A very proud day ...

A very proud day for Edinburgh Labour yesterday ...

... after 5-gruelling years in Opposition, my good friend and colleague Donald Wilson was formally appointed as Lord Provost of Edinburgh; and I was formally appointed as Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council :-)

Whilst we enjoyed every minute of yesterday, we all know the really hard work starts now; and every one of the 20 Edinburgh Labour Councillors will work tirelessly over the coming 5-years towards delivering on the promises we made to the people of the Capital.

- and huge thanks again for all the messages of support and encouragement over the last 2-weeks ... we've been quite overwhelmed by them!

Labour appointments confirmed

The Labour Group has this evening confirmed its list of appointments to the joint Labour/SNP Coalition Administration ... I'll simply list them below:

Leader – Andrew Burns

Provost – Donald Wilson

Convener of Education – Paul Godzik

Convener of Health, Social Care & Housing – Ricky Henderson

Convener of Transport & Environment – Lesley Hinds

Convener of Planning – Ian Perry

Convener of Licensing Board – Eric Milligan

Convener of Audit – Maureen Child

Vice-Convener of Regulatory (& Baillie) – Angela Blacklock

Vice-Convener of Culture & Leisure – Norma Austin Hart

Vice-Convener of Economic Development – Gordon Munro

Vice-Convener of Health, Social Care & Housing – Cammy Day

Vice-Convener of Finance – Bill Cook

Provost and Leader are formally confirmed at this Thursday's Full Council Meeting; the rest of the appointments at next week's Council Meeting on the 24th.

I'm looking forward to working with all Conveners/Vice-Conveners; both those listed above and all those from the SNP Group.

A New Contract with the Capital

Apologies for the uncharacteristic 'blogging-silence' since the local elections last Thursday ... hope you can understand that I've been ever-so-slightly busy throughout the intervening days ;-)

But, as I'm sure all my regular readers know, we had a fantastic result returning the largest number of Councillors (for one Group) ever elected under STV in Edinburgh: twenty!

I'll just say that again, twenty :-))

Following the results on Friday afternoon, I made truly extensive efforts - as we promised we would in our manifesto - to form an administration from the best available talents; and we spoke to all 4 other Political Groups at great length over the weekend.


But by Monday evening, it was clear that it wouldn't be possible to create a coalition of all the talents - so Edinburgh Labour formed a coalition with the local SNP and signed a 'Heads of Terms' that evening.

And this afternoon, Edinburgh Labour and the local SNP have formally signed "A New Contract with the Capital".

The most important word in the whole document is the with in the title --- we intend to be both open and transparent; to listen to the residents of Edinburgh; and then to decide and deliver.

Our central priority will be to build a more co-operative and prosperous Edinburgh that benefits every individual and community.

The agreement includes more than 50 pledges that the administration will be judged on, with a review going to Council each year detailing what progress has been made on meeting those aims.
The agreement sets out six key priorities:

• ensuring every child in Edinburgh has the best start in life
• reducing poverty, inequality and deprivation
• providing for Edinburgh 's prosperity
• strengthening and supporting our communities and keeping them safe
• ensuring Edinburgh, and its residents, are well cared-for; and
• maintaining and improving the quality of life in Edinburgh.

This "new contract with the capital" does mark a fresh start ...

... and from today, right through to the first-Thursday in May 2017, we'll be working tirelessly to repay the trust that was put in us by the electorate last week --- and to deliver on the 50 pledges in this document.

Personally, I can't wait to get started.

Vote BURNS 1

Polling Day is here. Just a final reminder ;-)

Eve-of-Poll is here

Eve-of-Poll is here.

Think I'll lay off the politics on the blog today ... been plenty of that recently!

... and just take the opportunity, at the end of this 5-year Council Term, to say a HUGE THANKS to our Group Support Staff and Group Business Manager at the Council; they are the people who really do the hard-work on a day-in, day-out basis. Thanks to you all :-)

And best-of-luck to the Elections Team at the Council for a successful 'democratic event' tomorrow! ... I know just how stressful a time this is for them all, but it never prevents them being unfailingly polite and helpful.

To everyone else - no matter how you vote tomorrow, PLEASE VOTE.

May Day

May Day today - and only 2-days until the Local Government Polls open.

I clearly hope residents cast their vote according to local issues and really do consider whether the last 5-years of SNP/Lib-Dem control in Edinburgh have been a success, and if they want more of the same? Or, is it time for a change?

I know the answer I'd prefer ;-)

... and I hope Edinburgh Labour have demonstrated over recent years that we have tried to listen carefully to the views of local residents; especially in the way we've gone about constructing our local manifesto, a short summary of which is up on the main Edinburgh Labour website this morning.

For me - it really is time for a fresh start, with a co-operative council listening to local people and working together with local communities. A council where fairness, accountability and responsibility really matter. That's the core message in our offer to Edinburgh ... it will run through everything we do in the next 5-years.

But, however you vote (and I hope you do vote!), do please take some time to read the various Parties' manifesto proposals before Thursday.

Craighouse development

I've had quite a few constituents asking about my personal position on the proposed development at Craighouse - its a lively topic of discussion on the doors/phones!

The Friends of Craighouse Grounds and Wood have a website that did put up a joint-statement from myself and colleague Paul Godzik (the proposed development potentially affects both Wards 9 and 10 - if not the whole city!) and you can see that here ...

... and a further, very recent, post (see here) has repeated those points and also summarised the statements from across the political spectrum.

