Update From Councillor Jim Campbell

Thinking about the forthcoming local elections on May 5th, I have been reflecting on what has exercised this Council over the last four plus years. Some of the big decisions were taken, I think, at the start: extending the tram to Newhaven and committing resources to catch up on long overdue school building maintenance work. The latter was a vital correction of previously reckless omissions. It might be a couple of decades before we know the wisdom of the former. We already see the pandemic has significantly changed the movements of people round the city with a hugely detrimental impact on bus & tram passenger revenue. Even if the extension to Newhaven is completed on budget, servicing the debit will place a heavy burden on the City and will likely require Lothian Buses to trim its network.

Spaces for People will be remembered: the use of controversial emergency powers to introduce significant changes on our roads, often in the face of strong local opposition. The proposed extensions to residents parking, including Trinity and South Newhaven, might fall into the same category. It would certainly seem that the Council is not supportive of the private car owner. Nor, would it seem inclined to listen to residents who may not agree with the Council's 'know best' pre-determined position. It's sadly reflected in too many Council or Committee meetings where only one narrow doctrinaire position is right, and no dissent from any quarter is worthy even of debate.

Net carbon zero by 2030 is bold. But, is it achievable? Or, like the commitment to build 10,000 affordable houses by this year, is it just the “plan” that needs completed? (Only 5,500 or so homes have been built, but a plan has been written for the rest, so job done.) We don't have an implementation plan for net zero, however, despite the pressing deadline. The costs, for example, to convert Edinburgh buildings to net zero is initially estimated at 6 to 10 billion pounds. We have no idea if residents can afford this, or if the necessary skills and technologies will be available to deliver it in just eight years. We do know, however, the target from Council Officers to make Council Housing net zero now stretches out to 2038. All totemic of this Council.

The culture of Council and the business cultures of the whole organisation has been a running theme. Councillors have repeatedly expressed disquiet about some elements of Council and Committee organisation; they also received two significant reports from Susanne Tanner QC on perceived weaknesses in the wider culture. This followed the apparent suicide of a Council Officer while under investigation by Police Scotland, and other earlier well publicised cases of wrong doing. It all suggested a problem with proper management oversight and intervention to control risks. Ms Tanner has made 50 recommendations for improvement. Some of these built on Audit Scotland's earlier report: 2020 Best Value Assurance Report: The City of Edinburgh Council. Key is the need to develop good policies & procedures, and consistently following them. Something the Council's long running inability to address problems identified by our auditors illustrates neatly.

The new Council will need to follow this up diligently. It won't be easy, nor can it be taken for granted. A focus on getting the basics in order is overdue. I do regret that many current Councillors have announced they will not seek re-election. You only have to read their statements to gain an impression of the shortcomings they feel towards this Council. Or, you can spend a few moments listening to a Council or Committee discussion, all available on the Council website, and judge for yourself how well your local representatives are doing.

Please do get in touch on this or any other local matter. Given the limited access to our City Chambers, I'm best contacted on 0131 529 4235, or better still, by email: jim.campbell@edinburgh.gov.uk