Setting the Agenda

Meeting of the Pentlands Neighbourhood Partnership tonight at Currie High School. Normally a relatively productive meeting with no hidden agendas or axes to be ground but I have to admit to being a bit disappointed that a couple of items that I had asked to be on the agenda have failed to appear. After the tragic death of a cyclist recently on the Lanark Road I had suggested that this should be discussed by the NP with a view to reviewing road safety measures on the Lanark Road, if necessary. I also asked for the "10 acre site" at Wester Hailes to be on the agenda so that we can learn what progress has been made regarding development of the site after Prospect Housing Association reluctantly decided to withdraw from the project at the end of last year. I don't want to be a pain or throw my toys out of the pram but these are important issues and if Neighbourhood Partnerships want to be seen as relevant they need to discuss topical local issues not just subject members to death by power point every 6-8 weeks. There's also the small matter of the additional £3m to be spent on "road repairs" throughout the city. There's still no information on how this is to be allocated and I would have thought that NPs would want to have an input. Or am I just getting grumpy in my old age ????......

Full House ?

Last night saw visits to Wester Hailes and Juniper Green Community Councils, two adjacent, but completely different communities. Strangely, last night they were discussing a common issue, housing. Wester Hailes is coming to terms with the withdrawl of Prospect Housing Association from a development at the "10 acre site" partly due to reduced housing grant money available from the Scottish Government. It means that much needed affordable housing could be denied to an area that badly needs it. There is some talk of alternative developers being interested but possibly with an inferior design. We need more information on this and it will be pursued.

Then up to  Juniper Green for a brief presentation by Taylor Wimpey on why they think the Green Belt should be breached to build houses on the field at Muir Wood Road. I wonder if they've thought about building at Wester Hailes ...? Probably not.

Talking of which, some new council housing has been built in the south of the city, unfortunately not enough and certainly not enough to make an impact on the 3000 homes that have been lost in the last 5 years.

Labour's Cammy Day explains in more detail on the rather excellent Edinburgh Labour website.

Ratho

Surgeries were relatively quiet last night and managed to get to Ratho Community Council which covered a wide variety of issues including the soon to be ex 48 bus service. Some discussion about possible timetable problems but generally a sense of resignation. Its frustrating when people feel unable to influence the decisions that affect them most and sure enough the Council report outlining the changes to this and other services was duly noted by the Council's Transport Committee today although Lesley Hinds the Labour spokesperson did manage to get cross party agreement for making representations to the Transport minister. Was also reminded last night to check the Ratho Community Counsil website for news of what's happening locally and its really good.

Spent most of tonight phoning complete strangers asking them which way they will vote on 3rd May. Really, its no way for a grown man to spend his time ......

Doorknocking in Currie (2)

Another productive session in Currie today, more on the eastern side of Currie this time. Many thanks to the activists who turned up to help and local people who took time to talk on the doorstep. Conditions much better as can be seen from the photo of Nether Currie Place. More chance of sun stroke today than frost bite. The huskies have had to take early retirement.

Doorknocking in Currie

Productive door knocking session in Currie this morning. Okay, conditions weren't ideal as can been seen from the photo, but my campaign team aren't the type of people to be put off by a snowflake or two. And, you know, when you tell people in the city centre that the weather can be a bit more severe in the Pentland Hills ward they often scoff. Can you believe that ??? Out again tomorrow after the huskies have had a good rest.

WEGARAH

Currie Community Council last night, mostly dominated by ongoing planning issues. Tonight is the latest meeting of  WEGARAH, the West Edinburgh Group Against Racial Attack and Harassment, a joint community / multi-agency working group looking at issues around racist incidents in the area and how our colleagues in the Police, Council etc deal with reports and offer support to victims. Usually a pretty constructive forum although one is always left wrestling with the dilemma of - do more incidents reported to the police indicate an increasing problem or more confidence in the authorities to deal effectively with reports ? And vice-versa, less reports = less of a problem or reduced faith by the community, so fewer incidents reported ? Personally, I prefer the former. 

Will do my best not to let my mind wander to Perth where Hearts still have a slim chance of maintaining an interest in the next stage of the Scottish Cup.

Horny handed son of the soil - Not

Balerno Farmers Market yesterday. Managed to pop into the Grey Horse for a chat with Paul on a couple of local issues. Some good ideas that need to be explored further. Also collected the two apple trees that I had ordered in December. They're dwarf varieties which means they'll hopefully be suitable for our rather small garden. Following the advice that they should be planted as soon as possible I set about the task with the enthusiasm of an amateur that didn't have a clue what he was doing and obviously had no idea what a back breaking task lay ahead ! Anyway, they're in the ground now and will be carefully watched over the next few weeks and months for signs of growth. Anyone know any good recipes for home made cider ?

Should finally get round to some door knocking in Currie today. 

