Cuts and cold winds

In the end I didn't get to Drylaw Police Station since the Council meeting ran on till 8pm - not helped with 2 very long adjournments: I hear the council corridors are filled with chit chat about labour fillibustering which is the best displacement theory I've heard in a long time. Couldn't have been to do with the Coalition needing to make sure they had their numbers? Hhmm!

I'm told though, that it's a civilian officer who manages the desk at Drylaw and when s/he's not there the front office closes...doesn't seem that clever and certainly isn't putting the public first - have emailed Iain Whyte for his comments so I'll wait for his answer.

The Council meeting went well - I thought Andrew Burns made a great speech on the budget which demolished all the evidence of a budget crisis and pointedly demonstrated the Coalition's entirely disproportionate response to the problem. Also, I was puzzled by Gordon Mackenzie's summing up: he said, and I quote since I scribbled it down, 'any education savings by the these cuts will be ringfenced for education and reinvested in education...' if he really means that then there are no savings, only a decision to redistribute money differently round the service...which exposes as a joke, Marilyne's drama that she is being forced to make 'brutal school closures because of Labour's financial mismanagement.' Somebody's got it wrong... and it ain't me.

I wonder what Stevie's merry SNP band think now...I can't imagine many will be delighted at going back to their branches and saying, 'Oh aye...and I stood up and voted with the liberals and the tories for £10 million of cuts which are going to close community centres and schools as well as hurt the most vulnerable bairns in the city..' I'd like to be the fly on that particular wall, I really would.

Already got wind of the first anti-cuts campaign in North Edinburgh...the local community education team are to be moved out the Prentice Centre to save the department £4,500... only they rent their offices from the local management committee who don't get enough grant from C + F...so they rely on that £4,500 rent to run their programme...so it's a cut to the local people...plus we're speaking about the Pakeeza Asian Women's Group; the local parent's group and the local arts group (none of whom get any direct grant from C+F but whose groups are subsidised as part of the rent) - being turfed out too - I can feel a cold draught called reality check coming on ....

All gone home

Don't know about you but when I pulled the cutains back at 6am I nearly screamed - more rain...enough to send you back to bed...if only!

Last night was my first visit to the Muirhouse Community Council: no different (except for the personnel) from the other community councils in terms of their concerns and their commitment to their local area. One very interesting fact emerged...something I have never heard of before...two community councillors reported having visited Drylaw Police Station (on Friday afternoon and Saturday lunchtime) to find it closed - shut to the public - 'all gone home' signs up on the door (I'm joking about that last bit). One councillor used the phone to contact Bilston call centre and was told the desk officer was ill and had gone home, then all the officers were drafted in for the Royal Highland Show, then later told the desk officer was away for lunch...strange old world when the 24/7 police station is closed to the public it's meant to serve and then can't even get the story straight as to why...all 3 councillors there were pretty annoyed and it will be collectively taken up on Thursday when we meet at Drylaw Police Station - hope we can get in!

new faces and an outside independent view

First neighbourhood partnership this morning - all the usual suspects there and all the usual angst. The chair spent a lot of time telling us how much she wants action: I'm afraid today it was, as usual, more talk than action. Despite some new faces the group dynamic felt very familiar. Two hours was long enough for me.

Then on to the Labour Group meeting to consider the Council agenda - a very long agenda. A couple of items should provoke discussion and debate. Perhaps most noteworthy was the brevity of the Leader's report: looks like nothing really has been happening after all! Then reams on council restructuring - the public will find that riveting - not! And of course, the budget projected overspend...I can hear the debate already and can hardly wait.

Some interesting local issues though. The future of Muirhouse Shopping Centre features high on my action list at the moment. The four Forth councillors were invited to a meeting recently to hear Credential's plans for its redevelopment. Much hinges on the decision of the Health Board as to where it intends to locate a new community health facility - if they can be persuaded to opt for the Shopping Centre then it would make a significant contribution to the regeneration of an otherwise grotty blackspot: I have met with several officials involved in the planning and am coming to the view that the health facility located at the shopping centre represents a good multi - windfall opportunity. Later this week I meet with community representatives to ascertain their view and will decide my next steps thereafter.

