I have cleared my desk at PEP, done what I can do at the Council and everything is ready for the summer holidays - hurray. We have booked an apartment in Puerto Banus, hired a car and when we're there hope to spend a couple of days in Cadiz. I have stocked up on books 'Atonement' being top of the list, and am taking the laptop to do some writing - so, along with the joy of preparing fresh local produce to eat and drinking the best rioja - my holiday is all planned. I can't wait.
While we're away my sister and two of her adult children are travelling from London to settle her son in as a Fresher at Edinburgh University and are using our house as their base. He has found a flat but I am warned to expect regular visits for feeding - I have drawn the line at doing his laundry!
So that's it - no more blogs for a while: normal service resumes mid September
Friday, 31 August 2007
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Three coins in a fountain
On Friday the Labour Group is throwing a party: what, you might ask, have we got to celebrate after our electoral drubbing in May?
I have to say, that despite the defeat, the labour group is in pretty good heart. Take a look at the divided groups opposite us and you'll see what I mean. Jenny is plainly unable or unwilling to assert her will over the Liberals - to us, it looks like the backbenchers are running the show and their lack of experience shows.
The SNP? I mentioned elsewhere our view that Mr Cardownie isn't making all the running, except maybe running scared now Mr Tymkewycz has time on his hands.
The Tories? Even Iain Whyte looks like he might have his hands full with definite grumbling on show at last week's Council.
What do each of these groups have in common?
Lots of new members all eager to strut their stuff; to show they can't be taken for granted. Politics, you see, is a deadly competitive business and never more so, than when you're in power.
And Labour? Well we've four new councillors, all extremely capable, all been given recognition and a clearly understood agenda that we're going to be the most effective Opposition this Council has seen. We've been handed a couple of open goals lately but it won't always be so... meanwhile we do have a job to do to lay out our stall and we aim to do that too.
So, the party is for fun, a get-together - the theme is 'Roman Holiday' and though, sadly I'm no Audrey Hepburn, and even more sadly there will be no Gregory Peck, we'll enjoy the company, the vino rosso and the pasta and we'll even have a Trevi Fountain to throw our coins into and who knows who'll be wishing for what...
I have to say, that despite the defeat, the labour group is in pretty good heart. Take a look at the divided groups opposite us and you'll see what I mean. Jenny is plainly unable or unwilling to assert her will over the Liberals - to us, it looks like the backbenchers are running the show and their lack of experience shows.
The SNP? I mentioned elsewhere our view that Mr Cardownie isn't making all the running, except maybe running scared now Mr Tymkewycz has time on his hands.
The Tories? Even Iain Whyte looks like he might have his hands full with definite grumbling on show at last week's Council.
What do each of these groups have in common?
Lots of new members all eager to strut their stuff; to show they can't be taken for granted. Politics, you see, is a deadly competitive business and never more so, than when you're in power.
And Labour? Well we've four new councillors, all extremely capable, all been given recognition and a clearly understood agenda that we're going to be the most effective Opposition this Council has seen. We've been handed a couple of open goals lately but it won't always be so... meanwhile we do have a job to do to lay out our stall and we aim to do that too.
So, the party is for fun, a get-together - the theme is 'Roman Holiday' and though, sadly I'm no Audrey Hepburn, and even more sadly there will be no Gregory Peck, we'll enjoy the company, the vino rosso and the pasta and we'll even have a Trevi Fountain to throw our coins into and who knows who'll be wishing for what...
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
How to make a hash of it
The first education committee went off pretty much as expected today... though the schools reorganisation programme should now be renamed 'How To Make A Hash Of It.' Today we had the astonishing admission that for some community centres & nurseries in the first round, their promised public consultation would be heard after they'd made their case to the committee: effectively, the committee would have decided their fate before they'd been consulted. You really couldn't make this up.
In fairness to the convenor, as soon as she understood the size of the cock up she backtracked and agreed to change the process but the expression all her colleagues wore told its own story...glum, dejected...wondering how they got into this hell. Not a promising start for the new director or the new convenor.
Oh...and one more thing...at last we wrung an admission out from the Coalition that Labour had no hit list of schools...a glimpse of truth in what so far, has been a defensive, shrill attack by Marilyne.
Elsewhere, a good public meeting last night about the Access Road in West Pilton with unanimity among elected representatives, the community and the land developers that the road should be kept permanently open...now let's see if 4 councillors are better than 1 in persuading city transport & TIE to change their mind.
