Community Councils need you!!

The election process for new community councils is underway. Nominations are being sought of people willing to serve on their local community council. Nominations need to be with the returning officer (different person for each community council) by 4pm on 14th September. Nomination forms can be obtained form the returning officers or from the Council website for community councils. The forms will also be downloadable from some time on Monday (31st August).

The community council boundaries are shown here. There are 41. See here for earlier information posted on this newsblog.

Prizes and payments FROM the Council

Here are two opportunities to earn money or prizes.

First there is the 'Shot in the Park' photography competition. Judged by Colin Baxter, this is a competition for the best photography taken in a park, allotment or cycleway managed by Edinburgh Council. Full details of how to enter can be found here.

Then there is the mystery shopper offer. You can earn £50 in this role as you test council services. See here for more details.

Taxi numbers swell - slightly

This morning the Regulatory Committee of Edinburgh Council agreed to allow an increase of 30 in the number of black cabs.

Here are some taxi numbers:

• there are currently 1266 black cabs licensed
• in addition there are 815 private hire taxis (not black cabs and not allowed to pick up on the streets; also cheaper)
• 3581 black cab drivers are licensed
• 1630 private hire drivers are licensed
• 4 pricing tariffs - details can be found here
• 1 black cab for every 370 residents of Edinburgh

Edinburgh caps the number of black taxis allowed. It is only permitted to do this if it can prove there is 'no significant unmet demand'. Consequently, consultants are engaged to survey and report on whether demand is met. This leads to complicated surveys, questionaires, analysis and no little added costs and, as at the regulatory committee today, arcane and complex arguments involving lawyers and academics and other 'experts'. Given the uncertainty and imprecision of proving there is 'no significant unmet demand', the process is little short of a farce.

Another triumph of process over common sense in local government!

Aberdeen, Birmingham, Dundee and Bristol are amongst the cities which do not control the number of black taxis. Edinburgh should join them.

Local authorities do control maximum prices, taxi cab standards and carry out driver checks.

St Crispin's School inspection published

The report on St Crispin's school in Watertoun Road by HMIe (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education) was published on Tuesday this week. St Crispin's is a Special School with around 55 pupils. You can find the report here.

The gradings allocated are 'satisfactory' and 'weak' which on the scale of these reports is not impressive at all. However, there are those of us who believe the inspection system itself is intrusive, poorly articulated process and may well be inspecting the wrong things.

Newsblog highlights

In the first of a new feature, here is a digest of posts you may have missed over the past week.

1. Community Council elections under way locally
2. Newington Library break-in arrests
3. Meadows events limited to four weeks
4. Hutchie Vale look to play at Prestonfield Park
5. Allotments facts, figures and locations

Findhorn Place carriageway markings

No waiting restrictions govern the area around 45-47 Findhorn Place from Wednesday to Friday this week for road works including carriageway markings.

Community Council Elections

Go on. Get involved. The season (it comes round every 3 years) is upon us for electing new community council members. The process kicks off next Monday (31st August) from which date there is a two week nomination period closing at 4pm on Monday 14th September.

In Southside & Newington ward there are three Community Councils (see here for the city wide map):

• Grange/Prestonfield Returning officer: Cllr Cameron Rose (529 4078)
• Southside Returning officer: Cllr Gordon Mackenzie (529 3175)
• Marchmont/Sciennes Returning Officer: Cllr Steve Burgess (529 3274)

Elected representatives are individuals who put themselves forward for election (but you do need a proposer and seconder) and they should be on the electoral register.

Nominated representatives represent local interest groups within the community - such as the local business association or a school council (but not a political party).

Nomination forms, along with further details can be obtained from the returning officers (above). Nomination forms will also be available online, but not until Monday 31st August. Here is the website where you will be able to download them.

More details will be posted later this week.

3 males arrested for library break-in

Last week-end (14th-16th) Newington Library in Fountainhall Road suffered a break-in. However, by Monday morning (17th), three males appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in connection with the incident.

Festival open day at synagogue

The Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation holds an festival open day this Sunday between 11am and 3pm. See here for details.

Meadows Update: manifesto agreed

At the meeting of the full Council yesterday a manifesto governing the use and maintenance of the Meadows was agreed.

The focus of debate was on the maximum duration of events and the manifesto was amended to reduce the proposed maximum period of events from six to four weeks. (I supported the four weeks).

However, the manifesto contains a number of other restrictions (e.g. on rest periods for the grass of areas used) and can be found here (though you will need to scroll down to page 6 for the manifesto).