Been a busy time at PEP too. The run up to the Trades Fortnight is always particularly pressing - and last week was manic: our AGM; various staffing issues; small crises; and preparing for a review by Capital City Partnership into our contribution to community regeneration outcomes: apparently they intend to review all CRF funded projects in Craigmillar and North Edinburgh. A big job and I suppose I do wonder how well it can be done given its scope. However, I look forward to it. There is always something to learn from an outside, independent view.

problems, problems...

Thursday's scrutiny panel meeting was my first opportunity to watch many new councillors in action. Plainly no-one made sufficient impression since I remember none of their names. It is early days though and for a politician I am singularly bad at remembering who people are. [I have tried many strategies to rectify this weakness but all have failed. Unsurprisingly I always remember who bored me rigid - to avoid them in the future - and who impressed me, so I know to look out for them again] It was also very difficult to tell which Party each fellow (since they were all male) represented. They all dressed the same (sober suit & tie) and the few who spoke asked the kind of perfectly ordinary questions that would occur to any reasonable man on the street. The only thing of note was Gordon Mckenzie's observations on the budget difficulties he faces. Senior officials have plainly filled his head (and the Coalition's) with the usual tales of woe and doom predicting financial ruin. During 21 years of Administration there was never a year when the directors rubbed their hands and said with a smile, ' I am happy to report everything in the garden is rosy...there are no financial worries...' It is their mission in life to keep politicans under control, to keep a lid on political ambition and the best way to do this is to forecast disaster. Of course, there are big challenges: child protection, equal pay etc. and Labour will get the blame, no doubt. However, there is always a solution and Labour knows where it is. It will be a test of the Coalition's mettle as to whether they find it. I didn't stay long after Gordon's contribution...proceedings were dull.
It made me wonder how I am going to cope with four more years of the same tedium!

Mr Blair's last weekend as Prime Minister. It is too early to pronounce on his contribution yet, as usual, many have shown no restraint. If anything, I feel rather sorry for him. Such shiny new hopes in 1997. I will never, ever forget how it felt that post election day: the sun shone brightly, car horns tooting just for the sheer hell of it; a feeling of euphoria and not a Tory MP in Scotland - all celebrated with bacon butties and champagne in Craigmillar. The grandest day in my political life. Then, last week, watching Martin McGuiness, Ian Paisley and Alex Salmond toasting their own political success. All men, who in 1997 were on the extreme nationalist margins - now central to regional power, knocking down the door of the British state: surely Blair never intended this? And what about people like me? people who have never in their life supported nationalist politicians or doctrines? I suppose some may say this is the success of democracy - extremist positions moderated to the point they become mainstream. Others though, will wonder whether devolution won't turn out to be Blair's and Labour's biggest mistake.

Gamekeeper turned poacher?

Today's news of an intended school closure programme to be driven forward by Marilyne fills me with anticipation. She spent a decade opposing me on every, single school I tried to close: how I look forward to repaying her the compliment...there will be more, much more on this...a case of gamekeeper turned poacher...it will be delicious. Poor woman, she has NO idea what is about to hit her...hostile public meetings, pusillanimous colleagues, angry, emotional parents, everybody dancing on the point of a thousand needles...and the decision hers and hers alone. Marilyne has courage: she will need it all and then - when the dust is settled - she will get precious little thanks for it. Believe me, I know.

