London weekend ...

Off to London this evening - on the sleeper ... nearly at a year-and-a-half now without stepping on a plane ;-)

Heading South for the quarterly 'Council meeting' of the Electoral Reform Society ... one can only hope its a little more enjoyable than yesterday's 'Edinburgh Council meeting'??

Not back up in Edinburgh until pretty late on Saturday evening, so blogging could well be light this weekend ...

On a lighter note ...

On a much lighter note than the interminable Council Meeting ...

... when I finally got home after the days' travails, my better-half had harvested our first crop from the Allotment!

So, no schools may have been initiated and built for the last year (which isn't funny) but at least our new Allotment has produced some radishes ;-)

And, given the amount of stuff we've planted, there are lots more vegetables to come over the next few months!

Another very long Council meeting

Another very, very long Council meeting today (8.30pm finish) - would have been several hours (literally) shorter if the Administration had organised its business better ... and I don't mean by the ludicrous use (or not!) of traffic-lights :-((

From my point of view, the most significant debate of the day was on Wave 3 schools - during which the Libs/Nats moved a completely pointless Amendment to the Motion that was on the Order Paper in my name (see item 11.6 on the Agenda - here).

No one explained in the ensuing debate exactly why even considering the use of Local School Building Trusts was not acceptable? ... which means only one thing - it wasn't acceptable because it was suggested by a Labour politician.

Truly pathetic.

And the drivel we had to endure about the evils of previous school building programmes and the supposed wonders of the Scottish Futures Trust was equally - if not more - pathetic.

As I outlined in the debate, here's a list of the schools built (or being built) since 2002 - all initiated by Council Administrations I was part of:

New Build Schools - completed

Braidburn Special School
Rowanfield Special School
Oaklands Special School
Gorgie Mills SEBD School
Woodlands Special School
Oxgangs Primary School
St Peter’s Primary School
Forthview Primary School
Castleview Primary School
Craigour Park Primary School
Craigroyston Primary School
Broomhouse Primary School
St Joseph’s RC Primary School
Pirniehall Primary School
St David’s RC Primary School
Gracemount High School
Craigmount High School
St Thomas of Aquins High School

Refurbished Schools - completed

The Royal High School
Firrhill High School
Drummond Community High School

New Build Schools - ongoing

Bonaly Primary School
Juniper Green Primary School
Niddrie Mill Primary School
St Francis Primary School
Broughton High School
Forrester High School
Holy Rood High School
St. Augustine's High School
Tynecastle High School
Craigroyston Community High School

Refurbished Schools - ongoing

Canal View Primary School
Pentland Primary School
Curries Primary School

Just in case you haven't got that total number - it's 34 SCHOOLS.

How many so far for the new Council? (or Scottish Govt.) - ZERO.

It is a truly shocking failure.

P.S. and as I've said before, I am willing to take bets that not ONE SINGLE new school contract will be initiated, and then that school built and actually opened all within this term (May 2007-May 2011) of the current Scottish Government, or the current Edinburgh Council (May 2007-May 2012).

Council code

Can I encourage you to have a quick look at one of today's Council News Releases?

Its entitled, "Councils' Continued Cooperation on Waste - 28 May 2008" and can currently be found via the Council homepage at: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet.

... now, personally I think this Release is brilliant 'Council code' for:

"we think the Scottish Government has really screwed up on this issue, but we can't quite say that."

Excellent - best Council News Release I've read in months :-))

Will it be a YouTube record-breaker?

Edinburgh Labour goes all modern (??):



... unfortunately, if you're reading this blog at the Council ... though I do know very few Council employees have time for such nonsense ;-) ... then you won't be able to see this high-tech video production as YouTube is blocked :-((

Its certain to be a "views" record-breaker ;-))

GREEN for GO

There's farcical ...

... and then there's comical ...

... and then there's just the sheer bloody inability to make a decision and stick with it :-(

I can't quite believe it, but apparently the powers that be have now decided to 'shelve' the idea of the traffic-lights until at least after the Summer recess :-)

Damn it - I'll need to re-write all my speeches for tomorrow now ;-))

Fantasy Land ...