5 days and counting then I'm away for my summer holiday...yippee!
In fairness to the convenor, as soon as she understood the size of the cock up she backtracked and agreed to change the process but the expression all her colleagues wore told its own story...glum, dejected...wondering how they got into this hell. Not a promising start for the new director or the new convenor.
Oh...and one more thing...at last we wrung an admission out from the Coalition that Labour had no hit list of schools...a glimpse of truth in what so far, has been a defensive, shrill attack by Marilyne.
Elsewhere, a good public meeting last night about the Access Road in West Pilton with unanimity among elected representatives, the community and the land developers that the road should be kept permanently open...now let's see if 4 councillors are better than 1 in persuading city transport & TIE to change their mind.
5 days and counting then I'm away for my summer holiday...yippee!
Monday, 27 August 2007
A humble u-turn & an honesty box
I see the Lib/Dem/SNP Coalition has performed a humble budget u-turn already: surpise, suprise...it's to do with councillors' soup and sandwiches. You remember the headlines about scrapping free lunch time facilities for elected members? Well an email went round at the weekend to tell us they're being re-instated at a cost of £1 (roll only) or £1.50 (roll & soup) ...'collection will be by way of an honesty box'.
Now I seldom eat lunch at the Chambers (nearly always down PEP way) but even if I did I wouldn't be too happy with this arrangement. It's all very well trusting us to pay, but councillors who eat lunch while on Council business are expected to produce receipts and claim the cash back. So this arrangement neatly bypasses the established system - another example of the Coalition making it up as they go. Maybe we could have an honesty box for collecting our Council tax too - now that would really be a first!
Now I seldom eat lunch at the Chambers (nearly always down PEP way) but even if I did I wouldn't be too happy with this arrangement. It's all very well trusting us to pay, but councillors who eat lunch while on Council business are expected to produce receipts and claim the cash back. So this arrangement neatly bypasses the established system - another example of the Coalition making it up as they go. Maybe we could have an honesty box for collecting our Council tax too - now that would really be a first!
Sunday, 26 August 2007
It takes time
The horrible murder of Rhys Jones has shocked the UK.
Here in Granton, guns are not a new phenomenon. I can think of at least 4 incidents in the last 18 months where whole neighbourhoods have been locked down as armed police swarm tenements looking for guns used in local incidents. Everbody, including the police, knew who was responsible; everybody, except the police, was afraid to 'grass' in case they ended up looking down the wrong end of a barrel.
I completely understand local people's fear and I also understand that until someone is prepared to screw up the courage then the hoodlums will prevail. Until you have lived with that kind of fear it is difficult to be judgemental.
Once, for a while I was caught up in the middle of two gangs, fighting it out for supremacy in the area. It was insidious, vicious stuff. The gangs were powerful local families with strong roots in the area, both with a large power base and with many neighbours who regarded them as friends. One would come to make a complaint about the other; then vice versa - meanwhile fearful constituents daily reported anti- social, criminal incidents involving both. Local housing policy was being used as a weapon by the gangs - each trying to get the other out.
They were clever in other ways too- legitimate local concerns about lack of youth provision or the need for new community facilities were an excuse for rowdy, oppressive public meetings, feeding local people's fear that the authorities were not in control, aggrandising their own power. I became a target - one night my car was stoned and I was nearly driven off the road. I don't mind telling you I was terrified. After that, our house was wired with a panic alarm and camera for months- [one morning our dog accidentally set off the panic alarm...within minutes six police officers were banging on the door...reassuringly!]... I was not unique in any way though...
Eventually they imploded and their gun violence led to arrests with one or two being jailed. Of course, they will, in time, return since their families still live here. It remains to be seen whether their return will mean an upsurge in the same behaviour or whether they have changed. I hope so.
Two women, in particular, stick in my mind as having shown the kind of courage needed - one was relocated out of Edinburgh to a safe house, the other sadly died of a long standing illness. Both made a moral stand that eventually helped bring their community back to some kind of normality.
I don't know the circumstances behind the gangs in Liverpool which have led to this tragic murder. I do know, though, that it will take guts on the part of many ordinary people to help make the community safe again. Knee jerk policy won't work: it takes time to build confidence in the authorities; time to show people there is a different way - it takes time to defeat badness.
Here in Granton, guns are not a new phenomenon. I can think of at least 4 incidents in the last 18 months where whole neighbourhoods have been locked down as armed police swarm tenements looking for guns used in local incidents. Everbody, including the police, knew who was responsible; everybody, except the police, was afraid to 'grass' in case they ended up looking down the wrong end of a barrel.