Shooting the fox

Billy's party went well - some very droll speeches and the opportunity to connect with many people I haven't seen in a long time. Billy was emotional, to be expected from a man who wears his heart on his sleeve, but plainly appreciated the event. Best speech of the night went to David Pickering ex- Regional councillor, current journalist for the NEN and the best Elvis impersonator I know. He caught Billy's sense of mischief and occasional high wire behaviour exactly: Billy was in trouble for taking a swing at the Group Leader and he asked David to be his representative at the ensuing disciplinary hearing. The decision was to suspend the Whip for a couple of months, effectively to temporarily bar him from the Labour party. Later, both comrades went in search of a pint to reflect on the hearing and its outcome and David suggested the usual watering hole, Jinglin' Geordies. 'Cannae mate,' replied an embarassed Fitzpatrick, 'Ah've been barred from there too!'

Today I have been asked by email whether Jenny Dawe intends to release a Leader's report in
the way that both Donald & Ewan did. I could not answer since there is only silence from the corridors of power except to tell us what they don't like. I know Ewan intends to distribute a 'leader of the opposition' report - at least, people will know the council still exists. In truth, there is currently little reason to travel to the City Chambers: except for meetings with officers to discuss local matters or to catch up on gossip with colleagues there is a strong sense of hiatus. This week I attend the Scrutiny Panel so one may get a sense of action there...we'll see. And then, next week, the final council meeting before the summer break...it could be a long summer.

More interesting is today's report in SoS that the Conservatives may be thinking about supporting an independence referendum though it is clear Annabel Goldie is still resistant. I understand the argument of 'shooting the fox' but I have my doubts about the merit of the strategy. The SNP government is untried, untested: it has been relatively easy for them so far. Opposition has been at sixes and sevens and from what I have read there has always been a large, unspent surplus in Scottish executive budgets which makes current policy largesse simple to achieve. I think I would prefer to test their mettle in difficult, testing situations first. Moving early towards a referendum sends the whole of Scottish politics down a a cul de sac and puts all the other 'real life' stuff completely on the backburner: not to mention what is would do to Gordon Brown's first year as premier. All the big international ambitions for Africa and presumably withdrawal from Iraq completely overshadowed by a wrestling match in his own backyard. How to shrink the vision in one easy move. ..and because the Tories are a spent force in Scotland they can afford to play such politics.

Stag nights and thistledown

My brother-in-law is to marry in August and this weekend is his stag 'do'. Thirteen middle-aged men and three twentysomethings head off to Dublin for a male bonding event which will inevitably involve many pints of Guiness, 'team' tee-shirts and some very weird pranks which involve dressing up as leprechauns and deep sea drivers [don't ask me, I'm only one very bemused observor]. Male rituals are strange affairs...

I, on the other hand, am off to a wee party for Billy Fitzpatrick which is the local community centre's way of saying thank you for 23 years service. It is a kind thought and I know he will appreciate it. He continues his search for work and is bored without council activities. We spoke recently and I enjoyed his description of his first job interview in decades...a role play on how to deal with awkward situations...there isn't much Billy doesn't know about awkward situations and he should have done well.

I also enjoyed reading page three in tonight's Evening News - a page filler about Eric's office (which is splendid) and also clear evidence that in the absence of anything serious from the council more of this kind of fluff is bound to come out. It is gossiped the new coalition does not intend any significant policy pronouncement till August which is a too-long hiatus by which time the Edinburgh public will be even more bored with us than they already are. It is a dismal prospect: an SNP parliament will inevitably cream most political coverage so the local council has to work even harder to register its place in the public consciousness. Even if it isn't a labour council making the news, somebody should be. All this ephemera about Joe Public and rooms is thistledown.

Parks and roads - the stuff of local government

On Monday evening I attended albeit briefly a meeting of the Trinity Community Council - I could not stay long since I was expected at a public meeting in West Pilton - but it was interesting. A presentation about the new park proposed for West Harbour. It is big with lots of good ideas planned for its use - glaringly, though, and spotted by one eagle-eyed observor - few, if any, dedicated facilities for young people. The park will be owned and operated by Forth Ports: am I being cynical when I wonder if they are planning out potential problem age groups for the future?

