Edinburgh Council top earners revealed

In December last year the Tax Payers Alliance submitted a Freedom of Information question to all councils in the land for details of all salaries and payments to employees amounting to over £100,000. Edinburgh Council declined to provide the information on the grounds it was not required to release such information on data protection grounds. The TPA report - with the Edinburgh information lacking - can be found here.

Actually most other councils did provide the information and the reason given was not valid - certainly for senior officials. Indeed today it was indicated to me that failure to release had been a mistake! (Actually, the Evening News had received already obtained it under FOI)

So just for the record here are the details of how much you, the tax-payer pay your top Edinburgh officials. I understand that all of them are (or were) in the local authority pension scheme for which add another 19% in employer contributions which are paid from the public purse - plus there will be other administrative employment costs.

2006/07
Name (Post, Remuneration)
Tom Aitchison Chief Executive £147,231
Roy Jobson Director of Children and Families £121,223
(+ payments of £9,092*)
Andrew Holmes Director of City Development £111,906
Jim Inch Director of Corporate Services £111,906
Donald McGougan Director of Finance £111,906
Mark Turley Director of Services for Communities £111,906
Peter Gabbitas Director of Health and Social Care £104,552**

2007/08
Name (Post, Remuneration)
Tom Aitchison Chief Executive £150,912
Gillian Tee Director of Children and Families £130,629
Andrew Holmes Director of City Development £114,705
Jim Inch Director of Corporate Services £114,705
Donald McGougan Director of Finance £114,705
Mark Turley Director of Services for Communities £114,705
Peter Gabbitas Director of Health and Social Care £109,781**

* payments to cover additional responsibility during transition to Departments of Health & Social Care and Children & Families
** the Director of Health and Social Care post is part-funded by the Council but paid through NHS payroll. The post is also subject to an additional management allowance in the region of £4,000 – 5,000 per annum, paid by the NHS

There were no bonuses (other than that relating to the Health and Social Care Director), benefits in kind, car allowances or redundancy payments paid to these individuals in 2006/07 and 2007/08. Other personal payments, such as reimbursement of expenses, do not constitute a component of remuneration. Additionally, payments made for returning officer duties are set and paid by the Scottish Government and are not considered to be part of Council remuneration.

NHS Lothian check swine-flu cases

NHS Lothian, who have their headquarters in the Pleasance, have indicated they are investigating reports of flu-like symptoms experienced by people recently returned from Mexico.   See their press release here.

Nicolson Street facelift proposals

Historic Scotland have allocated some money to the renovation of the frontage of 37-41 Nicolson Street.    The shop front is 110 years old and is currently operated as a Poundsavers shop.  

Running Nicolson Street Greenmantle

Amy Williamson and Grant McNeil now own and run the Greenmantle pub in Nicolson Street.  You can find something about them here.

Cavalcade in Holyrood Park this year

This year Edinburgh Festivals' Cavalcade on August 9th will move to Holyrood Park because of the disruption in Princes Street. This is a move for one year only which, I understand was originally raised as a suggestion by Cllr Jo Mowat.

The coming election (Westminster)

The Edinburgh East constituency for Westminster includes the Prestonfield and Southside parts of Southside & Newington ward. As far as I can tell three parties have selected candidates.

Conservatives have selected Martin Donald who works for David McLetchie at the Scottish Parliament.
Scottish National Party have selected George Kerevan who is associate editor of the Scotsman.
Labour have recently selected Sheila Gilmore who is a former councillor. The latter selection appears to be destined for further publicity and controversy following a complaint to the NEC (National Executive Committee of the Labour Party). More details here and in the first comment below this blogpost.

You can find the boundary of the constituency here. More comment and details of the constituency can be accessed here.

tainted poll claim rocks labour chiefs

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Luxury nursing opens Monday

The luxury nursing care home in Chalmers Crescent, currently under final preparation,  is to be opened on April 27th by MEP Struan Stevenson.  It is to be named Renaissance at Glencairn. More details here.

Late night Meadows robbery

Phones were stolen from three men at knife point in the Meadows on Monday night just before midnight.  Here is the police press release.

Events in Meadows: Water fight?

The Meadows is one option for a proposed record breaking attempt organised by some Edinburgh University students.

See here for more details.

Chris Hoy at Sick Kids

Today Sir Chris Hoy opened a new research centre at the Sick Kids.   

Causewayside jolly green giant

Mark Sydenham is allotted position no. 9 on Scotland's "green list" in today's Scotsman. He is the entrepreneur behind the Bike Station at 250 Causewayside.

Causewayside agency wins contract

Tayburn, a design agency based in Causewayside, has won a significant contract with a Swiss hedge fund. More details here.

George Square Festival change

For one year only the Spiegeltent at the Festival Fringe will be replaced by the Hullaballoo tent in George Square Gardens.   See here for details.

YouTube Meadows sensation - must watch

This video, filmed largely in central Edinburgh has been viewed almost a quarter of a million times to date.  