Post Budget Day Blues

Its always the same. You build yourself up for the big event, put in the time, the energy, late hours revising and re-revising your plans, poring over endless sheets of figures. Then the day arrives, you've got butterflies in your stomach, sweaty palms. The sense of anticipation builds, the nerves jangle. How will it go ? How will I perform ? Will I convince others of the merits of my argument ? And what happens ? Yep, you've guessed it....... The Great Budget Debate (pantomime) goes exactly as predicted with votes cast along party lines. Political theatre ? Certainly. Great drama ? Not really. You had to be in Glasgow for that, apparently. Oh well, that's the budget over for another year although we were happy with our proposals, as referenced in other posts, and how they linked to the Manifesto so expect to see some of the ideas resurfacing over the next few weeks.

Edinburgh East Labour Party Quiz tonight. I'm taking my Dunce's cap just to be on the safe side.

Budget Plans Published

Council budget for the next financial year is set on Thursday. Its always a tortuous process with numerous reports issued by Council Directors either bidding for additional resources or highlighting pressures that can't be contained and a drip feed of information through which a budget picture, of sorts, emerges. And it all culminates with the biggest set piece debate of the Council year with political groups moving their own amendments and the SNP/LibDem coalition pushing through their proposals on the strength of numbers. Not exactly an inclusive process. As with previous years the Labour Group have been the first and only political group to have published our proposals well in advance and offer them for scrutiny and comment. Best place to get the details is on Andrew Burns "Really Bad Blog" .

By the way, this morning's weigh-in produced a return of 12st 12lb. Still moving in the right direction, but its a bloody hard slog ! Pass me another carrot.

National Decisions - Local Impact

Fare increase to £1.40 single, £3.40 day ticket

Very disappointing to start the first post of the month on a negative note but as reported today by the Evening News Lothian Buses are about to increase their fares due to a drop in passenger numbers and a "multi million pound reduction" in their grant from the Scottish Government. Hadn't realised until I read the story that this has also led to the withdrawal of the 48 bus which serves Ratho. It will be replaced by an amended 12 service but with a reduced frequency. Not good news and it just shows how decisions made in splendid isolation at a national level can have a very real impact on people at a local level. Transport Minister Keith Brown is quoted as saying changes to the Bus Services Operators Grant would encourage fuel economy and secure rural services. Is that right Keith ? I thought Ratho was a rural community and yet their service will reduce and be more expensive. I don't get it....

Budget Progress

Labour Group meeting tonight was productive. As well as dealing with the agenda for the full Council meeting on Thursday we also agreed the final draft budget amendment which we hope to publish in the next day or two in keeping with the open approach we have employed in the last 4 years. Pleased with the STV.local piece on their website today "what-would-labour-do" re our budget plans.

100 days and a' that

Well, actually, it was 100 days to the elections on 3rd May last Tuesday, but I've been too busy to blog and its such a significant milestone that it can't be ignored. This week has been helluva busy so today's post is more like a potted tour of my diary.

Last Saturday's envelope stuffing session went well, followed by the Edinburgh South West Labour Party Burns Supper, Excellent contributions from Alistair Darling (wee hint about a role in the indyref campaign ?), Sarah Boyack, Rachael Reeves, Lewis MacDoanld and Johann Lamont.

Monday - Usual run of Monday meetings plus the cross party group on Property Services. What a mess.


Tuesday - attended the presentation by developers on their plans for two retail outlets in Currie, on the Lanark Road. Looked pretty good actually although there are some questions about their car park arrangements that will need to be addressed. Then spoke to the Edinburgh Labour Local Govt Cttee about the election campaign and budget preparations.


Wednesday - trip to Bathgate on union business, followed by Regulatory Cttee (taxi licenses) followed by Juniper Green Community Council who supported my idea of forming a liaison committee to oversee the two development projects at the golf club and old primary school.


Thursday - Galashiels on union business, followed by the Council's Audit Cttee and then Currie High Parent Council.


Today - Juniper Green Farmers Market, bought some rapeseed oil for the first time, looking forward to cooking with it. Got some telephone canvassing to do then off to Bannermans to see Rab Howatt's Band.

ABM RIP

Yesterday's full Council meeting finally killed the Alternative Business Models (ABM) project with all the workstreams and associated jobs (about 4000) remaining "in house". The SNP group seconded our amendment, which was also supported by the Greens and one LibDem ! One other LibDem Councillor wasn't at the meeting and another, extremely senior member of the Administration, absented themselves from the chamber when the vote was being taken ! Very strange, and further proof, if it were needed, that their group is in complete disarray. While it was the right decision and a victory for common sense there is still a lot of hard work and challenges ahead with various Council services now commited to improvements and savings in the next few years. At least we can all work together to deliver the transformation.

Last night's South West Labour Party meeting was well attended and carried a motion calling for a single question referendum. Sensible way forward.

This weekend will maionly be spent stuffing envelopes and attending Burns Suppers. Its a wierd life sometimes. 

By the way, this week's weigh in returned just a whisker under 13st. Pass me another carrot....

