We need to build on Engine Shed brand, loyalty and success - not jeopardise it

Last week I said I had sought a briefing from council officers on the proposals.  I have done that.  Next, I consider the leader of Economic Development, Cllr Frank Ross, needs to make a personal visit to the Engine Shed.  I have corresponded with him:

 Frank,

I have listened to and questioned the officers. I have looked at the draft report. I have spoken to Marian MacDonald the Engine Shed's Chief Exec.

It is not as simple as moving to a ‘pure supported employment' model from an 'employment pathway'. The Engine Shed involves training (time limited) which is very focused on taking people into employment in which they will remain for a lengthy period. Changing is not a simple matter – especially bearing in mind the Engine Shed brand, loyalty and success which has been built up over a long period.

I believe it is essential that you see and hear of the Engine Shed enterprise business model and operation first hand and I urge you to pay a visit as soon as possible to shape the direction of the report. It is a business and I am not sure how the proposals in the report will satisfactorily replace the loss of valuable expertise and service to the community for young people with learning difficulties.

I appreciate there are complex issues and the goals the Council is seeking to achieve have merit. However I look forward to continuing our discussion and search for a satisfactory solution. For me, the closure of the Engine Shed is not a realistic option.

Best wishes,

Cameron

Neighbouring ward by-election

Stephanie Murray

The candidates standing in the neighbouring Liberton/Gilmerton by-election on Thursday 20 June 2013 have been confirmed:

Derek Howie - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Phil Hunt - Pirate Party Scotland
John Christopher Knox - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Alys Mumford - Scottish Green Party
Stephanie Murray - Scottish Conservative and Unionist
Keith John Robson - Labour and Co-operative Party Candidate
John Scott - Independent
Jonathan Stanley - UKIPScotland

Voters in this ward have until Wednesday 5 June 2013 to register to vote or apply for a postal vote for the by-election. To register to vote or apply for a postal vote people should contact the Electoral Registration Office or phone 0131 344 2500.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. The location of some polling places has changed so voters should check their polling cards carefully to find out where to vote.

Polling Places:

·         Gilmerton Community Centre

·         Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre

·         Liberton Kirk Halls

·         Liberton Northfield Church

·         South Neighbourhood Office and Library

·         St Gregory’s Church Hall

·         TA Centre

·         Valley Park Community Centre

 The by-election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system where voters can rank candidates in order of preference using numbers rather than a single cross. Voters can give a rank to as many or as few candidates as they like. The result of the by-election will be announced once the votes are counted on Friday 21 June.

Previous post on the by-election here.

Engine Shed update

I see that the Evening News read my blog.  Today they have a short article based on my blog post yesterday.  Here is the EN article.

I have had discussions with Economic Development Convener Cllr Frank Ross - and will make a point of following up after that with Marian MacDonald, the Chief Executive at the Engine shed, and  then again with Frank Ross.

Meanwhile, I note there is a petition which, at this point (3pm today) has notched up 1800 signatures.

Illegal immigrants at Mosque Kitchen

Seven illegal immigrants from Pakistan and India were traced to be working at the Mosque Kitchen in Nicolson Square earlier this week.

Full story here. 

Battle for the Engine Shed

For almost 25 years the Engine Shed, behind St Leonard's police station, has provided support and employment for people with learning disabilities.

Knowing some of the people who have found support and employment there, and knowing its business model, I have always thought it does an excellent job.  Management have worked hard to move it as far as possible to a self funding role with emphasis on identifying and supplying markets with the produce from the bakery where many Engine Shed people work.   Earlier this week I arranged for a full briefing of myself and other local councillors on the background to proposals by the council to engineer change in the operating model for the social enterprise.  That will take place on Monday.

More details can be found in this article.

That heron is in the Meadows

A pair of herons feeding amongst the trees could be seen at the east end of the Meadows last night about 9:30pm.

They were looking both drookit and dejected - but were eating up the worms.   I understand from our local policewoman they have been seen here before.

By-election nearby

Stephanie Murray

The neighbouring ward, Liberton/Gilmerton, has a by-election on Thursday 20th June.

It follows the sad death last month of Tom Buchanan who was the SNP Councillor.

Standing for the SNP to replace him is Derek Howie.

Labour is putting up Keith Robson.

I understand the LibDems have John Knox as candidate.

The Greens have Alys Mumford up.

And we Conservatives have Stephanie Murray.  Stephanie also stood in a by-election in 2010 when she increased the Conservative share of the first preference vote. Stephanie was born and raised in the ward and works for KPMG in tax.   One to watch.

Viewcraigs man jailed for drugs

William Reape has been sent to prison for 4 years 8 months after £100k of cocaine was found in is home in Viewcraig Street in February.  Here is my post from February reporting the raid.

Here is the Evening News report today - from which the picture is taken.

