A Disconcerting Alliance

As a young woman I believed politicians were elected on their promise of working for the good of their electorates.  How naive I must have been in those days.

Since last Thursday's local elections some strange coalitions have arisen from the wheeling and dealing behind closed doors. East Lothian Labour have decided the Tories are their best friends, (although they seem rather reluctant to admit it) and the good people of East Lothian will now be governed by a Labour/Tory coalition. Only time will tell how successful that arrangement will be but I would think the decision will not be cheerfully accepted by many voters of either party.

But, so far, the biggest shock to many must be the announcement that Labour and the SNP will form a coalition to run Edinburgh for the next five years.  Labour group leader Andrew Burns will become council leader with the SNP's Steve Cardownie - once a Labour man himself until he defected in 2005 - as his deputy.  Labour will also choose the Lord Provost.

I have yet to decide if this is a clever or foolish move by the SNP. Several of my Edinburgh friends are angry because they feel they have been betrayed.  How can the SNP get into bed with Labour when it was Labour who forced through the trams?  That appears to have been the major local issue because the years of disruption to the city has effected nearly everyone in some way.

On Newsnicht, Steve Cardownie insisted Labour and the SNP have much common ground on policies yet it was reported earlier that the SNP had initially made 'some fairly serious offers' to the Tories.

Will being in coalition with Labour help or hinder the SNP's chances for a yes vote in the referendum?  Only time will tell, but this decision in Edinburgh has me believing the politicians are far more interested in acquiring power than they are about representing their electorate.

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Time For Edinburgh To Stride The Forth

Tedious Trantrums post yesterday certainly created some unusual comments.  I do find that the decision of Edinburgh councillors to stop a hovercraft service between Fife and the central belt (in this case Edinburgh) is unfortunate - to say the least - for Edinburgh, Fife and Scotland.

The reason the councillors opposed it was the situation of the landing point near Scotland's capital was not appropriate; however TT ridiculed that argument in a sentence or two and quite rightly.

The discussion on the post was lively and TT came up with the idea above.

I wonder how much discussion the Forth Estuary Forum had with the councillors. For some years I had considerable contract with this organisation and they were intent upon the river being used responsibly by all. They would have been first inline to object to the river being used inappropriately.

How many people in Edinburgh are regretting giving their vote to specific councillors?  It seems Edinburgh, like many large cities, has councillors who manage to get elected by guile rather than substance. They seem hell bent upon destroying the capital rather than working for it. I won't mention trams.

If those who work in the City Chambers had any sense they would look at the above video and think it was time they renewed their contact with Brian Souter because he's the one who has the knowledge to make a hovercraft initiative a success.

But somehow I think they'll keep their ignorance and bias intact.

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It's A Lot Less Bovva With A Hovva

A post from Tedious Tantrums

They’ve done it again.

Who?

The councillors in Edinburgh. This time they have “vetoed” (are you impressed with the use of the most overused word in the past 24 hours word? How topical am I?) the planning application for the hovercraft service which would run between Kirkcaldy and Portobello. Apparently the plans were rejected due to the visual impact of the proposed ramp, noise and transport concerns.

If you are not familiar with the area where the ramp would be then here’s a quick heads up. It is down at Seafield, not far from the sewage plant, just along a bit from the Dog and Cat Home and the bus depot. Obviously this is a high amenity area (not). Notice also the cited transport concerns. The ramp isn’t far from the bus depot. The Lothian Buses bus depot. Where they park the buses at night and work on them. Where buses come and go all day long.

The service was trialed a couple of years ago. The deal was you could go down and get on for free I think and get a return trip. Millions of pensioners queued up to get on the hovercraft. The test worked fine.

It’s a no brainer. It’s a great idea, it would be an interesting thing to do and it would help commuters and reduce road congestion. It would also use the river which would be a very good thing.

It has draw backs however, or at least it has draw backs if you are an Edinburgh Councillor. The hovercraft apparently doesn’t need rails to run on. Therefore there is no requirement to dig up the Forth causing major traffic jams. No shops will close due to it’s non construction either.

Another aspect of unsuitability is of course cost. It’s likely to cost very little. If it’s cheap the other cities of the UK won’t be impressed so no point in doing it then.

Seriously, it’s now well overdue for someone to take Edinburgh Councillors aside and offer them an offer they can’t refuse. Basically they need to get their act together or they’ll be sent to Brighton.

