Been reflecting on yesterday's Autumn Statement and today's Pensions March ... and the more I think on it all, the more I'm convinced it really could be a very significant turning-point.
The first UK General Election I could vote in, was the 1983 poll and I remember only too well the sense of complete disunity on the left at the time and the worryingly low levels of overall public support for Labour's message --- and indeed, it took another 14 long years for that to be reversed ...
... politically, it feels (thank goodness, from my perspective) absolutely nothing like 1983 today. I sense, despite all the recent electoral difficulties, a unity in the sheer simmering anger at what's happening to ordinary working families across the UK.
Have a look at this Institute for Fiscal Studies (the IFS is not an organisation known for its left-wing tendencies!) analysis of the Autumn Statement from earlier today - take a close look at slide 10 in particular ...
... and ask yourself why virtually 10,000 people in each of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee marched today?
And if you can persist with this slightly academic piece, please do so --- read through its analysis (follow some of the links even); and read through to its eventual conclusions ...
... Labour needs to seize the moment, just be somewhat bolder, because for me at least it's now blatantly obvious that it really is time for the UK to change course.
I suspect literally millions of ordinary working people would welcome it, because they now know that the alternative are years (if not a decade) of complete stagnation for which the lowest paid, will pay the most ... and that's just not right :-(
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Pensions March in Edinburgh today
My better-half is a teacher and is down there somewhere alongside what many consider was a 10,000-strong protest.
I looked after Junior (and several of his friends!) during the day and was astounded at the reports on the scale of the marches in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and elsewhere across Scotland and the whole of the UK ...
... I really hope those who should be listening, are doing so.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Craiglockhart Community Council
... presentation on transport and road safety issues was the main topic of the night, but was also very good to formally meet Gordon Buchan's successor (as candidate, if not yet Councillor!) - Will Searle - who is the new Tory candidate for the Fountainbridge/Criaglockhart Ward.
I suspect I may be seeing just a little bit more of him over the coming 22 weeks ;-)
Autumn Statement
... the BBC picked up on it a bit, but in essence, the Lib-Dems are now essentially bound to the current coalition fiscal arrangements across both sides of the next General Election.
Of course, a weeks a long time in politics, but at the moment they seem ever more enthralled to current Conservative economic plans - not for just this year, or next, but for the next 5-years ... up to and beyond not just the next UK General Election but also beyond the Scottish Referendum and the next Scottish General Election in 2016.
It really could be the 1930's all over again - politically as well as economically - for them?
Olympic tickets success :-)
And earlier this year, I was fortunate to get some tickets (Hockey) via the main on-line lottery; and today was again lucky enough to get 2 more sets (football) via the on-line bidding process --- including 3 tickets for the Women's football final :-)
Hoping for a few more in the early part of next year, when the final remainder go on sale (via on-line bidding again, I guess), and really looking forward to being in London next summer!
Monday, November 28, 2011
ELREC Election Manifesto Meeting
... very good opportunity to listen and was pleased to be able to do so, as well as be able to underline that our own draft manifesto is out for consultation right now.
Enjoyable evening - made all the better by the provision of good food ;-)
Green Investment Bank for Edinburgh?
... but very good indeed to see strong, joint Edinburgh-Glasgow support for the Green Investment Bank being located here in the Capital: all the details here.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Busy week ahead!
... huge thanks to all those who gave up a large part of their Sunday to help out: it was greatly appreciated ;-)
I know I shouldn't say it, but if I see that 'Moving Edinburgh Forward' slogan just once more :-(
Back to the City Chambers tomorrow ... wall-to-wall meetings all day long, which at least means no more envelope stuffing for 24-hours ;-)
Very busy week ahead actually!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Envelope-mania is here
... so 'mass envelope-mania' has started to infect my hallway once more!
Indeed, I don't think there's been more than a few weeks in the last 3-years when my hallway hasn't had some form of campaigning material festooning it :-(
Ah well - no elections in 2013, so maybe I'll get a few weeks respite then ... unless that referendum is called during those 12-months?
Friday, November 25, 2011
Another quiz victory :-)
... yes; "Edinburgh South West" were once more victorious :-)
That's 3 out of 4 wins ... one more constituency-contest in Edinburgh East, and then its the 'Grand Final' ...
... as you can see, the South West team is eager-and-ready for the remaining challenges :-))
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Environmental Services element of ABM to be kept in-house
Credit to the local SNP, and also Councillor Gary Peacock (Lib-Dem) for ultimately backing the in-house bid.
A clear Council-majority ... Officers, Employees, Trade Unions and Politicians (of all Parties) now need to get on, and deliver the Council decision.