I've already outlined what I think of the main 'school-based', education commitments from the SNP May 2007 election manifesto ... after only 1-year, they're already - frankly - a busted-flush :-(

... so, it comes as no surprise to see that BBC Scotland are leading on a class-size story today. Have a quick look at the detail in the story:

• Scotland needs an additional 2,173 teachers to deliver P1/2/3 class-sizes of 18 or less
• that will cost an additional (and recurring) £62million per year
• in order to accommodate these classes, Scotland needs 900 additional classrooms
• that will cost an additional (one-off) amount of £360million

... but, don't worry, everything is okay because (go on, read the article):

• the Scottish Government gave Councils an extra £40million (this year only!)
• that was just to keep teacher numbers static - NOT to increase them
• there are falling school-roles, so its easy to achieve smaller class-sizes with the same number of teachers, isn't it?
• no mention of very recent local SNP reaction/s to such an assumption??
  
  
• so, £40million this year when the Scottish Government claims the settlement to Local Government rose by 5%
• but, hold on, that £40million hasn't recruited one new teacher - just kept numbers static at 53,000 across Scotland
• and the Local Government settlement (revenue), as acknowledged by the Scottish Government, shows a decreasing rate of growth in the next 2-years ... 4.1% and 3.4%
  
  
• so, can we be certain of £40million next year?
• what about the minimum requirement of £62million, will that ever be given??
• what about the capital requirements of £360million???
• and what about local "SNP reality" as opposed to this educational 'fantasy land' we're being fed by the Scottish Government ...

Lower class sizes - yes please ... but its not free, in fact its very, very expensive; and when Local Government fails to deliver P1/2/3 class-sizes of 18 or less by May 2011, I can but hope-in-vain that someone, somewhere, will remember who is responsible?

I don't see any sign yet that the relevant Scottish Ministers will be honest about their failure ...

... "historic concordat" anyone? :-((

Overwhelming majority?

Edinburgh's Business Improvement District (BID) proposals were approved in a ballot of local businesses today - on balance, I very much welcome the outcome. The whole process is part of a wider series of BIDs across Scotland - further details can be found here.

Slightly surprised not to have seen any substantial press coverage of the local outcome here in Edinburgh? - the Council has put a News release out ... you can see it here.

... mind you, the Release claims "Edinburgh's city centre businesses have voted overwhelmingly in favour to create a Business Improvement District" when the detail reveals only some 25.9% of those eligible to vote have actually approved the plans :-(

All that said, I do welcome the result and am only too aware that successful BIDs in other international, Capital cities have resulted in very significant city-centre improvements - lets hope Edinburgh can now follow that lead ...

Stop at the red light :-((

Just as you thought things couldn't get any more farcical in the City Chambers ...

... internal rumour (and remember, that's usually as good as true!) is suggesting that at the Full Council Meeting this Thursday we're all going to have the length of our speeches controlled by some form of "traffic-light" system :-(

Now, standing orders do have 'guidelines' on the maximum length for contributions, but in the +9 years I've been on the Council I've never witnessed any serious attempt at curtailing Elected members' contributions to debates. Polite cajoling from various Lord Provosts; yes ... but enforcing rigid time-limits; never.

It has to be admitted, that I may on occasion be personally guilty of transgressing the 'guidelines' when it comes to my speeches - but really, a system of "traffic-lights" to enforce adherence to time-limits ...

... and you can just imagine the outrage that would have erupted from the Liberal-Democrats, in particular, if we had tried such a stunt when in power?

Why; anyone would think the current people in charge just don't like what they hear in the Council Chamber?

Pond-mania

As well as the garden-clearance at the local Community Centre this morning; yet another construction project commenced down at the allotment later in the afternoon ...

... and here was me thinking that once all the beds were properly edged with wood, I could sit back and relax :-(

Well, not a bit of it, as junior - and myself, it has to be admitted! - are pretty keen to have a small pond on-site. So, with old bath very kindly donated by a fellow 'allotmenteer', the digging of a bloody huge hole took place and bath is now in position :-(

I hasten to add that the plants have not grown, as per the photo, quite yet ... purely for illustrative purposes only :-)

... back to work for a rest tomorrow.

