, 108,305 (8.0%)
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP), 389,503 (28.9%)
UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY (UKIP), 140,534 (10.4%)

Rejected papers 2,184 (0.2%)
Total votes cast 1,345,667
Electorate 4,016,735
Turnout 33.5%

The following candidates have been duly elected to serve in the European Parliament as members for the Scottish region:

1 IAN HUDGHTON, SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)
2 DAVID MARTIN, LABOUR PARTY
3 IAN DUNCAN, CONSERVATIVE PARTY
4 ALYN SMITH, SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)
5 CATHERINE STIHLER, LABOUR PARTY
6 DAVID COBURN, UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY (UKIP)

---

If interested, there is more detail available here, and the links therein.

Thanks Dad :-)

Waited a whole 30-years for this pint and fiver ... best pint I've ever tasted; and I'm framing that £5 note :-)

Joking aside - I would NEVER have imagined when I made that rash bet with my Dad - way back in 1984! - that 30-years later, I would actually make good on it :-))

I am though - in all seriousness - delighted that we stuck to our wager ...


... the last 12-months of running have been nothing-but-good for me --- in all sorts of ways.

So - that's it ... last regular blip:

THANKS DAD :-)

Edinburgh Euro results

Edinburgh's Eurpoean Election results are now fully published ... the high-level figures are here, and I'll re-produce them below:

---

European Elections Edinburgh Count 2014

Published Sunday, 25th May 2014

The results of the European Parliamentary Election local counting area result have been announced for the City of Edinburgh Council.
 

The local count was announced on Sunday 25 May 2014.

The number of votes cast for each party are:

BRITIAN FIRST, 1,035
BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY, 676
CONSERVATIVE PARTY, 27,554
LABOUR PARTY, 32,758
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, 12,575
NO2EU, 548
SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY, 22,836
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY 32,721
UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY, 10,992

Valid votes 141,695
Rejected papers 271
Total votes cast 141,966
Turnout 41.6%

---
 

Edinburgh Labour have topped the city-poll, admittedly by a slight 37 votes!, but that contrasts with us taking 3rd place in 2009 - behind both the SNP and Tories.

17.8% of the city-vote in 2009, now up to 23.1% in 2014.

- the 2014 detail, for each constituency, can be found via this link.

Run Andrew Run :-)

And I did ...

... here's a snap of me at the end of today's Edinburgh Marathon, which I'm really delighted to report I completed in 4hours and 49minutes :-)

My private-target at the start of the event had been 4hrs 50mins, so I really am pleased with the time I've achieved :-))

I really cant thank everyone enough, who has helped, encouraged and supported me over the last 12-months ... far too many folk, and organisations, to list here: but HUGE THANKS to each and every one of you!

And - most importantly - I've managed to raise a fair bit of money for the truly wonderful Venture Scotland ... of course, it's not too late if you still want to help in that regard?? --- just follow this link and/or you can donate by text :-)

I'm feeling a bit sore now, but also elated to have run a sub 5-hour Marathon in my 50th year ... there's life in the old-dog yet :-)

I'll go over to see my Dad tomorrow evening - and a blip of him providing me with that pint and a fiver will duly follow before the end of the day :-))

THANKS AGAIN to everyone who has helped, encouraged and supported me ... I couldn't have done it without you!

Edinburgh Marathon is tomorrow!

Edinburgh Marathon is tomorrow - and here's a quick snap of the shirt I'll be wearing!

 

I can hardly believe how quickly the last year of training has gone ... my goal tomorrow is simply to finish the run in one-piece, and to raise as much as I can for the wonderful Venture Scotland - you can still help with that latter objective by clicking through to my JustGiving page :-)

I should also admit, that the thought of getting that pint - after waiting for 30-years! - from my Dad, will hopefully motivate me to get over the line :-))

REALLY HUGE THANKS to everyone who has helped, encouraged and supported me, in getting to this stage!