The manifesto approved is based on principles. There must remain concerns, especially about the management procedure. The last two years has been something of a festival of meetings, frustration and lack of clarity. There appears to be a proposal coming forward that a management group should be set up to manage the Meadows. It would consist of representatives from a range of local and other bodies.

This is a recipe for further inefficiency and frustration and is not the way forward. The Parks Manager should have responsibility for running the park. An advisory reference group might be helpful and the annual review (included in the Principles) is sensible. Clear lines of responsibility must be established.

East Suffolk Road closure

The will be closed in part to pedestrians and vehicle traffic from today until Monday 24th. This is for tree removal operations and affects the 40m stretch closest to Craigmillar Park.

Prestonfield playing fields views sought

Views are requested on a proposal for the council to enter into a contract with Hutchison Vale Community Sports Club to grant the use of the Morgan Playing Fields pitches on Saturdays and Sundays for matches in both boys and girls leagues.

The Morgan Playing Fields (see here for origin of name) are situated off Peffermill Road east of King's Meadow and opposite Nairn's oatcake factory, and were obtained by the city in the late 1990s. There was concern that the building of the King's Meadow estate encroached on open space available for recreation. Later, the new Cameron House Community Centre in Prestonfield Avenue was built on part of Prestonfield Park on the understanding that the two pitches and open space at nearby Morgan Playing fields would be available for local recreation purposes.

Morgan Playing fields is currently used by Prestonfield Primary School, by casual users, by clubs from the community centre, and by a number of other organisations and is administered by Edinburgh Leisure on behalf of the owner, Edinburgh Council. The playing fields are currently significantly underused and the state of the two pitches is relatively poor.

Hutchie Vale have applied to the Council for use of the fields including:

• siting three site units to be used as changing rooms (home, away and officials). Planning permission has been obtained and the lease applied for would be for 5 years.
• use of one pitch on Saturday afternoons as the home venue for the under 15 girls team league games during the season
• use of the pitches on Sundays as the home venues for the under 14s and under 12 boys teams for league games during the season
• such use for games would be subject to an annual let agreement
• it is not anticipated the pitches would be used for training though use for coaching camps and activities would be sought by negotiation during school holidays
• it is anticipated that the changing facilities (the three site units) could be made available by negotiation with other users such as Prestonfield Primary School

It is anticipated that the pitches, which currently suffer from rabbit holes and uneven surfaces would be upgraded to league use standard.

Guarantees have been given to the local community that this open space would be preserved for community use, especially after the loss of part of Prestonfield Park for building the new Community Centre.

The question now is whether such an arrangement with Hutchie Vale would be in the interests of the community - bearing in mind the expected upgrading of condition and facilities, potential clashes of use and its current underuse.

Views of local residents, current users and interested parties will be welcomed and can be posted below or sent to me by email or post.

This post endeavours to summarise the position and acknowledges there will inevitably be other issues (eg promotion of sport, parking etc) which if included here would make this a very long post!

Waiting list for allotments

Of the 21 public allotment sites in Edinburgh two are in Southside and Newington ward. These are at Lady Road and West Mains. There are over 1000 allotments available and a waiting list of 2152 people. That is equivilent to a 5-7 year waiting list - perhaps even more. More info here and this link (see item 10.6) is a Conservative call to investigate potential increase in provision.

Blackford Hill investment

Around £160,000 has been secured from a government fund to encourage visitors to Blackford Hill and Hermitage of Braid as part of the Forests for People initiative. More details here.

Recycling collection extension

Residents in St Leonard's Crag and St Leonard's Bank are now being offered red and blue box recycling in an expansion of recycling which is continuing despite the action of the Council's refuse staff. (The Council contract out to another organisation this collection).

Refuse uplift

I am told that refuse uplifts are almost back to normal. That is certainly my own experience. Please report any pockets of difficulty by posting a comment below as there now seem to be resources to deal with them.

The dispute is entering a new phase with the work to rule becoming official. In reality the refuse workers will continue to refuse to work overtime and the city will continue its dependence on contractors who have been bought in for the festival period. I am receiving increasing accounts of working practices which have for long been indefensible. One such is finishing shift after the stated round has been completed - even although that may be several hours before for which the worker is paid.

The best way to deal with these Spanish practises and get a more efficient service if for the council to contract the services out. Now is the time to do so and this Conservative motion (see item 10.3) calls for the Council, at its meeting on Thursday, to do so now.

