Hutchison / Chesser
Community Council
Community Council
Councillor Burn's Blog
COUNCILLOR ANDREW BURNS' REALLY BAD BLOG
CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCILLOR ANDREW BURNS; REPRESENTING WARD 9 -'FOUNTAINBRIDGE/CRAIGLOCKHART'; and the CITY COUNCIL LABOUR GROUP LEADER; just very brief comments (both work & personal), as often as possible, that's all :-)
"Schools to go greener" - except in Scotland's Capital City
Absolute classic of a News Release out today from the Scottish Government - see it here ...
... nothing wrong with the content whatsoever - indeed, the aspiration to "maximise the uptake by authorities of the UK Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) which provides 50 per cent funding for the installation costs of a range of renewable technologies" seems eminently sensible.
One slight problem when it comes to Edinburgh though - just have a look at the UK Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) web-site ... here and here ... then contrast it with what happened last year in our fair Capital City - here :-(
As I said at the time; "each and every Lib-Dem and Nationalist Councillor in Edinburgh should truly be ashamed if this decision goes ahead (to cancel Biomass Boilers in 7 schools). Weren't they being serious when they said that our environment had to be "protected for future generations"?
A truly shameful episode - all to save a bit of initial capital outlay ...
... and sadly, I still don't think the current crowd in charge really know that at times they just need to tell officers where to get off.
Too late now for those 7 schools though :-((
'Labour Council delivered for Edinburgh' claims current Lib-Dem Council Leader!
I mentioned yesterday how much I was looking forward to reading all my e-mails upon my return to work today ...
... well, the one I've enjoyed most is the 'New Year Message' from our dear Council Leader wherein she boldly proclaims:
"The Council, and its staff, has already proven its ability to deliver for Edinburgh. As Scotland's most improved urban authority we are leading the way in providing the services our residents want."
What she fails to mention is just what that claim is based upon - so I'll tell you instead:
- it comes from Audit Scotland, the public spending watchdog, who recently identified Edinburgh as Scotland's most improved urban council
- in fact, I blogged about it when the report came out in November 2008 - see here
- the actual Council report, which summarises all this can be found here, and paragraph 5.2 has the 'most improved urban authority' statement
- the whole assessment upon which this claim rests is contained within Appendices 1 and 2 of the report - PLEASE have a quick look at pages 6 through to 14 here
- you'll see the three years upon which the claim is based are;
- 2005/2006 - Labour in control, and Labour set the budget
- 2006/2007 - Labour in control, and Labour set the budget
- 2007/2008 - Lib/Nats in control, but Labour set the budget!
Totally outrageous - a politician taking the credit for something which they played no part in delivering ... indeed, they actually opposed all three budgets upon which this success is based.
I've never heard the like of it ;-)
London stole our bridge?
I sadly thought this would happen :-(
... and mentioned such at the start of last month - see here (read past the 'Glasgow trams shocker'!) ...
My one and only New Year prediction is that 2009 will see lots and lots more of this nonsense ...
... blaming London for just about everything seems to be the current favourite political pastime of the Scottish Government, alongside promoting the "Year of Homecoming" :-(
Welcome to modern Scotland :-((
Happy New Year!
Well, I have survived the traditional family-Christmas (just!), and am now safely back in sunny Edinburgh after a few days up in Aviemore to celebrate Hogmanay ... a very similar trip to last year, but much, much more snow this time around :-)
Believe it or not, this is Loch Morlich (above) - totally frozen and with a fresh covering of snow!
Four families braved Aviemore Youth Hostel this time around ... 8 adults and 8 kids in total ... and a good time was had by all.
Cairngorm Reindeer Herd was a firm favourite with the older kids, and some of the adults managed a bit of winter walking again ... but just look at those conditions :-))
2009 can only get better ... surely?
... once again, definitely a case of "back to work for a rest"!
... I am so looking forward to getting back to all those e-mails tomorrow :-(
Happy Christmas!
I am in Edinburgh for most of the festive period, but blogging may be fairly light from today!
If any constituents, colleagues or other contacts really do need to speak to me - then the mobile would be the surest way to track me down.
... or chap the flat door if you're local and I may even offer you a drink :-)
Very best wishes for Christmas.
Teacher numbers down (again)
Just a few weeks ago, the GTC had a pretty damning News Release which showed very real problems with the number of employed teachers in Scotland ...
... and today, the EIS has an equally damning Release about the core number of employed teachers in the country. Scotsman has run with the story this morning.
Frankly, all the main school-based, education commitments of the SNP at Holyrood have been a busted-flush for quite some time - this is just yet more proof-positive of that fact.