Biomass saga continues ...

The use (or not) of biomass as the primary heating system in several of Edinburgh's new schools continues to become ever more byzantine ...

... don't usually copy word-for-word other colleagues' Council Questions into the blog, but one of my Green colleagues has just received the answer below which is worth printing in full:
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"QUESTION NO 9
By Councillor Burgess to be answered by the Convener of the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee at a meeting of the Council on 5 February 2009

Question

Given the recent findings by the Scottish Government on biomass technology, will the Administration now install biomass heating systems in those new schools for which biomass has been put on hold?

Answer

The Director of Services for Communities has confirmed that guidance from the Scottish Government is still awaited on the use of biomass boilers and our professional officers are recommending that the precautionary principle should remain in place meantime. The modelling study, published by the Scottish Government in November 2008, which I'm presuming the question refers to, indicated that in urban areas where levels of particulates are already high, the use of biomass may add to these levels.

However, I can give an assurance that consideration will be given to the use of biomass boilers in PPP2 schools, when the Scottish Government guidance to local authorities becomes available and has been properly considered."
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Amazing - almost a year to-the-day after this blog entry ... we are absolutely no further forward :-(

I would love to be wrong on this one, but when the Scottish Government guidance comes out (and it will do very soon) and recommends that the air quality impacts of biomass combustion can be controlled and any harmful emissions reduced to acceptable levels, it won't make a blind bit of difference to the new schools in Edinburgh as by that time some of them will actually be open and be heated by traditional methods with the cost of conversion deemed too expensive ...

... anybody want to take a bet on that??

Unnecessary cancellation?

The biomass (or lack of it in Edinburgh!) saga continues.

I've discovered that the 'London Councils' report (erroneously cited as why biomass was being stopped in Edinburgh) on the use of biomass is now actually published - it does identify that biomass plants, if poorly run, can cause particulate emission problems ... but it also states that:

"A toolkit has been produced which provides a means of estimating the scale of air quality impact of wood fuelled biomass appliances of a wide range of sizes and chimney heights. Using the toolkit it should be possible to identify significant air quality impacts of biomass combustion and seek either through reduced emissions or higher chimneys to mitigate the impact."

Sounds like a good reason to pursue implementaiton of the national Biomass Action Plan - and it seems some sensible Liberal-Democrats agree ... see this motion. I'd hope that Mike Russell (the relevant Minister) will support this when the topic is debated in Parliament later this week.

... none of this will be happening imminently in Edinburgh though, as the contract to fit biomass systems in 5 secondary schools and 2 primary schools has been cancelled - by the Lib-Dem Leader of the Council :-(

Goodbye biomass :-(

The 'supposed' green credentials of the local Libs and Nats took another nose-dive this evening.

In fact, as far as I'm concerned, any credibility they had left (and that wasn't much!) on green issues has now been shot to pieces.

I hear on the grapevine that they are about to announce that the second round of school-building programme, which was approved in March with all-Party support, is to have the 'biomass heating systems' removed from the contract. 7 of the 8 schools involved were to have had this innovative, and totally carbon-neutral, heating system. The eighth, Tynecastle High School, is to be heated by a nearby distillery!

Taking biomass heating out of the other 7 schools is total madness. Edinburgh is signed up (again with all-Party support) to be a 'zero-carbon City' by 2050, and here is what our current Convener of Education said just a few days ago (when speaking about Tynecastle):

"The City of Edinburgh Council have a commitment to sustainability" ... really??

Biomass is already used in the new Council Care Homes, and Queen Margaret University had it installed in their new campus - to great acclaim. The Schools in Edinburgh were to have sourced their wood-based biomass material from the Lothians (Dalkeith to be precise), so pretty damned local!

Now prepare yourself for some hypocrisy on a grand scale ...


Here's what the Libs local manifesto said earlier this year:

"Liberal Democrats want to create a greener, cleaner city, where good environmental practice is at the core of all policy and practice, and where resources are protected for future generations."

How does scrapping a carbon-neutral heating system for 5 High Schools and 2 Primary Schools square with that statement??


... and for good measure, here's what the Nats local manifesto said:

"An SNP administration is committed to making Edinburgh an environmentally sustainable city. We will be an administration that would lead by example by making council offices and services as energy efficient as possible. Our city's environment must be protected for future generations."