One moment of light-relief came during Leaders' Question Time when 2 SNP Councillors quoted directly from our 'Moving Edinburgh Forward' document ... criticising us for sending it to Members of Community Councils and for discussing it openly at public, budget meetings?
Outrageous behaviour from Edinburgh Labour - and I really must apologise ... but, just for a moment there, I clearly thought we lived in a free and open society where the discussion of ideas was to be welcomed ;-)
Joint Labour-SNP Amendment (with Green backing)
Looks like the in-house option will get majority support today ... delighted to report that Labour and the local SNP have now agreed a Joint-Amendment, and that the Greens intend to back it.
That is a majority Council position :-)
Credit to the local SNP for getting behind this.
===
Item 8.1 Alternative Business Models Review Programme
– Environment Workstream
1. Council notes that the Alternative Business Models Review Programme would be concluded by a decision of Council and that this was commonly known by, and made clear to, all Parties involved in the process.
2. Council, having taken into account inter-alia the following …
i. The statutory duty to deliver Best Value, namely the duty to ensure the continuous improvement of services. Specifically Council notes the duty to strike an appropriate balance between quality and cost while having due regard for efficiency, effectiveness, economy, equality, human rights and sustainability including social and economic sustainability as well as environmental protection, including concerns regarding co-mingling.
ii. The statutory duty to have due regard for Scottish Government guidance and protocols including Best Value Guidance, Section 52 Guidance, the National Standards on Community Engagement and the “Public Private Partnerships in Scotland – protocol and guidance concerning employment issues”.
iii. The now acknowledged, significant workforce reduction under this element of the ABM programme with public sector jobs being lost to the City of Edinburgh and the resulting adverse economic consequences for the city.
iv. The risk to local services, and local accountability, being too great and the estimated level of savings being unlikely to outweigh the dis-benefits of this element of the ABM programme.
v. The information that was made available in the “data room” coupled with detailed analysis of some of the said information.
… all leads Council to agree that the procurement process is terminated without award of a contract.
3. Council further notes that an internal improvement plan has been developed which has the potential to deliver significant improvements and savings to in-house service delivery and:
i. resolves to apply the terms of the Environmental Services internal improvement plan and instructs the Chief Executive Officer to take appropriate steps to secure its implementation.
ii. agrees that regular reports on the progress of the internal improvement plan shall be made to the Finance & Resources Committee and/or Council and that Committee should bring any matters of concern regarding its progress to the attention of the Council in order that it can determine any course of action it deems necessary.
4. Council therefore rejects recommendations 23 a) to e) and agrees to proceed as stated above.
Proposed __________________________________ Councillor Andrew Burns
Seconded __________________________________ Councillor Steve Cardownie
That is a majority Council position :-)
Credit to the local SNP for getting behind this.
===
City of Edinburgh Council
Joint Labour/SNP Amendment
Joint Labour/SNP Amendment
Full Council Meeting
24th November 2011
Item 8.1 Alternative Business Models Review Programme
– Environment Workstream
1. Council notes that the Alternative Business Models Review Programme would be concluded by a decision of Council and that this was commonly known by, and made clear to, all Parties involved in the process.
2. Council, having taken into account inter-alia the following …
i. The statutory duty to deliver Best Value, namely the duty to ensure the continuous improvement of services. Specifically Council notes the duty to strike an appropriate balance between quality and cost while having due regard for efficiency, effectiveness, economy, equality, human rights and sustainability including social and economic sustainability as well as environmental protection, including concerns regarding co-mingling.
ii. The statutory duty to have due regard for Scottish Government guidance and protocols including Best Value Guidance, Section 52 Guidance, the National Standards on Community Engagement and the “Public Private Partnerships in Scotland – protocol and guidance concerning employment issues”.
iii. The now acknowledged, significant workforce reduction under this element of the ABM programme with public sector jobs being lost to the City of Edinburgh and the resulting adverse economic consequences for the city.
iv. The risk to local services, and local accountability, being too great and the estimated level of savings being unlikely to outweigh the dis-benefits of this element of the ABM programme.
v. The information that was made available in the “data room” coupled with detailed analysis of some of the said information.
… all leads Council to agree that the procurement process is terminated without award of a contract.
3. Council further notes that an internal improvement plan has been developed which has the potential to deliver significant improvements and savings to in-house service delivery and:
i. resolves to apply the terms of the Environmental Services internal improvement plan and instructs the Chief Executive Officer to take appropriate steps to secure its implementation.
ii. agrees that regular reports on the progress of the internal improvement plan shall be made to the Finance & Resources Committee and/or Council and that Committee should bring any matters of concern regarding its progress to the attention of the Council in order that it can determine any course of action it deems necessary.