'Activity Weekend'

After a couple of weekends away, I'm actually in Edinburgh this weekend ;-)

... so, this morning, off on a bit of a canal walk (part of a local 'walking programme'). Apparently, someone still thinks I'm a VIP ;-))

... then, this evening, going to a 'Kuk Sool Won' (Korean for "National Martial Arts Association"!) Tournament at Meadowbank - organised by the North Merchiston Club, which is located within Fountainbridge.

... then, tomorrow, helping clear the garden at the rear of the local Community Centre as part of their ongoing and impressive efforts to get more events up-and-running at the Centre.

No rest for the wicked.

School-Meals Saga rumbles on ...

Locally, here in Edinburgh, the school-meals saga continues to rumble on and on and on ...

As you will recall, I posted just yesterday about the plans to shut a whole raft of Nursery and Primary school kitchens ...

... well, this morning, it appears that some of the closures won't be happening after all?

Its tempting to bang on about the inconsistency of this particular 'decision-making trail', but actually, in one truly depressing way the whole process has been entirely consistent - none of it has EVER been near ANY Committee of the Council.

Indeed, if the good parents of Kirkliston Primary (and others!) hadn't kicked up such an effective fuss; then I don't doubt for a second this would all just have gone ahead regardless.

Well done them!

It has to be mentioned :-((

What can I say about that result in Crewe this morning ... not good :-(

You should never read 'too much' into one by-election result ... I remember doing just that during 1987-1992 when Labour won several spectacular by-election victories :-(

- but the result today in Crewe has to be set alongside the recent results in the English and Welsh local government elections; and the even more recent set of UK polling results, the latest of which was published on Tuesday.

Taken together, as I said above, it really is 'not good' :-((

But, just about the worst possible reaction would be for the Labour Party to turn inwards on itself ... just ask William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith or Michael Howard if they would recommend such a course of action?

No, some calm - after the storm of the last six-months - is now required ... and it may be just as well that Westminster's Whitsun Recess started yesterday ...

Secret Society

The whole issue of the cost and quality of school meals (or lack of them), which I've mentioned on several other occasions in earlier posts (going back as far as February this year), appears to be getting worse and worse by the minute ... it even features today on the main BBC Scotland website.

And, as if the subject-matter itself wasn't bad enough, I am still unable to find any clear reference to these cost-cutting measures in ANY paper that has gone before ANY Committee of the Council and/or find direct reference to it in ANY of the Budget Papers that were before the Council on 21st February?

It is absolutely typical of the 'secrecy' and 'lack-of-consultation' that is now epitomising this Lib/Nat Administration in Edinburgh ... I find it all (and I don't mean to demean the seriousness of the impact of these cuts) richly ironic, especially coming from Liberals who used to berate us daily - and I do not exaggerate - about our 'supposed' lack of openness and transparency during our last period of being in Administration from 2003-2007.

Well, what has subsequently happened from 2007-2008 makes previous regimes seem like paragons of democratic-virtue ... significant decisions, that will impact on the quality-of-life of literally thousands of people, are now simply being taken OUT of the democratic process.

It is an appalling state of affairs.

"Real-Time" revelation

Avid blog-readers will recall that back in June last year, I filled in one of those carbon-footprint calculators ... we didn't score too badly as a family unit - but I did subsequently switch to a green energy supplier (as I promised!), namely Good Energy.

I've still to upgrade the gas boiler to a condensing model ... just can't afford it at the moment, and the old boiler does appear to have a bit of life left in it yet. We will upgrade eventually - honest.

Anyhow, the purpose of the post is to let you know about a gadget that Good Energy had on offer for only £29.99 (not the £49.99 as per the eco-eye website) which I've installed in the flat today ... and I'm totally sold on it! In essence, its a "real-time" monitor of your electricity consumption, it was simple to install (only took minutes), and is a real revelation.

I've been wondering round the flat this evening trying a variety of electrical appliances (I know, short-term affliction of 'defeating-the-purpose') and watching the "real-time" consumption duly fluctuate. As a consequence:

• I have already ordered a 'hob-kettle' for the gas cooker, as the consumption of the electric kettle is shocking compared to almost any other daily appliance
• the last few (there aren't many) 'non' long-life light bulbs are getting replaced as soon as possible
• the video-recorder is being switched off every night (we've been switching off the TV for years, but not the VCR!)
• there will be a strict ban on leaving the fridge door open - there is a distinct surge in power consumption when you do this
• the washing machine use will definitely have to be rationalised
• and computer printers (we've got two I'm afraid) are certainly being switched off whenever not in use

All simple stuff I appreciate but actually SEEING IN REAL-TIME the effects of not doing these things is, I would contest, a real incentive to actually take concerted action. And there are bound to be other potential actions that I haven't yet had drawn to my notice by the monitor.

