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?

ABM programme - who is in charge?

Alternative Business Models programme is up at Policy and Strategy Committee again tomorrow ... you can see the full report here.

Whole section of the report is on an 'independent' Gateway Review of the programme to date --- unfortunately, despite helpful briefings from Officers, we're not allowed to see the actual review material; and I understand that not even Administration Councillors have seen it?

Totally bizarre - we're heading towards the potential privatisation of a significant number of Council jobs and those politically in-charge haven't even read the full independent review of the programme that is driving us down that route??

Actually - I'll correct that last paragraph: those really in charge have read the documents :-(

Allotment potatoes

Managed a brief visit to the Allotment early this evening, to pick up some pretty impressive (if I don't mind saying so myself!) potatoes ...

... probably the best crop of tatties (overall, taking the three beds together) we've dug up in the near 3-years we've been lucky enough to have the plot :-)

Campaigning Saturday

Most of this morning/early afternoon spent campaigning across Edinburgh!

... early part of the morning in Ward 9 and later morning/early afternoon in Ward 16 in the final run-up to the by-election on Thursday 9th September.

Looking forward to a bit of respite come October?

Local Transport Forum

Local South West Neighbourhood Transport Forum this afternoon - refreshingly dominated by cycling issues!

... and most of the discussion was of a constructive and positive nature: must have been the impending bank-holiday (for some!) weekend that helped set the right tone :-)

Gathering saga

Good to see that the local paper picked up on the 'Gathering' report, which is going to next week's Policy and Strategy Meeting - main agenda here.

Whilst I am willing to accept the Council Leader didn't actually know about the one-payment that was made by the Local Authority, I do still think that serious questions need to be asked about how the Council got itself so embroiled in the failings of this project ...

... we'll still be sure to pursue certain avenues at next Tuesday's Committee Meeting.

Pakistan flood appeal

Edinburgh's Disaster Response Committee decided this afternoon - thanks to an earlier Conservative motion at the August Council Meeting - to review its position on the flood situation in Pakistan and to locally assist a separate appeal which will go towards the provision of clean drinking water ...

... it seemed a very sensible decision to me.

STOP - no scrutiny here please

Well - at Policy and Strategy (oops! - Finance and Resources) today the 'external consultants' report was approved :-(

... more depressingly was the approval of a the report at item 13, which was - in essence - the agreement that up to £20million (yes TWENTY MILLION POUNDS) could be spent on private contractors to cover for any ongoing refuse collection disruption?

Worse than the simple implications of this, the report was before us under Standing Order 63, which means that the contract had already been signed by the Convener of the Committee without any reference to the political process :-(

Now, I understand that Standing Order 63 sometimes has to be used - but this contract commenced on 19th July, so must have been signed in early July, and there is no reason that I can see why it wasn't brought before some Committee of the Council as the issue first flared up back in April - some 4-months ago?

Just about says all there is to say concerning this Administrations attitude to serious political scrutiny ... they would rather there was none :-((

Age of austerity?

Finance Committee tomorrow ... main agenda here and individual papers can be found via CPOL here.

There's a classic statement contained within report number 22, on the use of external consultants - paragraph 11 simply says:

"The report details consultancy costs in 2009/10. There are no financial implications arising directly from this report."

... yet two paragraphs above there's confirmation that over £5million was spent in 2009/10 on revenue and capital consultancy contracts?

Age of austerity??

Auchterarder weekend

Up to Auchterarder this afternoon for an overnight stay ...

... as is ever the case, my wayward brother forced me to drink far too much whisky than is helpful for one's good health.

Truly terrible time had by all ;-)

Ward 16 candidates finalised

Eight candidates now confirmed for the by-election up at Liberton/Gilmerton taking place on the 9th September:

• BROWN, MEV Independent
• COOK, BILL Scottish Labour Party Candidate
• FOX, COLIN Scottish Socialist Party
• HUNT, PHILIP Pirate Party Scotland
• KNOX, JOHN CHRISTOPHER Scottish Liberal Democrats
• LEWIS, RICHARD Scottish National Party (SNP)
• McCOLL, PETER Scottish Green Party
• MURRAY, STEPHANIE Scottish Conservative and Unionist

Further details here and here.

