Rose Coloured Spectacles

[Puerto bella]

How much faith do you have in your council?
Do they do what they say they'll do?

Some people on our community council have what others think is a blinkered faith in all that CEC do - do you share this view?

[Betty Windsor]

Err, no.

[wangi]

Some people on our community council have what others think is a blinkered faith in all that CEC do - do you share this view?

Having been to a number of Portobello Community Council meetings it's clear that as a body it does not fawn to Edinburgh Council.

Of course individual members have a range of opinions - from paranoia, to respect and engagement on a per-issue basis.

Edinburgh Council is a large organisation; like any large organisation it has its good and bad points. However it's not out on a mission to shaft the residents of Edinburgh.

[seanie]

Here's a letter showing just that kind blinkered faith in all that CEC do.

[Epykat]

Very interesting. I particularly like this bit:
"The Department appears very keen to push through this major change in the project as quickly as possible, with as
little discussion as possible"

Why do you think they would want to do that?

[seanie]

Actually that criticism was a little unfair. What was being proposed was something of a forced move; they had little choice but to prioritise classrooms over the nursery. The problem was more a lack of appreciation of the school's perspective, and was more down to the nature of the Council as an institution. It's a large organisation and the officials in this instance, well intentioned and competent though they were, just didn't have that close understanding of the school's issues.

To their credit they worked hard to provide a resolution once they realised. Cllrs Beckett & Bridgeman were also very helpful, and fingers crossed we should get an extension that satisfies everyone.

Well, almost everyone.

[Epykat]

To their credit they worked hard to provide a resolution once they realised.

Which I'm sure they will also do if it's found that they shouldn't have granted themselves planning permission to build on the golf course.

[seanie]

The planning decision is not being challenged.

[Bob Jefferson]

I think we would all be much happier if we erred more on the 'rose-tinted glasses' side and were less cynical, paranoid and pessimistic. I have no illusions about the Council. As seanie suggests, they have all the failings that come part and parcel with a large organisation. Among the thousands of employees, some will be excellent at their jobs and a few will be dishonest, lazy or useless. But, in my experience, most are just ordinary people like you and me, trying to do their job to the best of their ability.

A lot of people seem to need a bogeyman, a scapegoat, someone to blame. And the Council is an easy target.

[Epykat]

Well, I've had quite a few dealings with the Council in my time and I also worked for them for 9 years. Not a lot of my experience has been positive. Granted, they did pay me a wage for a while but even then they managed to change my contract under threat of dismissal and got an extra seven minutes free work per week out of me. I did appeal a decision they made once after being told "not to bother, you'll never win" by their Listed Buildings Department and when I won it gave me a little glow, so I suppose I have that to thank them for. They've also used up loads of money on a crap tram project, shafted hundreds of people in a Statutory Notice scam, ruined what used to be a good New Year at the Tron and are shortly only going to pick up my rubbish once a fortnight. On the up side, they do hoover the sand every morning which I thank them profusely for. I have no issue with the common or garden Council worker but I do have a problem with some of things they are made to do.

[Bob Jefferson]

Seven minutes! Jeez, that's barely enough time to make a cup of tea!

[Epykat]

Seven minutes! Jeez, that's barely enough time to make a cup of tea!

Absolutely! Believe, me, it was policed.

[seanie]

The trick's to not overfill the kettle.