"The 49-year-old had previously been jailed twice for drug trafficking offences before being sent to prison again yesterday at the High Court in Edinburgh.  Police raided his home in Viewcraig Street, Dumbiedykes, in February after officers were tipped off.   After officers arrived at his home with a search warrant, Reape admitted that there were drugs in a sports bag in his living room and more stashed on top of a kitchen cupboard."

Statutory tenement repairs

Capital Stone work in S Clerk St

Some joint repairs projects in Edinburgh have been employing Capital Stone Co Ltd.

I understand that from 1st of May the company has been put in liquidation.  That puts the work in S Clerk Street at Bernard Terrace on hold - and, no doubt other projects as well.

The record of the company is here.

Priestfield/Kirkhill parking zone

Not indicative times!

Things are moving - albeit slowly - on proposals for a new parking zone in the Priestfield area.

Of 567 homes surveyed there was a 29% response - which is particularly high for this type of informal consultation, probably helped by active efforts of the Community Council.

There were 192 returns with 147 in favour and 39 against.  There were 6 further comments. 

This was an informal consultation and, based on the result, roads engineers will work up a scheme which will then be put to the statutorily required consultation.  We need to wait to see the details.

With a fair wind the scheme stands a reasonable likelihood of implementation in early summer 2014.  But that is with a fair wind and with approval at the committee and consultation stages as well as with suitable staff, legal and implementation resources being made available.

The area covered by the survey included Marchhall, Kirkhill, Priestfield (Road, Avenue, Gardens and Crescent)

93 year old Tam Gilzean - the legend

Tam Gilzean has raised a huge amount for charity over the years.  He is usually to be seen in the Royal Mile in his wheelchair rattling a can.   He is due to collect a life time achievement award tomorrow at an event organised by the Friends of the Sick Kids

Recently his wheelchair was vandalised outside his house - he lives in the Prestonfield area. 

Many have now stepped in to ensure his wheelchair is repaired.

More of the story here.

Arguments from (spurious) authority

There's light posting this week as I'm quite occupied - and out of town for a few days.

In the meantime here is the text of a letter from me in the Scotsman today.  It responds to a letter yesterday which deserved a reply.

The context for recent public policy decisions on energy is the fear of dangerous human-caused climate change, as Tom Ballantine points out.

It is a fear which cannot be substantiated by his appeals to authority. The paper he cites, ­Expert Credibility in Climate Change, was compiled by a ­partisan group of activist scientists whose definition of ­climate sceptics and climate ­experts lacks credibility.

It is more a propaganda piece of which Mr Ballantine is happy to take advantage.

Nor has his other source of ­authority, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), given any reason to be regarded as a ­sufficient authority on which to base public policy.

In one case its claim that Himalayan glaciers would likely melt by 2035 was challenged by observers. The IPCC chairman accused the observers of “voodoo science” in an unfortunate demonisation tactic. The IPCC claim was shown to be wildly unfounded and its chairman diminished.

Another example is global warming. We can now go back 15 to 17 years before seeing any statistically significant rise in global mean temperature. That contrasts with IPCC reports which led policymakers to ­expect a dangerous rise.

So it is not just the economics of wind which calls into question our energy policy. Empirical observational science is to date contradicting the model-dominated, doom-laden predictions of the IPCC.

There never was a consensus of expert opinion. There are plenty of brilliant scientists who have never bought into imminent, human-caused, dangerous climate change.

(Cllr) Cameron Rose

City Chambers

Edinburgh

Surgeon's Hall launch tomorrow

Edinburgh Better Together launches tomorrow morning at Surgeon's Hall in advance of the 2014 referendum.    Alistair Darling heads the bill with Gavin Brown MSP and Sir Menzies Campbell supporting.

Details here.  There will be a chance to sign up and get involved.

See you there.

Prestonfield Kitchen & Bathroom update

Just a snippet of information for those council house tenants in the Prestonfield area.

Kitchens and bathrooms are due for upgrade in 2013/14.

I'm expecting tenants to receive a letter/questionnaire about the proposals - probably after September/October - with the installations taking place thereafter but spread over quite a number of months.  The street is the next tranche are:

Prestonfield Avenue

Prestonfield Crescent

Prestonfield Gardens

Prestonfield Road

Prestonfield Terrace

Peffermill Road

Cameron House Avenue

Clearburn Crescent

Clearburn Gardens

Clearburn Road

Not so fast BT broadband

BT has announced that the upgrade to super fast fibre broadband, extending to five areas of Edinburgh including Newington, is almost complete.

You can see the BT website here and the Edinburgh Reporter includes local details here.

But wait a minute.  Is this story not familiar?  A quick search of my previous blog posts indicates BT was trumpeting super fast broadband for Newington as far back as Saturday, 2nd October, 2010.  See my post from that date here.

Not so fast BT.

Note:  You can check speeds available to your home here.  Speeds in Prestonfield and the Old Town can also be checked at the same link.