St Patrick Square regeneration bid

The Council is working up a bid for money to improve St Patrick Square. The bid is for public money which was allocated to the Town Centre Regeneration Fund by the Scottish Government after Conservative MSPs made it a condition of their support for the budget earlier this year. The first £40m of the £60m fund was allocated earlier this month. Bids for parts of the remaining amount have to be in by the end of the months.

Council officers are currently working up a bid for St Patrick Square which will include a significant upgrade of the public realm - and possibly even a feature in the relatively unused grass patch just beside the bustop.

Chippendales and Alex Arthur

Alex Arthur, the local boxer, has the Chippendales for neighbours in Newington this August. Details here.

Community Councils recruiting

Herewith advance notice for the forthcoming elections for community councils in Edinburgh. This provides an opportunity for local residents to contribute in a variety of ways to the local community. The process kicks off formally on 31st August and the timetable is laid out below. Further details, including returning officers and how to get nomination forms, will be posted later but this post is to give you time to consider if you can contribute.

The local community Councils are

• Marchmont and Sciennes
• Grange & Prestonfield
• Southside

Monday 31 Aug Notice of Election (Start of nomination period)
Monday 14 Sept Close of Registration (forms to Returning Officer)
Thursday 1 Oct Notice of Poll (if required)
Thursday 15 Oct Polling Day (if required)

Nominated Representatives
Monday 31 Aug Notice of Election (Start of nomination period)
Monday 14 Sept Close of Registration (forms to CC Liaison Officer)
TBA Meeting of Registered Interest Groups to elect Nominated Members (if necess)

Lord Russell Place fire

A woman needed oxygen after a chip pan fire in Lord Russell Place in Sciennes last week. Brief details buried in this article.

Festival flyposting measures

This article reports the action taken in providing sites for posters during August in the city centre and Southside.

Further refuse update

Here is the latest briefing from the Council administration on Wednesday 12th August 1800hrs:

"The Council has now received official notification from Unite that employees who were balloted intend to take industrial action in the form of an official overtime ban and work-to-rule from Monday 17 August. This changes little, operationally, as these staff have not been working normally throughout the dispute.

Contingency plans will remain in place as long as necessary to provide a reasonable level of service.

There will be further talks tomorrow and the negotiating team remain hopeful of a solution.

Service update: We are now in the 7th week of this dispute. Most people will see that we have returned to normal service because we have deployed private contractors.
Street cleansing: The heart of the city centre is being dealt with by a private contractor, who is providing a range of street cleaning services both during the day and night. This is being supplemented by litter pickers in the Fringe event arena immediately outside the City Chambers, who are sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland. The rest of the city centre neighbourhood is being covered by Council street cleaning staff. This also includes a night time service.
Domestic waste wheelie bin weekly collections: Staff who usually work on trade waste collection and recycling have been redeployed to domestic waste collection. Supplemented by a private contractor, the domestic waste collection service is now operating very close to normal.
Communal on-street bins (collected 2-3 times a week): Normal service has been resumed, with a private contractor to deal with any hotspots.
Garden waste fortnightly service: We are operating a limited service for garden waste as we have prioritised domestic waste collections. However, we should see improvements in scheduled collections over the next 3 weeks.
Trade waste: We have contracted an external company to collect our customers' trade waste. Most customers have seen a return to normal service.
Plastics and packaging banks: The Packaging Bank recycling service is now fully operational with no service delays. This service is being delivered by the Council's recycling partner and no further delays or disruptions are expected.
Community Recycling Centres: All centres are operating normally.
Kerbside red and blue box collection service: Unaffected, as this service is operated by our external recycling partner."
End of briefing from Council administration.

Refuse dispute to continue

Unite Union have notified the Council of their intention to carry out official industrial action 'short of a strike'. This means an early end to the action anticipated by the Council Leader last week was premature.

The agreement between the Council negotiators and the Union officials last week came as the two week ballot period came to a close. In other words, the vote of just over two thirds in favour of a complete strike and 93% in favour of action short of a full strike was effectively before the negotiations had struck a more hopeful note.

Meanwhile there are reports of vandalism on council vehicles and against contractors brought in.
Here is an earlier post with more details of what the unofficial industrial action has been about to date.

And the good news is that in Sciennes at least, garden waste was picked up today for the first time in over 2 months.