Maybe they’d be too weird even for Brighton? There’s always Naples though. I feel sure we could find a suitable City for them to “improve”. Kabul? Tehran? Now they must need trams.

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Lighten Up Edinburgh!

The whole of Europe must know about the dismal Edinburgh tram project and the problems created by incompetent councillors and other officials. The streets of Edinburgh have been dug up for some years now and small businesses have closed by the dozen, yet the councillors have decided Edinburgh needs trams. It doesn't. It has a bus service which is second to none but will be shunted into the sidings if, or when, the tram line is completed.

There's something very wrong in the corridors of power of Edinburgh's City Chambers.  Those who purport to 'listen to the people' appear to be deaf and others seem to live in a fictional bubble.

It will be a few years until the streets are safe from roadworks if all goes to plan, yet the Burghers want to further reduce parking in a highly residential part of the Old Town. Even someone like me, who lived in Edinburgh only for a short time many years ago, knows the traffic chaos which will ensue from this new fantasy.  The Burghers detest cars and are determined to ensure none reach the city centre - with exceptions of course for the great and the good.

Also this week, rearing its head once again, is the proposal for a tourist tax. The idea is to tax hotel accommodation and the Burghers are excited with the estimate that it could raise up to £10m a year in this way.  Nowhere else in the UK is this tax implemented - mainly because it is blatant greed - but the green councillor thinks it's a wonderful idea because "it's unlikely to discourage visitors or affect the hotel trade."  I did mention a fictional bubble didn't I?

For some months now Jenners of Princes Street, the famous department store (shown in photograph), has been tastefully lit up.  But Edinburgh's main heritage watchdog, the Cockburn Association, isn't happy because Princes Street risks being 'tacky' if retailers are allowed to light up their buildings after dark without proper permission. I understand Primark has also illuminated their new building but can find no images of it.

This objection caused much laughter here. Edinburgh's streets have been  like bomb sites for years; walking up the Royal Mile allows visitors to see and hear varying levels of tackiness from certain retailers and Princes Street has been a pathetic shadow of its former self for the past 30 years, yet there is objection to retailers lighting up their premises. The necessary permission will include a hefty fee no doubt.

It's time the City Chambers was cleared out and people installed who understand the responsibilities and duties connected with governing a great city. Such responsibilities are not always about taxing businesses and people until they bleed or move to other parts of the country.

 Until then all I ask is -  lighten up Edinburgh.

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Buses, Trams and Gaels

A post by Tedious Tantrums.

We’re still in a fairly tricky financial position. The EU is teetering on the brink and it’s beginning to look like there is no way out. Not to worry though the last minute hard fought deal to save the Euro will be tomorrow night's news. Back slapping all around. 2 Trillion Euro fund to spend. Result! Oh goody!

In Edinburgh we have the trams. A billion pounds of light railway, falling well short of what it should have been whilst costing twice as much. The debt will have to be paid back by the council taxpayers. Oh goody!

Then we have the small question of the Edinburgh Gaelic School. Does this sound remotely familiar?

Exhibit 1.

“The Scottish Government decision to provide capital funding of £1.4m to cover the cost of the project as identified by the City of Edinburgh Council.  Recently however new estimates of £3.6m have emerged, putting a question mark over the development of the school.

Result! ”That’s only just over 2.5 times the original estimate. Shortfall in funding? No problem. Borrow it. Use council money to pay for it. Of course there is no council money there is only taxpayers money. Oh goody!

Strolling swiftly along there’s the small issue of the statutory notices issued by the Council for repairs to Edinburgh buildings.

Exhibit 2.

“The value of statutory notices issued by council surveyors has increased dramatically in recent years, from £9.2m in 2005 to more than £30m in 2010”.

Edinburgh Council surveyors arrange the work through approved (well approved may not be the correct word) contractors and recoup the cash from homeowners who are told what is to be done, who will do it and what it will cost. Oh goody!

Exhibit 3.

“Edinburgh Council, the local authority, receives 15% of the final bill.”

So this system, designed to preserve Edinburgh buildings is a cash cow providing £4.5m to the council. Oh goody!

One final thought about Edinburgh. Let’s think transport. No not trams again. No. Buses. Lothian Buses. The only municipal owned Bus Company in Scotland. They provide a very good service. Well they would since they have an almost complete monopoly. Will they cut services, which may mean that people will have to use the trams? Of course not. Edinburgh Council wouldn’t do that. No way. Never.