Quite obviously all of this was complete, and total, 'greenwash' and wasn't worth the paper it was printed on :-((

Each and every Lib-Dem and Nationalist Councillor in Edinburgh should truly be ashamed if this decision goes ahead. Weren't they being serious when they said that our environment had to be "protected for future generations"?

Shame on them all.

Yet another very long Council meeting

Full Council meeting today didn't end until practically 6.30pm :-(

... and, unfortunately, there was indeed a general theme of 'update', 'work in progress', 'ongoing priority' to a lot of the debates with nothing of huge significance actually being decided. There is, frankly, a distinct lack of 'politics' becoming apparent at many of these monthly meetings ... everything is process, procedure or detail - because nothing hugely 'political' is being tackled by the Administration.

Just about the only thing that was irrevocably decided was the removal of the Biomass heating systems from 5 Secondary Schools and 2 Primary Schools ... I do feel the Administration has been "led" on this one and the local advice they've accepted means the absolute end of any such Biomass carbon-neutral heating systems for Edinburgh schools. Yet another example of 'official-capture'.

Did nobody from the Administration think to ask (or even wonder?) why this new technology was being requested for removal from the contract at the absolute last procedural minute??

It's a real travesty as much of the 'supposed' research they've taken this decision on is inconclusive, incomplete and unverified. They admitted as much.

Contrast that to the national March 2007 Biomass Action Plan (it's a very comprehensive document) which makes it very clear "that biomass can fulfil its potential as a clean, green fuel, providing Scotland with cheap, clean and convenient heat and power."

Well, except in Edinburgh that is ...

The contract COULD have gone ahead as decided back in March - none of the Biomass heating systems would have been operational until 2009 ... plenty of time to rectify any emission concerns.

Instead we've all but pulled-the-plug on the whole innovation ... exactly what numerous, vested interests wanted to do prior to the initial contract close in March.

Strange that :-((

No moratorium here?

Forgot to mention one classic moment at the Full Council meeting, when the relevant Convener was responding to a question about the use of biomass in Edinburgh ...

... he boldly asserted that there has never been a moratorium on the use of biomass in the city?

Someone should really politely request that he goes back and re-reads a report that went before Council in December 2007 - you can find it here ... paragraph 2.17 at the foot of page 3 clearly states:

"the Council is adopting a precautionary principle in suspending the use of biomass pending the outcome of the Scottish Government Research findings."

'Suspending' --- 'moratorium' --- damned if I can tell the difference??

Yet more proof, if ever it were needed, on who is truly running the Council these days ... and it's not the said-Convener :-(

No innovation here please

News out today that Biomass heating schemes appear to be receiving funding all over Scotland - which is surely to be welcomed ...

... but Biomass continues - bizarrely - to be not so welcome in Edinburgh :-(

Biomass - "mind the gap"

Biomass again I'm afraid - do read this BBC News story from today ... then contrast it with what's going on in Edinburgh.

The gap between national rhetoric and local reality just makes me weep :-(

... mind you - maybe those Single Outcome Agreements (SOA's) will force the SNP/Libs on Edinburgh Council to do something constructive in due course??

Say sorry now please?

The Lib-Dem/SNP Administration in Edinburgh have today got absolutely no excuse other than to say sorry (quickly) and re-introduce Biomass Heating Systems to the 5 secondary schools and 2 primary schools which they unnecessarily cancelled over a year ago.

... because, despite today's Press Coverage, the new Scottish Government Guidance is now out and Chapter 11 on "Air quality and biomass" basically repeats what was said in the London Councils report in February of LAST year.

Specifically, it confirms:

11.10 Use of abatement technology can reduce PM10 and PM2.5 emissions and, depending on the nature of the development and the type of boiler and abatement equipment, may help to ensure that there is no significant contribution to overall particles concentrations from a development or group of developments. Most larger new automatic boilers are fitted with some kind of flue gas cleaning device.

Shame on them ...

... go on, admit it was a mistake, reverse your decision and make me eat my words at the end of this recent post??

Pay attention ... biomass-free zone

Just spotted this incisive press release ... can anyone who knows Jim Hume get him to knock some sense into his local Edinburgh colleagues' heads??

I mentioned the relevant Scottish Parliament motion last month - here - and briefly commented on the FM's Lockerbie visit - here ... clearly my local Lib-Dem colleagues are paying no attention whatsoever to this blog :-(

"Schools to go greener" - except in Scotland's Capital City

Absolute classic of a News Release out today from the Scottish Government - see it here ...