Danny MacAskill is a daredevil stunt cyclist who is part of a team who have proved something of a mini sensation on YouTube. You can read more about him here and the print edition of today's Evening News has a fabulous picture of him up a tree in the Meadows. The Evening News website also has a link to the video.

Update:   You can see the video which goes with the article here.  Search for Danny MacAskill on YouTube and you will find a load more - many films taken within Southside & Newington ward.

The skills are awesome.   Congratulations Danny.   Another stunning YouTube sensation from Scotland.

Guerilla gardening - continued

My post last week has been picked up by the local paper and Andrew Picken has run an informative story on what they do in Marchmont Crescent.

Local: greatest living mathematician

Tomorrow is the birthday of local resident Professor Sir Michael Atiyah who is widely regarded as one of the most influential mathematicians of the 20th century. He is also described as Britain's greatest living mathematician and a series of events is taking place to mark his birthday. For the Edinburgh University news release see here and for the biography of your neighbour see here.

Guerilla gardening comes to Southside

Guerilla gardeners plant seeds and bulbs, tidy up litter and generally set out to prettify public places - without permission.     Here are details of a booklaunch in the Southside yesterday which features this activity and here is an analysis of this very slightly anarchic activity which is described as 'the preserve of middle-class people frustrated by the downtrodden appearance of their local community'. I have it on sound authority that it is happening in the Southside & Newington area. 

Luxury home for elderly - progress

Glencairn at 8 Chalmers Crescent has been turned into Renaissance and is awaiting Care Commission inspection later this month before opening to the public. Details of this and another similar project in Morningside (9 Tipperlinn Road) can be found here and here.

Letting agent diversifies - into currency!

EH Letting at 22-24 Newington Road are diversifying by providing currency services in their office by taking a franchise for the No 1 Currency company.   See here for more details.

Smashing Fred Goodwin's windows

You would think I was responsible for breaking Fred Goodwin's windows. Politicians, Fred Goodwin, bankers in general and me. The responsibility for breaking his windows rests with the unidentified culprits - who broke his windows. Because that simple and obvious point needed to be stated in the discussions in the Evening News, I have engaged with their letters page. Here is today's letter in full:

JIM TAYLOR (Letters, April 7) uses my letter ("No sympathy for those who break law of land", April 4) as a platform to suggest direct action is the result of the failure of politicians.

Fred Goodwin's windows were broken because a culprit (or culprits) chose to break them. That was the cause.

Like Mr Taylor, I believe there is a host of things in our world which need changed. I am confident he will agree with many of my views – though there will be many more where we differ.

There needs to be a mechanism for resolving those differences – otherwise anarchy will rule. Democracy, far from perfect though it is, seems to be the best mechanism we have. Even more important than democracy, though, is the rule of law. To suggest that disenchantment with politicians is a justification for breaking the law is folly.

I am privileged to be elected and Mr Taylor uses his persistence and the power of words in letters to newspapers and councillors to argue for change. Changing the world doesn't happen overnight! Like Mr Taylor, I'm on the case. But lets get our priorities right and support the rule of law.
Councillor Cameron Rose, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh.

If you want to see the background letters/articles see here (scroll down to 'Direct Action) and here and my riposte (scroll to foot of letters page).

Focus Edinburgh: Unemployment

In February 2009, Jobseekers Allowance claims reached their highest rate since 2000, with 8,850 claimants, an increase of 59% on February 2008. This pushes Edinburgh's unemployment rate up to 2.8%.

This is the first of an irregular focus series giving information about Edinburgh.

Pay for parking permits online

You can now pay for parking permits online - as you can do for other Council bills. However, you must use a debit card. Visa cards are not yet accepted. Click here for more details. Other bills you can pay are:

• Council tax
• Council house rent
• Non domestic rates
• Service accounts
• Fixed penalty tickets

102 years old and counting

Margaret Shields, who lived in Sciennes until a couple of years ago has reached 102.

Prestonfield chef award on cards

John McMahon of Prestonfield Hotel has been nominated for chef of the year.

Local teachers for awards?

Teachers from the Royal Blind School in Craigmillar Park and St Leonards Nursery have been shortlisted for honours at the Scottish Education Awards. St Leonards are in the 'Greener Schools category and the Blind School is in the Most Enterprising Special School category.  Details here.  the awards ceremony is on 16th June.

Grange resident's early history

The early life of Grange resident Ronnie Crammond is featured in this report of East Fortune during the WWII.

Community Councils tonight

Both Marchmont and Sciennes and Southside Community Councils meet tonight.

S Clerk Street work to continue

Following yesterday's post, Scottish Gas now require to open up in the inside lane northbound in South Clerk Street. Work will start there after the evening rush hour. A map of the location can be found here.

S Clerk Street gas escape

Yesterday the outside northbound lane in South Clerk Street was closed outside User 2 after a gas escape. The lane is still closed and it is unknown at this stage how long the closure will last.