Now is the time to tender refuse services to outside companies. The Council has repeatedly refused to do this in recent years despite the costs of refuse collection in Edinburgh being above the Scottish average and most large authorities south of the border. Working procedures urgently need to be modernised and the Council has to date paid out over £25m in equal pay compensation claims. Modernising work processes and the need to address the equal pay legislation immediately are the two drivers for prompt and decisive action.

The biggest festival venue provider?

Edinburgh University. See here for details.

Going vegetarian on the Southside

An interview with the restaurateur Jean-Michel Gauffre prompts these suggestions for vegetarian restaurants on the Southside:

• Susie's Diner, 51-53 West Nicolson Street
• The Engine Shed in St Leonard's Lane
• The Kalpna in St Patrick's Square
• Annpurna in St Patrick's Square

Demand for student flats strong

Costs of student accommodation in flats remains strong despite the downturn. Here are details.

Scotland manager stays local

George Burley, manager of the Scotland football team, may be on his 17th home, but this one is in the Grange. See here for an interview giving what he thinks of living in Edinburgh.

St Raphael's care home in news

Here is some bad publicity for Viewpoint Housing who run St Raphael's Care home in South Oswald Road. Some members of staff were employed before disclosure checks had come through. Not addressed in the article is the larger issue of the notorious inefficiency of the disclosure process. Let us hope the reason reference to the tardy disclosure process is omitted is because it has improved.

Car thefts in Grange & Newington

Police are reporting that a spate of housebreakings where keys stolen were used to drive away cars, included incidents in Grange and Newington. Here for details.

Bin dispute update

If, as anticipated, staff return to normal working within the next few days, it is expected that normal service standards will be achieved within the next few weeks.

Unite agreed to recommend to their members, at meetings later this week, that the current action should be called off and normal working resumed and to recommend to their members that Thursday's ballot result should not be acted upon, provided the current constructive negotiations continue.

Meadows decision now on 20th Aug

The decision on the maximum duration of events such as the Urban Circus and the Lady Boys in the Meadows is to be taken at the next full Council meeting on 20th August. The issue was discussed at the Policy and Resources meeting this morning but a decision was deferred.

Bin dispute over

This morning it looks as if the bin dispute is over and the union has now accepted the changes to working processes and salary grading which have been driven by equalities legislation and the need to make refuse collection more efficient and less wasteful. You can see the Council press release here and the Unite site is here - though they don't have a comment up at the time of posting.

Music for deaf ears

Zach Moir, who lives locally and is completing a Phd in Music at Edinburgh University is involved in an outstanding project to provide music for the deaf. See here for more details.

Events manifesto for Meadows

The proposed manifesto for governing events in the Meadows is on the agenda of the Policy and Strategy committee of the council on Tuesday 4th August (10:00am).

The long awaited document was hoped to be the guideline document for the management of the Meadows (and Bruntsfield Links) in the face of overuse of parts of the Meadows by the intensity of events in recent years. Damage to the grass surface and annoyance to some of the residents on the periphery of the Meadows (noise, diesel fumes etc) were the main evidences of overuse.

The issue pits the use of the Meadows as an open space jewel of Edinburgh for events which are part of the offer of Edinburgh to all, against the interests and concerns of some local residents. At the one extreme, some would have no events on the Meadows. At the other some would have usage for events more or less to continue as it has done for some years.

In fact, what is needed is a compromise which limits the density of use to preserve the condition of the Meadows - which will disappoint both sides. Local campaigners have exaggerated the damage issue whilst the recommendations in the report have not gone far enough in limiting the duration of major events.

The particular focus will be on the maximum duration of six weeks allowed for some major events. Rather too long - but then the limited period sought by some local campaigners does not take into account the reality and viability of events and their importance in allowing more people to make use of what the Meadows offers.

The real problem here is that there is not a clearcut decision making route. There is a lobby within the Council determined to preserve the use of the Meadows as part of the offer of the city (especially during the festival when venues are at a premium) and, on the other hand, local consultation has thrown up some strong opposition to that view. For two years (and for some time before that) there have been long drawn out discussions and consultations. A simple ajudication is required by the administration - and could have been done very simply in the space of a few months two years ago.

The manifesto is far from clear cut and will add another document to the red tape and process in which local authorities exell. Better half a dozen guidelines/rules and responsibility concentrated in a single person or post for the practical management of the letting of the Meadows.

You can read the proposals here.

Prestonfield fundraiser for Mark Wright

There is a car boot sale for the Mark Wright fund this morning in the grounds of Prestonfield School. See here for details of what the fund is for and times of the event.