2008 may see a repeat

Still not feeling too wonderful but have been able to get out to a couple of meetings...starved of human companionship, I was. The dog just doesn't do it for me.

First, good news on the local front with TIE at long last conceding they can allow vehicles to enter West Pilton from the Waterfront access road. The local community has won after a very long campaign (stretching back to the days of Billy Fitzpatrick) and it is a tribute to both the local communtiy council and its supporters as well as to the combined efforts of Cllrs Jackson, Morris and Maginnis. So a good start to 2008 for West Pilton.

Also, I understand that the Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre relocation is to go ahead (albeit perhaps slightly reduced) and that is good news too. I am pleased that the new Administration seems to be intent on keeping faith with Granton - at least with this proposal...no word on the planned school rebuild but we will wait and see.

Locally, voluntary organisations (PEP among them) are holding their collective breath for news on the funding front - this is a particularly difficult year with the future of the CRF monies under review, various other previously ringfenced funds now going into the melting pot and of course, the prospect of budget reductions - already given wide advance screening - in local authority grants. I must say that for North Edinburgh, whose infrastructure has been developed on the flexibility offered by the voluntary sector as opposed to the less creative statutory sector, the future looks decidely unpromising. I know of at least 4 local organisations who have already made people redundant or who are planning to do so and I suspect it is likely there will be more. What makes it harder is that nobody actually knows the situation until after the 21 st February (budget day) which makes advanced planning impossible as well as knocking momentum and morale completely askew.

I have worked in the voluntary sector for 6 years now and though I have previously coped with budget uncertainty (i.e. not knowing if there will be a cost of living rise etc.), I have never experienced this level of worry.

1996, as convenor of Education, was a difficult year when Tory budget cuts and local government reorganistion collided to create a similar crisis...and at that time many small organisations went to the wall ...I fear 2008 may see a repeat...