I completely understand local people's fear and I also understand that until someone is prepared to screw up the courage then the hoodlums will prevail. Until you have lived with that kind of fear it is difficult to be judgemental.
Once, for a while I was caught up in the middle of two gangs, fighting it out for supremacy in the area. It was insidious, vicious stuff. The gangs were powerful local families with strong roots in the area, both with a large power base and with many neighbours who regarded them as friends. One would come to make a complaint about the other; then vice versa - meanwhile fearful constituents daily reported anti- social, criminal incidents involving both. Local housing policy was being used as a weapon by the gangs - each trying to get the other out.
They were clever in other ways too- legitimate local concerns about lack of youth provision or the need for new community facilities were an excuse for rowdy, oppressive public meetings, feeding local people's fear that the authorities were not in control, aggrandising their own power. I became a target - one night my car was stoned and I was nearly driven off the road. I don't mind telling you I was terrified. After that, our house was wired with a panic alarm and camera for months- [one morning our dog accidentally set off the panic alarm...within minutes six police officers were banging on the door...reassuringly!]... I was not unique in any way though...
Eventually they imploded and their gun violence led to arrests with one or two being jailed. Of course, they will, in time, return since their families still live here. It remains to be seen whether their return will mean an upsurge in the same behaviour or whether they have changed. I hope so.
Two women, in particular, stick in my mind as having shown the kind of courage needed - one was relocated out of Edinburgh to a safe house, the other sadly died of a long standing illness. Both made a moral stand that eventually helped bring their community back to some kind of normality.
I don't know the circumstances behind the gangs in Liverpool which have led to this tragic murder. I do know, though, that it will take guts on the part of many ordinary people to help make the community safe again. Knee jerk policy won't work: it takes time to build confidence in the authorities; time to show people there is a different way - it takes time to defeat badness.
Saturday, 25 August 2007
5 taxi drivers, 4 ministers and 3 policemen
The weekend- thank the Lord. No weddings, no family demands, no constituency obligations - just 48 hours to do as I please. Inevitably it will involve a fit of cleaning - it's either boom or bust chez Maginnis and it's been a while since the furniture has seen a duster or the floors a mop. Husband off to watch the Hibs with elder son and eldest granddaughter and I'm taking my old mum to the pictures - 'Knocked Up' ...nothing too challenging, hopefully funny....
Then tomorrow, the garden: the weeds are springing up again; the forecast is good and I enjoy gardening if I can get some time at it. For a moment I can pretend I have Nature at my mercy.
I wonder at the nature of the new city council: reflect on the fact it at least 5 taxi drivers; 4 ministers; 3 policemen on it...I wonder what you could draw from that? Answers on a postcard please...
Then tomorrow, the garden: the weeds are springing up again; the forecast is good and I enjoy gardening if I can get some time at it. For a moment I can pretend I have Nature at my mercy.
I wonder at the nature of the new city council: reflect on the fact it at least 5 taxi drivers; 4 ministers; 3 policemen on it...I wonder what you could draw from that? Answers on a postcard please...
Friday, 24 August 2007
Political instinct and talking to people
Lots of email correspondence from parents and constituents worried about the consequences of the school closure programme. I hope they're not writing to Marilyne and expecting a quick response either. Today, several conversations with people who have written to the chair of Children & Families some weeks ago reveal they haven't yet received anything other than a holding response. Now I now she's been busy trying (unintentionally I'm sure) to bring all hell down on her head but she has a whole swathe of staff who can answer her letters for her...she only has to read and sign them. I suppose once you get in the habit of not wanting to hear opposing voices it becomes infectious.
I was interested yesterday to hear how often the Administration referred to the fact that the hit list was drawn up by experienced officers - now, I've no doubt the new head of children & families is experienced but she doesn't know Edinburgh...she's only been here a couple of minutes! Marilyne is meant to provide the political instinct and acuity: not much sign of that, I'm afraid. But you can't fault her for courage, though.
I was interested yesterday to hear how often the Administration referred to the fact that the hit list was drawn up by experienced officers - now, I've no doubt the new head of children & families is experienced but she doesn't know Edinburgh...she's only been here a couple of minutes! Marilyne is meant to provide the political instinct and acuity: not much sign of that, I'm afraid. But you can't fault her for courage, though.
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