I'll blog tomorrow, as soon as I can - but that's likely to be early evening ... for any more immediate update, keep an eye on my twitter-account.

THANKS AGAIN for all the support :-)

Time for change; time for STV-PR

I posted a couple of weeks ago about a brief trip I made to Manchester, and a public meeting I spoke at - all here; including a video-link!

Well - guess what's happened in Manchester today:

But - it's not just Manchester ... here are Newham's results:

As I said on the 10th May - I really hope that those responsible for drafting UK Labour's 2015 General Election manifesto are paying attention??

It is surely time for change; time for STV-PR for English Local Elections.


(graphs via Electoral Reform Society)

29th May Leader's Report

May 2014
Ready to roll   In just over a week's time, on Saturday 31 May, Edinburgh Trams will begin carrying their first paying passengers. And while I don't for one second wish to detract from the issues the project has faced, this is undoubtedly a significant milestone for the city. The drivers and ticketing services assistants have completed an extremely rigorous testing and training programme and are champing at the bit to get started. As it says on our specially dressed tram, we're #readytoroll! Excitement seems to be building in the city, too. A roadshow last weekend saw more than 1,000 people board two trams stationed in St Andrew Square for a look around, a chat to the TSAs and a ding on the bell! For anyone who missed it, there's another chance tomorrow (Saturday, 24 May), from 12-2pm. We anticipate the first few days will be pretty busy with people keen to take their first tram trip and, during this final week, the team will be working round the clock to ensure everything is ready for service. Cllr. Andrew Burns Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council   Mortonhall   At the last council meeting, on 1 May, I offered my profound apologies to parents for the distress and pain caused by the previous practices at Mortonhall. Councillors unanimously agreed with the proposal to establish a multi-agency working group, including parents' groups and other relevant agencies, to consider the report's recommendations. The group, chaired by the Chief Executive, is tasked with preparing a detailed action plan for consideration at next month's special meeting of council. We must act on the recommendations to ensure that the highest possible standards are adhered to at Mortonhall and that nothing like this can happen again.   St James Quarter   I was delighted to join Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, at the launch of an ambitious scheme that will see the St James Quarter completely transformed by a £850m commercial development - made possible by an innovative funding agreement between the Council, Scottish Government and TIAA Henderson Real Estate. The Council played a crucial role in attracting this investment, which will see the development of 42,500m2 of high-quality retail space, 2,300m2 of grade A office space, a 210-bedroom five-star hotel, a 152-bedroom four-star hotel, a 55-bedroom apart-hotel, a theatre, restaurants and 138 residential units. The project will create significant overall growth to the economy, thousands of new jobs for Edinburgh and raise our competitiveness with other international capital cities.   Homes for Scotland   On 16 May, the EICC played host to the Homes for Scotland national awards and I'm delighted to say that a number of Edinburgh housing developments featured. Amongst those recognised were the Council, Cruden Homes, Port of Leith Housing Association, Link Homes and Hillcrest Housing Association. In the last five years, the Council and our partners have built 4,000 new affordable homes, trebling the amount built each year, regenerating brownfield sites across the city and generating close to £500m in economic benefit in the process. Edinburgh needs a significant number of new homes over the next ten years, which is why we recently approved another round of procurement with the National Housing Trust and are looking to further expand our 21st Century Homes programme.   Queen's Baton Relay   Last week we revealed the route for the Edinburgh leg of the Glasgow 2014 Queen's Baton Relay, which will spend Saturday 14 June touring the capital's communities, streets and landmarks. The relay will be a fantastic opportunity for residents to take to the streets to show their support for our baton bearers and celebrate Edinburgh's part to play in the Commonwealth Games. As host of the 1970 and 1986 Games, and co-host of this year's diving event at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, it is fitting that the baton will be brought home to Edinburgh - the only city in the Commonwealth to stage Games events for a third time.   Marathon Man   This Sunday, 25th May, I will be attempting to settle a 30-year old bet (I stand to win £5 and a pint from my dad!) as I join thousands of other hardy souls competing in the 2014 Edinburgh Marathon. I'm pleased with how my preparations have gone - and extremely grateful for all sponsorship received to date. I'm raising money for Venture Scotland, who run an outdoor-based personal development programme for young people who face complex and difficult problems. Please help me reach my fundraising target for this fantastic cause.   Stay in the picture   Keep yourself in the picture with our news section online. Watch live full Council and some committee meetings on our webcast. Join the debate on Twitter #edinwebcast  If you wish to unsubscribe please email us.
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29th May Full Council Meeting