Those brave souls staying out in tents (well maybe not staying out) without running water (well only until they nip home for a shower etc,) who are demonstrating about the unfairness of capitalism? You know the same ones as are outside St Pauls? Well maybe they should take a long hard look at Edinburgh Council. Maybe they would see some financial practices which make their present targets look like saints. Oh goody.

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It Will Be Nice When It's Finished

A kind Australian has composed the above video to show Edinburghers what their city may just look like in around 5 to 10 years' time.  Possibly nearer 10.

Meanwhile, back on the tracks - should there be any visible - Audit Scotland has begun an official investigation into the Capital's tram project after claims that it has been financially mismanaged.  The report will be issued early next year following a request from Robert Black, the Auditor General for Scotland.

A spokeswoman for Audit Scotland said:

"The auditors of the City of Edinburgh Council and Transport Scotland have been monitoring the project and its associated risks as part of their ongoing audits. This report will draw on their findings. 

"It is expected to be an interim report which will draw on the progress of the project to date, governance arrangements and the kind of issues which will need to be managed as the project moves forward." 

What good will an interim report do?  It's been obvious to anyone with any sense that this project is a total mess.  Overspent, mismanaged and even worse there seems to be serious doubt that any tram will ever run beyond the city centre.

What is needed is an inquiry which can dig out those responsible for this fiasco, name them and ensure they are publicly accountable for their actions.

Deja vu anyone?

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What's Going On in Edinburgh?

What's happening in Edinburgh to make very popular bloggers deride Scotland? Edinburgh council are planning mandatory courses for bar staff to ensure they will never ask customers if they would like the 'same again' and are to be told to offer a glass of water instead.

The move has been introduced as part of the Licencing (Scotland) Act which comes into force next week and is aimed at tackling binge drinking.

I'm all for tackling binge drinking but I think this is about 39 steps too far. Who thought up this ridiculous idea? Not only does it insult professional bar staff, who will move to areas where they can demonstrate their skills, and most of their customers, it will reduce the number of people visiting pubs and they will be off to the supermarket to buy a 'cerry oot'. I know I'd certainly feel less than pleased if a pub asked me if I wanted a glass of water. I'd be wondering if I looked as if I was about to have the proverbial heart attack.

Let's stop this nonsense now. People who want to drink alcohol will drink it. I fully support the clampdown on supermarkets BOGOFs and also pricing on cheap alcoholic drinks, but to introduce a policy such as this is allowing the government/council to take over more of my freedom. That's not what I want in my country.

The better pubs and restaurants put bottled water on tables. The customer pays if the seal is broken. A far better idea would be to put jugs/containers of our lovely Scottish tap water on each table and change it when each customer leaves, at no cost to the customer of course. Let me say here that I always ask for tap water in restaurants as bottled water has a chemical taste to me.

There is quite a bit of hypocrisy going on here. We have the Scottish government doing their utmost (and shouting rather too loud now but that's another story) about Diegeo wishing to move their bottling plant yet we have Edinburgh council thinking they have the answer to our alcohol problem. They don't.

People really have to stand up and be counted about this as it is the thin edge of the wedge. Will Edinburgers protest?

Source: Scotsman

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Edinburgh Council Expenses Shock

Politicians in Edinburgh are at the centre of another expenses shock - the amount claimed by city councillors has actually gone down. Well done Edinburgh council.

In stark contrast to the claims at Westminster, the annual table reveals local politicians claimed £39,958 for travel, food and other expenses in 2008-09 - nearly half the total of 3 years ago.  The fall in expenses has been credited to a greater diligence by councillors when deciding what to claim though senior politicians have admitted a series of media investigations has also made councillors more wary of making rogue claims.

Latest salary details also reveal that city leader Kenny Dawe took home an income of £47,516 last year.  This is up £5,000 from the previous year but the 2007-08 figures included one month's salary where she was not in charge of the council, as the elections were held in May 2007.

The latest expenses details come as councillors are expected to approve moves to publish a breakdown of their claims for the first time.  The system will be similar to that used by the Scottish Parliament and details will be published quarterly on the council website.

Source:  Edinburgh Evening News

Update:  I've changed the photograph as one of my readers kindly pointed out the initial one was out of date.  That building had been demolished and was now flats. Apologies to Edinburghers for my ignorance.  Third time lucky - correct photo now.

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