... nothing wrong with the content whatsoever - indeed, the aspiration to "maximise the uptake by authorities of the UK Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) which provides 50 per cent funding for the installation costs of a range of renewable technologies" seems eminently sensible.

One slight problem when it comes to Edinburgh though - just have a look at the UK Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) web-site ... here and here ... then contrast it with what happened last year in our fair Capital City - here :-(

As I said at the time; "each and every Lib-Dem and Nationalist Councillor in Edinburgh should truly be ashamed if this decision goes ahead (to cancel Biomass Boilers in 7 schools). Weren't they being serious when they said that our environment had to be "protected for future generations"?

A truly shameful episode - all to save a bit of initial capital outlay ...

... and sadly, I still don't think the current crowd in charge really know that at times they just need to tell officers where to get off.

Too late now for those 7 schools though :-((

Education Committee tomorrow ..

Education Committee meeting tomorrow ...

... I know, quite rightly, that most attention is on the proposed closure of the 4 Primary Schools - but tucked away in the Appendix of an update report on the 'second school building programme' is a further litany of cock-up over the removal of Biomass from these schools.

Do have a look at Appendix 1 of this report ... paragraph 5.1 is just appalling ... these school buildings are no longer as efficient as they could/should have been: and all for nothing!

... on top of that - I'm not aware that the change in contract (mentioned in paragraph 5.1) was EVER reported to any Committee of the Council?

As I say, an appalling end to a totally avoidable series of bad decisions.

Boiler scrappage scheme?

No - this post is not going to be about the local SNP/Lib-Dems needlessly getting rid of biomass boilers in Edinburgh schools :-(

... it's about that rather attractive 'boiler scrappage scheme' announced as part of last December's Pre-Budget Report!

Regular blog readers will know that I've been keen, for ages, to renew our very old (and almost certainly, wholly inefficient) gas boiler --- well, imagine my dismay to discover the scheme doesn't operate in Scotland, as its up to the devolved Parliament to decide how to use the monies allocated to the scheme?

I've yet to track down just why the SNP Administration at Holyrood are refusing to operate this scheme in the coldest part of the UK, but if anyone out there knows what on earth they're doing refusing to implement such a no-brainer I'd love to hear from you :-((

Forgot to mention ...

In all the excitement this week about 'equalising pay'; the use (or not) of biomass heating; the true-depth of constitutional radicalism; and the future of Nursery Education in Edinburgh ...

... I completely forgot to mention that on Tuesday night passed, I was re-elected to continue as Labour Group Leader at Part1 of our internal AGM processes ;-)

... yes, only the Labour Party could have a 2-part AGM process!

Portfolio (Opposition Spokespersons) positions finalised next Tuesday ... some changes will have to occur, due to the very welcome problem of our current Finance Spokesperson being occupied elsewhere :-))

Oh - by the way - I should also mention that rumours abound in the City Chambers of 'near successful' challenges to senior members of the Lib-Dem Group ... can't think why??

Goodbye Wave3 Schools ??

Well, recently it was Goodbye biomass, it now appears that all our fears about Wave3 schools were all too well-founded :-(

Back in October the Council agreed a motion on the way forward and to receive an update report on the various feasibility studies by the end of January ... still haven't seen that report, and now that the 12th February meeting is cancelled, I've no idea when this work will publicly surface - surely not as part of the main budget-meeting when it would have no chance of receiving any 'detailed consideration'?

And now, to make matters a lot worse, it appears that at a meeting of the Portobello High School Parent Council last night the local MSP said something to the effect of:

• as a result of the local government settlement, Council’s no longer apply to the Scottish Government for additional capital funding
• they have been allocated additional budget that they can use as they see fit
• with regard to new schools – or any other capital project - the City Council now needs to work out its priorities and how to use the additional funds that have been provided
• for a new Portobello High School, the City Council does not need to present a business case or apply for funding to the Scottish Government
• once its has decided its commitment to a new school, it needs to work out how to fund the project from its own resources

I'll tell you now, that will come as a huge shock to officers working on the feasibility studies ... not to mention the Council Coalition politicians!

As for the money being available in the Local Government settlement ... well, I can only repeat that if the equivalent levels of finance as the first two-rounds of school-building in the City are eventually made available, then I'll be the first to applaud it - remembering that round one in Edinburgh was some £130million of capital investment and round two some £180million.

That level of capital monies is NOT in the current Local Government settlement for the City of Edinburgh Council.

Goodbye Wave3 Schools ??