The second May Council Meeting now imminent!

All the reports are now up on Committee Papers On-Line (CPOL) and you can access the main agenda directly here; and each of the individual reports separately via this link.

Of course - as ever, if you're so minded, you can watch all the proceedings live here ... or the meeting will be archived a few hours after it finishes for viewing at your leisure ;-)

You know you want to??

Can you text: VSCO50 £10 ... to 70070



The Edinburgh Marathon is this coming Sunday (25th May) - and the time for subtlety about sponsorship is coming to a close ;-)

Regular readers will know that you can sponsor me through the usual JustGiving channels - via this link ... and I'm extremely grateful to all those, who have already done so: thanks!

... but, as the photo above indicates, you can also sponsor me by mobile - simply text:

VSCO50 £10    ... to 70070

I'm doing really well with sponsorship for the wonderful Venture Scotland (over 51% of my initial target just now) ... but I'd love it to get closer to the full target, as Sunday approaches :-)

Indeed, if everyone who reads this post, sent £10 ... then I would reach that full target :-))

Hope you might be able to help?

Time for change

I'm down in Manchester next Tuesday night ... speaking at the event you can see on this poster.

Apparently - on Thursday 22nd May; there's a very real prospect that EVERY ONE (yes every single one!) of Manchester's 96 Elected Council Members could be Labour Party Councillors? 

Currently, Labour have 86 out of the 96 Councillors, with the remaining 10 Members (9 Lib-Dem and 1 Independent) all being up for re-election on the 22nd.

Now, don't get me wrong - I'm a Labour politician, and being tribalist for a second, having 100% of Labour Councillors is an attractive prospect!

Problem is, Manchester Labour have 86 out of 96 (that's 90%!) of the Councillors on just 66% of the vote.

So - in a couple of weeks time, when Manchester goes to the polls for Local Government Elections; there's a very real prospect that Labour could end up with 100% of the City Council's Elected Members, on no more than two-thirds of the popular vote?

I'm sorry - but if ever there was a reason why England should follow Scotland, and legislate for STV-PR for Local Council Elections ... then this surely has to be it.

One can but hope that those responsible for drafting UK Labour's 2015 General Election manifesto are paying attention?

===

**UPDATE**

Someone has made, and posted-up, a YouTube video of this event in Manchester - you can access it via this link ;-)


===

Capital Coalition Away Day ...

... well, actually, it was just an afternoon, and it wasn't very far away: spent a few hours at the Serenity Cafe venue, near the bottom of the Royal Mile!

And the joys of proportional representation obviously mean that our political Away Days now involve two parties ;-)

So; a joint Labour-SNP - Capital Coalition - Friday afternoon spent discussing a combination of issues: Education, Planning and Development, Sport and - of course - Politics!

All highly uplifting stuff.

Corporate, Policy and Strategy Committee next Tuesday

May's Corporate Policy and Strategy Committee takes place next Tuesday 13th ...

... all the papers are now in the public domain: the main Agenda can be found here;

- and the individual reports are all up on Committee Papers on-Line (CPOL) linked from here.

Reports that may well attract some attention and debate:

• Welfare Reform Update
• Edinburgh Joint Carers' Strategy
• Community Policing Service Level Agreement (SLA)

Just click on any of the above links for access (as a PDF) to the specific report.