On to West Pilton - a rather busier meeting about the Access Road connecting Ferry Road and the Waterfront. Residents are concerned that if they do not have a connecting road off the Access Road into the West Pilton estates then their traffic problems along patently unsuitable narrow roads increase. The issue seems to be the tram and an argument - as yet unsubstantiated with actual figures - that the junction to create such an access would lie on the proposed tram line and would have negative knock on costs. I am inclined to support the residents on this one but need to see the figures - the residents, like me, do not want this issue to become a hostage to fortune in the larger debate about the need for connectivity.

The work goes on

I am snatching a few moments after spending 90 minutes going though various correspondence with my secretary, Vivienne. She tells me she has a third councillor to support now. I know that notionally we should still be doing the same amount of constituency work but in truth the load appears to have quadrupled. If also true for others, then it seems unlikely current support will be enough. Every evening I spend at least an hour at home answering emails so add that to the office based stuff and the correspondence is immense. I fear I will buckle - secretarial support is essential to maintain the flow of information. I think there will be more to be said on this matter.

Today, I heard something that, if true, is beyond belief. Apparently neither the liberals, SNP nor the Tories have appointed an Equalities Spokesperson - I am going to check this out...the matter of maintaining a focus on equalities in day to day business is an essential matter of political consideration in a civilised society. If true, this is unbelievable!

Sunny Scotland and pavlovian dogs

It's been a good weekend so far.
On Friday the Labour group met to look in detail at the election results - it was interesting to see what professional sephologists made of it - and the information will guide our strategy over the next four years and beyond. I am struck by how united the Group is: small differences in opinion over detail but in the big things, thinking as one.

On Friday evening off to the cinema to see Ocean's 13 which was, I concede, pretty disappointing but bearable, if only because of Al Pacino who can make even the most superficial of characters seem complex. Then Saturday several hours wrestling with Mother Nature in the garden taming the havoc of several weeks of neglect, a good meeting with a local group who have some ambitious plans I hope to help them with and a lovely evening meal al fresco - Scotland on Saturday evening was just as warm as the South of Spain.

Then this morning reading the newspapers do a mea culpa over their slavish swallowing of Alex Salmond's agenda and news spin re the Libyan prisoner. It is obvious, even to the meanest intelligence, that our new First Minister will take every opportunity to sustain an agenda of anti-London propaganda. A story a week. It is his political raison d'etre: to create a climate of mistrust in the hope it will make a referendum on separation successful. What kind of politician predicates his power on making his nation mistrustful of another? It suits the media to be his pavlovian dog since it gives them headlines - to mix the metaphors, one can only hope he cries wolf too often.

Andalucia and long hot days

Andalucia fulfilled all its promise. We first visited the small town of Nerja over 20 years ago and on our return last week we found it had grown to a middle-sized town. Thankfully it has avoided the Blackpool feel of so many of the costas. We enjoyed it. No handbag, though, but significant consolation in a string of fabulous pearls. I am lucky to be married to a man who understands the importance of such things!

During the long hot days I read three novels: Ian Rankin's latest Rebus -'The Naming of the Dead'. I am not ordinarily a fan of the detective novel but this had an interesting political take - and I liked the way he demonstrated how the powerful, the corrupt, the compromised and the idealist follow broadly similar paths whatever the size of the pool they swim in: the second in Conn Iggulden's trilogy on the life of Julius Caeser - 'Emperor, The Field of Swords' was an amazing study of brute force, subtle politicking, intrigue for advantage and how a man's moral compass shifts the wider his experience becomes: and finally Simon Scarrow's study of the parallel careers and motives of Napoleon Boneparte and Arthur Wellesley -'The Generals'. At their core, each novel explored how the ambitions and personality of only a few, affect and move the behaviour of the many - how nations and world events are shaped. Three lines from each made me smile, pause and think, respectively...'It's funny how well fed councillors always look,' [ouch!], 'while I hope for peace I prepare for war, ' and 'we must subordinate our temper to reason. The future of Europe [or whatever] depends upon it.'

I am home and the twin pressures of work and public life have already begun to crowd. It will be a long time before I have the luxury of time for leisure reading again.