Parking restrictions West Mains area

There will be some restrictions tomorrow, Tuesday 7th in West Mains Road, Mayfield Road and Braefoot Terrace to facilitate gully cleaning. See signs on the roads for details.

Beanscene company looking to expand

As recently as September last year Beanscene, which has one of its 12 outlets in Nicolson Street, was in administration. Fiona Hamilton bought the chain out of administration and is now looking to expand by adding ten new stores.

Curiously, the company style their shop at 99 Nicolson Street as the 'South Bridge' cafe.

This is another straw in the wind of the increase in the number of coffee shops in the Southside area. In a recession the growth is remarkable.

Think tank challenges University

In a report published at the end of March the Centre for Social Cohesion questions the changing nature of aspects of academic funding. In particular it raises questions about whether the sources bring undesirable influence. Edinburgh University hosts a Confucius Institute (which has featured on this newsblog before) and Centre for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (reported here last year).

The report suggests that Confucian Institutes are openly political organisations which serve as diplomatic arms of the Chinese government abroad. It queries whether the reliance on funding from undemocratic governments with poor human rights records is compromising academic standards and impartiality.

In a similar way the report raises questions about the public engagement function of the new Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal and the Centre for the Study of Islam in the Modern World which has been established with Saudi funding at the University.

The report, A Degree of Influence, can be found on the Centre for Social Cohesion's website here - in full and summary form.

Fred Goodwin, Gina Davidson and me

Gina Davidson, who writes a regular column in the local paper, recently expressed sympathy with those who smashed Sir Fred Goodwin's windows.  Time for me to challenge her sloppy thinking with a riposte - here.

Ratcliffe Terrace earthy TV star

Pete Jackson has been hired by STV's Five Thirty Show.  He aims to coax reluctant gardeners into productivity.  Currently he does his coaxing at the Earthy Food Market in Ratcliffe Terrace. 

Science Festival underway

The Edinburgh Science Festival runs from today until 18th April.  Many of the events are within Southside & Newington and you can find a list of the local venues below:

• Edinburgh University Student Union Debating Hall
  
• George Square Theatre
• Informatics Centre 
• McEwan Hall 
• Dynamic Earth
• Royal College of Surgeons
• Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill
• Anatomy lecture Theatre, Teviot Place

You can download the main brochure and search for events here.

Recycling calendars

Calendars giving the dates for recycling have been delivered to homes in Southside and Newington. Alas, some households which recieve Wednesday recycling collections, received a calendar which reverses the red and blue collection dates. These will be replaced shortly. Now some background on where the Council is with recycling. Legislation means that if the Council does not reach targets on percentages of waste recycled, it will be hit with penalties and very substantial land fill taxes. Edinburgh is currently just ahead of schedule. The following paragraphs are taken from a Council briefing

"Recycling has increased to around 30% this year and the efforts of residents to rinse glass and cartons and squash or fold clean cardboard before presenting mean we have higher quality materials than many local authority areas. This means the material is much easier to make into other products and therefore a more desirable raw material.

Recycling performance has grown steadily since 2001/02 (4.51%) up to 27.16% for the 2007/08 period (target of 27%). In 2007/08 the amount recycled was 68,539 tonnes. 183,837 tonnes was sent to landfill. Total waste was 252,376 tonnes.

Up to the end of December, the financial year to date figure was 30.98%. For the 2008/09 period we expect to achieve the 30% target. Tonnage = 58,554.63 tonnes (of which 23,454.01 tonnes were composted and 35,100.62 tonnes were recycled.)

We are keen to increase public participation in recycling even further and are planning
both neighbourhood based and city wide campaigns throughout the year to encourage more recycling activity."

Chalmers Cr care residence to open soon

In January, this newsblog reported on the expected March opening of the Renaissance luxury care home at 8 Chalmers Crescent in the Grange. The opening is now expected on 27th April.

Smarten up your back green

Edinburgh Community Backgreens Association (ECBA) are having a Southside launch next Monday (6th of April) between 7 and 9pm. The event will be held in the hall of St Peter's Church, Lutton Place. They aim to encourage the regeneration of tenement backgreens.

Parking rage in Livingstone Place

The cost of allowing his rage to get the better of him in a dispute with parking wardens cost this Livingstone Place man £800.

Commonwealth Pool closes 28th June

The Royal Commonwealth Pool is to close at the end of June for extensive refurbishment. You can find more details here.

Early morning Savile attack

Around 3:20am on Monday morning in West Savile Terrace - at the Blackford end - a 19 year old was attacked by a man with a knife. More details can be found in this article.

Planning site visit for Archers Hall

Last week this newsblog drew attention to today's meeting of the Planning Committee which was considering the proposals for the Archers Hall site between Buccleuch Street, Boroughloch Lane and Meadow Lane. A decision was postponed to enable the members of the committee to make a site visit.