I've tried to be as supportive and helpful to the campaign as possible, and hope whoever is ultimately going to make the final decision on any application (who knows what individuals will be on the Planning Committee after Thursday!) will take note of the breadth of concern being expressed about aspects of the current plans.

Less than 3-days to go

Less than 3-days to go now until the polls open ...

... its a bit of a standing-joke amongst my colleagues about how many times I've reminded everyone of the "days left until Polling Day" over recent months :-(

Well, I'm certain that all our early preparations will help with the eventual outcome this week --- here's a brief reminder of how we went about constructing our local manifesto ...

... and if given the chance after Thursday; that inclusive, cooperative approach will be a common-thread in everything we do.

The political culture in the City Chambers needs to change - everyone knows it! - and I'd absolutely relish the chance to make sure that change actually happens.

Spoke too soon ...

Spoke too soon about not having shared many platforms with the Deputy Leader of the Council ... had to sit in a TV studio with him today!

We're good friends really ;-)

Anyhow, all meant I had to travel over to Glasgow, and thus took the opportunity to stop off and visit my folks (briefly!) on my way back to the Capital ...

... as they say, every cloud has a silver lining :-)

Back in Edinburgh this evening, and last mailings being prepared and dispatched. That's pretty much it now for any 2nd-class mailing to arrive in time for Polling Day.

Its mass delivery of the 'Get-out-the-Vote' cards from now on :-(

Turnout, and who does so, will be crucial this Thursday.

Super Saturday!

Last weekend of the campaign ... and yes, it must therefore be a Super Saturday!

Don't you just love elections ;-)

Spent a (thankfully) sunny day campaigning in several Wards across the city ... and the main messages within our local election manifesto continue to receive a really positive response on the doors (interesting summary of all the main Party manifestos here actually).

Exhausted tonight!

Hustings over (for me!)

Hustings now over, for me, for this election campaign ...

... last two have been enjoyable events, especially tonight's earlier EUSA-organised one which was lively, with lots of good-natured political banter, without any descent into pointless personal or political acrimony. Just the sort of debate I like ;-)

Given that was the last one in my diary, I can now report that sight of both Administration Party Leaders (local SNP and Lib-Dem) has been pretty rare :-(

To their credit, the Tories have ensured their Group Leader has attended almost every city-wide event; and the Greens have had either their Group Leader or a Senior Councillor at every one ...

... but I've only shared a platform with the Council Leader a handful of times, and with the Deputy Leader just once!

Maybe I should be grateful for small mercies ;-)

Last Full Council Meeting of this term

Last Full Council Meeting of this term now over :-(

Apart from Portobello High School, there wasn't much else of huge contention --- and, for the main part, the meeting was conducted in a good political-spirit!

There are 17 Councillors 'standing down' voluntarily next week; and several others who are contesting a seat but who will not be re-elected, I'm sure ... so, I reckon we're looking at a turnover of at least 20+

That's taking it close to the turnover of 29 (half the Council!) back in 2007, and I wouldn't be totally shocked if it reached or surpassed that figure.

Interesting times.

Two more hustings to go this week ...

Still two more city-wide hustings to go this week:

• Thursday night (tomorrow) - UNISON organised hustings, at 6pm in St. Augustine's Church on George IV Bridge
• Friday night - Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) organised hustings, at 5.30pm in Teviot Row House, Bristo Square

Looking forward to both :-)

BURNS 1

Here it is - a scan of the actual Ward 9 ballot paper (marked as SAMPLE, I hasten to add!) ... as now dispatched to Postal Voters.

Of course, I'll be voting BURNS 1 --- and I hope you'll consider the same, but if you can't give me your first preference then I'd still welcome a later preference ;-)

Weekly surgeries continue!

As mentioned yesterday, Council business does continue - regardless of the election ...

... and that includes my 3 weekly surgeries!

Was at Craiglockhart Primary School last night, and will be at St. Cuthbert's this evening - and at Fountainbridge library tomorrow.

6pm each evening - no appointment necessary; just turn up ;-)

And - I'll repeat that pattern next week, as I have done right across the last 5-years.

The week after? - well that'll be up to the electorate!

Full Council Meeting this week!

The Polls might open in a matter of days time, but Council business trundles on!

This Thursday, we've actually got the final Full Council Meeting of this 2007-2012 term ... the agenda can be found here, and the individual reports accessed via CPOL (Committee Papers On-Line) from here.

Portobello High School (item 8.1) is likely to be the main topic of debate - although, there may actually be no political division on the substance of the report? Not certain at the moment.

Unbelievably, this issue has remained unresolved for the whole of the 5-year term of this Council ... check out my post here, from way back in December 2006 :-(

Bit of a metaphor for the last 5-years perhaps?

Gala Dinner this evening

Edinburgh Labour's fundraising, Gala-Dinner this evening ...

... been several months in the planning, and relieved to report that all went smoothly and everyone present (it was sold out!) seemed to enjoy the evening.

Bit of a relief for most, after pounding the streets all weekend ;-)

And, most crucially, we raised some much needed campaign funding!

Just one more weekend to go until Polling Day.

Penultimate weekend!

Penultimate weekend before Polling Day, on Thursday 3rd May of course ...

... and all that leaflet, and letter, preparation yesterday put to good use right across the city.

Turnout is a worry for these Local Council elections - first time they have been 'stand-alone' since 1995, so any 'turnout-comparisons' with 1999, 2003 or 2007 will be slightly false.

Turnout in 1995 was 44.9% across Scotland ... but that was 17-years ago, and I think most people would acknowledge that the general trend for election-turnouts has been downward across those years?

But the 1995-comparison is probably the best we have to go on!