I'll get that £29.99 back within weeks - of that I'm certain - but the longer term consequences of having such a monitor in the flat will undoubtedly be pretty significant.

Why haven't I bought one of these before? - and there is surely a case that they are equally as important as smoke-alarms, which many Local Authorities are now fitting free of charge??


P.S. I am not on commission to Good Energy or eco-eye :-))

"War of Words"

Just for once, I don't think the Evening News have used too much artistic license when constructing a headline for this story in today's paper!

I've never read anything like it - okay, they are in different political Parties, but MacLaren and the Liberals are in COALITION with MacAskill's SNP within the City Chambers :-(

My views on all of this are clear, but I would have thought this now makes the Council's current position on "Wave 3" schools totally, totally unsustainable ... you can decide about the 'sustainability' of the politicians involved :-((

PASS or FAIL ?

There's no denying the self-congratulatory tone around from the SNP as they mark their first-year in power at Holyrood ...

... but, as principal Opposition Spokesperson on Education in Edinburgh's City Chambers - I feel duty-bound to highlight that none of the main school-based, education commitments from their May 2007 manifesto feature in the current round of propaganda?

Here's a reminder of what was promised (and I'm quoting):

1. "we will match the current school building programme brick for brick."
2. "we will reduce class sizes in Primary 1, 2 and 3 to eighteen pupils or less."
3. "we will increase the provision of free nursery education for 3 and 4 year olds by 50 per cent. That means increasing the entitlement from 400 hours a year to 600 hours a year".

... and a reminder of what is actually happening:

1. just have a look here, and follow some of the links therein. NOT ONE SINGLE NEW SCHOOL CONTRACT has been initiated by the SNP Government. With only 35 months to go before the May 2011 election, I just can't see how ONE SINGLE new school contract will be initiated, and then that school built and actually opened, within the lifetime of this Government?
2. just have a look at Page 27 of the Draft Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) between the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council here. Its abundantly clear that Edinburgh currently only has 13% of P1/2/3 classes under 20 children (never mind under 18!) and that £16million of Capital and a recurring £7.45million of revenue is required to deliver this pledge. None of that money is on offer, and I just can't see how its humanly possible for Edinburgh to have all P1/2/3 classes at 18 pupils or less by May 2011?
3. just have a look at Page 26 of the Draft SOA between the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council here. Its obvious that currently Edinburgh provides 475 annual hours of free Nursery education - well short of the promised 600. Yet there is no further funding on offer to enable that target to be met, and I just can't see how its feasible for Edinburgh to provide 600 annual hours of free Nursery education by May 2011?

So, how would any fair-minded person score the progress to date on these three main school-based, education commitments from the SNP May 2007 manifesto?

1. PASS / FAIL ?
2. PASS / FAIL ?
3. PASS / FAIL ?

I leave that for you to decide ... I know what I think about the whole SOA process and I also know, without a shadow-of-a-doubt, who will get the blame in late 2010/early 2011 when these national commitments aren't delivered - and they won't be.

Merchiston Community Council

Merchiston Community Council meeting this evening - 5 elected Councillors present! ... nothing to do with the free bubbly at the end of the meeting (to celebrate the launch of the Community Council's new website) of course ;-)

... actually, for a Merchiston Community Council meeting I thought the evening was generally lacking in any real rancour from the serried ranks - one noticeable (and pretty deplorable, as far as I'm concerned) departure from the generally constructive debate was the appallingly negative criticism being meted-out to Planning officers ("weak") and Transport officers ("ineffective"), in their complete absence, by a senior elected Councillor.

Totally unacceptable ... but, sadly, not totally unexpected from those who have spent years trying to take responsibility for nothing - problem is, their still doing it even after being in power for a full year :-(

... on a more positive note - the new website is excellent and currently has a very handsome chap, third-from-right on one of the front-page photographs :-))