4. Council therefore rejects recommendations 23 a) to e) and agrees to proceed as stated above.
Proposed __________________________________ Councillor Andrew Burns
Seconded __________________________________ Councillor Steve Cardownie
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
"In-house Option" ballot results
And following on from the recent constructive response, received from the Trade Unions, in relation to the proposed Public Sector Comparator (PSC) [in-house] option, the relevant workforce members were formally balloted on their intentions.
Results, as received tonight, are very positive:
- 70% response rate
- with 94% of those voting in support of the PSC changes
If the Council now backs the PSC option tomorrow, then management AND Trade Unions will have an obligation to get the in-house implementation right.
With a bit of good-will on all sides, I'm confident it can be done.
Hutchison Road application approved
The mixed-use Hutchison Road application, which I mentioned earlier this morning, has just been approved (on a division) at Planning Committee.
As I said, its a vacant and derelict site - and has been so for nearly a decade - and now has permission for 100+ residential units (c40% of which will be Affordable Housing) plus a supermarket (potentially Morrisons?).
On balance, I do think it was the right decision.
As I said, its a vacant and derelict site - and has been so for nearly a decade - and now has permission for 100+ residential units (c40% of which will be Affordable Housing) plus a supermarket (potentially Morrisons?).
On balance, I do think it was the right decision.
Hutchison Road planning application
... relates to the 'old' ASDA site on Hutchison Road, which has been vacant (and derelict) for nearly a decade now; since the Superstore relocated across the road to Chesser Avenue.
I'm not usually one who is a natural supporter of supermarket developments, but later today I will be speaking in favour of the proposal for this site - a mixed use of residential development and a medium-sized supermarket (pre-let to Morrisons).
Frankly, several previous applications (and plans) for 100% residential development on the site have got nowhere and given the current economic climate I fail to see how 100% residential is going to be viable for some considerable time to come :-(
So, on balance, and to see a site no more than 2-miles from Princes Street developed, I think what's on offer is acceptable ... the Officers disagree and have the application up for refusal. Not a popular recommendation with the local community, who have generated a near-500 signature petition in favour of the current application!
I'll post again later, once the result of the Planning Committee meeting becomes clear.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Group Meeting this evening ...
... main item of debate was, unsurprisingly, the ABM-report which was delayed last month. You can see the position we took last month, here. And if you go here, you can see all my blog-posts mentioning ABM.
I'd hope you'll see a consistency of approach from those posts - and the many links therein. In essence, going right back to the local Budget in February 2009, we've been clear and consistent in our opposition towards the privatisation of front-line Council services.
We've also tried hard, especially in recent months given the potential gravity of these decisions, to publish our Amendments a couple of days prior to the relevant Council Meeting --- and I'll re-produce our provisional position for Thursday below ...
... would be good to see the other Political Groups do likewise?
===
City of Edinburgh Council
Labour Amendment
Labour Amendment
Full Council Meeting
24th November 2011
Item 8.1 Alternative Business Models Review Programme
– Environment Workstream
1. Council notes that of all the manifestos presented to the people of Edinburgh in the Council elections of 2007 only one specifically advocated the privatisation of Council services.
2. Council regrets that greater public consultation was not carried out on this issue and believes that entering into the proposed contract a mere six months before local government elections is anti democratic.
3. Council also notes, with serious concern, the now acknowledged, significant workforce reduction under this element of the ABM programme with public sector jobs being lost to the city.
4. Council considers that the risk to local services, and local accountability, are too great and the estimated level of savings are unlikely to outweigh the dis-benefits of this element of the ABM programme.
5. Council therefore simply notes recommendations 23a) through to 23d) but does not agree to them.
6. Council further notes recommendation 23e).
7. Council finally notes that the Public Sector Comparator has been developed which has the potential to deliver significant improvements and savings to in-house service delivery.
8. Council thus agrees to focus attention and resources on the further development of the in-house Public Sector Comparator element (of the ABM programme) towards a conclusion and to implement this when fully finalised.
Proposed __________________________________
Seconded __________________________________
Monday, November 21, 2011
Full Council week
Apart from item 8.1 on the Alternative Business Models programme (report here), there's not much else of huge controversy - amongst the main reports!
There are several interesting Motions, on the main agenda, and I suspect they'll take up a fair bit of debating time ... anybody would think there was an election imminent :-(
Sunday, November 20, 2011
sunny Salsburgh, fog and leaflets
But, despite the outward gloom, a pleasant afternoon was had by all.
Back in Edinburgh and leaflet distribution continues apace ... less than 24-weeks to go now ;-)
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