Priorities



Strange discussion

Busy day of meetings today. Finance and Resources Committee this morning, Audit Cttee business meeting at 3pm, followed by a visit to the "Data Room" to study the background papers behind the ABM debate due to take place at Thursday's full Council and the usual pre Council Labour Group meeting tonight.

The most surreal experience of the day though has to be this morning's F&R Cttee. Having made a complete hash of what should have been a straight forward report regarding meetings arrangements with the Council's trades unions (as and when necessary I might have thought ?) the Convenor then ruled that it wasn't competent for the Committee to discuss the request for a report into how the Council should deal with companies who may have a track record of not fully complying with their Corporation Tax obligations. Not competent ? To call for a report on the matter ? However, we then went on to spend 20 minutes or so debating what message should be written inside the Council's Christmas card ; "Merry Christmas" or "Seasons Greetings". We abstained, in despair.

Job Done

That's it, 1000 calendars with my face on them inflicted on the poor folks of Currie and Balerno. Many thanks to the band of Labour activists who made it all possible. Very satisfying weekend's work.

No Rest For The Aged

Turned 50 on Friday. Wasn't the horrendous experience I had feared. Had a rather good day actually, finished off by going for a curry with the family. Talking of curry, was out in Currie yesterday delivering the first of a batch of 1000 calendars to local voters. 12 months, all with my coupon on ! Don't know what the good people of Currie have done to deserve that but could be an attractive addition to local dart boards ! That's me outside the bakers in Currie and I promise I didn't buy any pies, though I was sorely tempted. Hearts match was brilliant. 2-1 down and down to 10 men and finished up worthy 5-2 winners and a Rudi hat trick. Fantastic.

Back to Business

Ratho and Currie Community Councils last night. Managed to get to both and showed face at Balerno High Parent Council meeting, which wasn't actually on at all. Bit of a cock up on the diary front. Ratho CC had 3 presentations lined up, first of which was from the local NHS Community Health Partnership who are looking for new premises for the GP practice due to lack of space and an expanding list of patients, mainly due to new development in the village. Bit of a fudged compromise being proposed using space at the primary school in Ratho Station as a "satellite" surgery. More discussion required methinks.

Currie were most concerned about the telecoms mast proposed at the top of Bryce Road, which I've already opposed at Planning and will continue to oppose after their site visit, and the Curriehill school site as referenced in the post below.

The big weigh in this morning returned 13st 1lb. Not a bad start but still a long way to go....

Third Time Lucky ?

Just been informed that the latest attempt to develop the former Curriehill Primary School site has failed. Negotiations with a developer to build a supermarket on the site have been terminated and the site is to be re-advertised for sale. There were mixed feelings locally about the supermarket idea but consensus that the site needs to be developed and the current boarded up, dilapidated building is an eyesore and potential health hazard. This will be the third time the site has been marketed and leaving aside the local debate about what would be best for this location, what does it tell us about the wider state of the economy when first, a residential development is abandoned and then a supermarket proposal can't be delivered ? I've asked for more community consultation before a successful bidder is selected but we'll see if that actually happens. The LibDem/SNP Administration pushed through the last sale at the Finance & Resources Committee  against the wishes of the local community and local Councillors.

Tragedy on Lanark Road

Distressing news yesterday that a cyclist had been killed on the Lanark Road, as reported in the Scotsman . At this stage it looks to have been a tragic accident but I'm keen to hear from the Police once they've completed their investigation regarding any possible contributory factors. No comfort whatsoever to Andrew McNicol's family but I've asked for this to placed on the agenda for the next Pentlands Neighbourhood Partnership meeting so that we can consider any road safety improvements that may be possible. Could be of course that no such measures would have prevented this tragedy but I'm keen to look at all the options. Pleased to say the NP Manager responded immediately saying he has already instructed work to look at this location. More updates soon.

Paint This Place Maroon

Hogmanay in Prince's Street was excellent, good atmosphere and well managed. Edinburgh at its best. Caught Wild Beasts and Friendly Fires at the West End stage and Jade somebody from X Factor doing cover versions at the Mound stage.

Having kept a suitably low profile on the 1st, off to Easter Road for the New Year derby yesterday. Changed our arrangements at the last minute and met in the Brunswick bar, where we were joined for a pint by Irvine Welsh, well, not exactly joined, he was in other company, well it looked like Irvine Welsh anyway....

Game was the usual roller coaster of emotions but we came out on top, deservedly in my humble opinion, and went home happy. I'm not normally in favour of football players articulating their thoughts via sloganised tee shirts but given the recent problems experienced by Hearts players and the type of day Ian Black had, kicked up and down the park by various Hibs players (taking turns until they were booked) then missing a penalty but still going on to turn in one his best performances I think he was entitled to this brief right of reply.

As New Year's Resolutions go I know this isn't particularly revolutionary but I'm determined to lose a few pounds in the next 4 months, well actually 28, if possible, before the local elections on May 3rd. I weighed 13st 3lb this morning, which would be fine if I was 6ft 5in, but I'm not.

As added motivation I'll post regular updates on the blog and see if this helps to keep me on the straight and narrow.