Meant to mention that this lampost picture was taken yesterday when we were canvassing in the Ward: I don't think that chap is the Lib-Dem candidate any longer?

One can only hope they have some Knox posters to cover this up soon??

... mind you - not certain even that will help their likely vote ;-)

Canvassing, apologies and toads

I knew I'd regret that prediction of a quick meeting :-(

... dragged on until 3.30pm, with several divisions that I didn't foresee. Anyone would think that the Lib-Dem/SNP Administration knew we were all due up at Liberton/
Gilmerton at 3pm?! Anyhow - we did get there for 4pm and Bill Cook still got a very good reception on the doors :-)

Being more charitable to my Lib-Dem colleagues' motives, I'm pleased to report that the Council Leader gave a verbal apology for the way the recent budget-briefing was released to the Press (and everyone else!) prior to the Opposition --- and I'm willing to take that apology at face-value and welcome the fact that she had the good grace to say sorry.

Laugh of the day though came when said Council Leader explained that the stone toad (I'm not kidding!) on the Committee Clerk's desk was a present given to the Capital (by Hull City Council) and that she would try not to look at the Councillor in the Chamber whom it most resembled ...

... as she sat down, I swear I saw her glance at her Deputy Leader ;-))

A new way of doing the budget?

Just not convinced this was exactly the form of participatory budgeting that I had in mind when I wrote my last post?

... it's not the content of these proposals - because, frankly, we haven't even seen that yet - it's the way it has all been announced, and is now going straight to the September Full Council where scrutiny will be lost in the political theatre of the Council Chamber.

No Committee involvement at all it seems ... unless I'm missing an obvious message here?

Very sadly, I think not :-(

Full Council week and budget looming

Full Council meeting this coming Thursday - main agenda is here, and the individual papers can be found on CPOL here.

I'll regret saying this, but doesn't look like anything hugely controversial in the 'New Business' section of the agenda so it could be quite a prompt meeting?

Nothing further in the Leaders Report, this month, about the upcoming budget-process ... I welcomed the hint in June's report (see section 2 on page 2 here) that this could all be about to change and hope that we may get a further verbal update on progress ...

... stating the obvious, this upcoming budget is not going to be easy and the more all the political parties can be involved, as well as - crucially - the public, the more chance of some consensus on the big decisions which are undoubtedly going to have to be made.

COOK No.1.

The Liberton/Gilmerton by-election is now featuring on the front page of the Council website ... all the details here!

Less than 4-weeks now until actual voting day on Thursday 9th September - and any Ward 16 blog-readers have until 5pm on Wednesday 25th August to request a postal vote; and 5pm on Wednesday 1st September to request a proxy vote - details here and relevant forms here.

... oh, and Labour's candidate is COOK and a number 1 next to his name would be my choice ;-))

Blogging-mania

One of my City Council colleagues has just started up a new blog - Ricky Henderson - and all the gory details can be viewed by going here ...

... I've also added a new link to my right-hand side-bar.

Yet another 'Edinburgh Labour' blogger - its just what you've been waiting for :-))

Restful Sunday ... not :-(

Sunday evening and the bloody hall is completely painted ... twelve and a half litres of silk emulsion for the walls and ceilings; and five litres of gloss for the various doors :-(

... unsurprisingly, I'm not too keen to see another paint brush (or pot of paint) for quite some time now!

It's definitely a case of getting back to work for a rest tomorrow :-)

Refuse stalemate continues ...

Local paper has picked up on the ballot-result of the ongoing work-to-rule by Council refuse workers - 84% rejection rate :-(

... I remain completely astounded that this dispute has now dragged on for over 14-months --- yes, that's right, one year and two months of working to rule!

I know it takes two to tango; but the fact this whole saga remains unresolved speaks volumes about the current Council Administration's priorities ... and one of them clearly isn't good industrial relations with their workforce :-((