The law of (un)intended consequences

The restrictions on the use of ADS for 'business' purposes are really starting to bite.

And not where I expected.

A local group of volunteers regularly attend meetings on the mainland, for a charitable body in which they participate.  As it is a large organisation and people are travelling from all over Scotland, a staff member at the HQ makes the bookings.

Not any more.  An attempt to book the plane for the group of local volunteers was refused on the grounds that it was "business travel".

The suggestion from the ADS team - that the individuals book their "business travel" personally, and then it wouldn't be rejected.  Quite apart from having to carry the cost, and the hassle factor of doing so, they are effectively being told by the regulator to lie when buying their tickets.

"You will not dissent without my permission"

Just in what warped definition of "business" does a not for profit charitable organisation become excluded through the regulations that were sneaked in just before the election?

Hark: is that the sound of the MSP or MP standing up for their constituents?

Blockages

I was tempted to write "If you work in the Comhairle and can't read this, then please let me know", but sanity prevailed.

A Council employee reports that they can't access the blog through their Comhairle issue computer.

It sounds like the whitelist has not been updated for the individual or their overall permissions are incorrectly set, but I just want to check that I'm not inadvertently being blacklisted......

Pairc valuation

So today's the day that the people of Pairc find out what the valuation of the estate is, and how much of a mountain they have to climb.

They haven't got long, as the legislation is very specific about the period of time in which any acquisition must be concluded.

And the valuation (I am very reliably informed) is......

is.....

is.....

Withheld.

The Scottish Government appear to have decided that there will be no Part 3 valuation issued until the conclusion of the appeals by the landlord.

Yes, you read that right.  On the long-awaited and long-heralded day of the announcement, the Ministers in their wisdom have decided to suspend the valuation process until the legal actions are concluded.  Legal actions that they have known about for years.

I now, I know, it's not in the legislation that they have the power to do this and it is not within their authority, nor indeed does it follow the processes given in the legislation, but having led the people Pairc up the hill, it looks like the light at the end of the tunnel is actually just someone else who is lost.

Of course, this in itself gives the landlord grounds for yet another appeal.  Which he will no doubt file in due course.

Good work Minister; you've managed to upset all the residents by your clueless fence sitting.

Project Fingal Pt 1.5

Just realised that a lot of the information I had was lost when my last computer crashed and destroyed the HD.  I'm hoping that the sources can resend or I can restore, failing which I'll have to rework Part 3 into Part 2.

Project Fingal pt 1

Project Fingal may have been hidden in the shadows over the past few years, but it is one I have been tracking - thanks to some well placed moles, and some excellently accurate prophesies - for a few years now.

Today, just some background.

The Chairman of Storas, Angus MacMillan, is well placed to understand the algenate industry, as his father was the manager of the plant at North Boisdale seaweed factory many years ago; before the industry crashed in the 70s.

Coincidentally, Storas seem to have been applying pressure to the current occupant of the factory to give up the lease and the seaweed rights.  Some might say "pressure", some could say "threats", others have said "with menace", but that seems utterly unreasonable.  Doesn't it?

Now, ignoring the inconvenient fact that there probably isn't enough seaweed in the west of Scotland to meet the needs of a factory of the proposed size, just where is the power going to come from?

Coincidentally, Storas have had a huge battle over their inter-connector connection and the ability to develop a windfarm in Uist.  There were very strong suggestions - obviously untrue - that Angus MacMillan had financial interests in windfarm developments that might be in some obscure fashion tied into the Storas connection.

Indeed, a libel action was raised - with great publicity - when it was suggested that there might be some personal benefit, whilst the defendant apparently had evidence of financing being lined up via third parties.  (Anyone know what has happened to this legal action?)

Thankfully, with former MP Brian Wilson of AMEC on the Board of Storas, the opportunity to use the Lewis windfarm to power economic development in Uist makes it all look good,  Conversely, Angus MacMillan sits on the Board of Harris Tweed Hebrides - Chairman? Brian Wilson.

Unfortunately, it looks to me that the maximum power output from any (all?) Lewis windfarms won't be enough to meet the power needs in Uist if the factory goes ahead.  The energy requirements are immense - remember your school lessons about electrolysis?

Thankfully, the AMEC cable was suggested to run to Whitehaven, where AMEC have some business interest, including the renewable energy plant at Sellafield.

And where Brian Wilson chairs the "Energy Coast" forum for West Cumbria, in his role as AMEC representative.

Only the insane would suggest that the interconnector to Windscale IN beautiful West Cumbria could be used to import nuclear power to the islands from an AMEC facility.


Meantime, the two existing seaweed businesses in the Western Isles are about to be undercut by subsidies from CnES and HIE to an incoming business, and see their suppliers and markets potentially destroyed.  Despite years of trying to get assistance to grow.

Still, attracting new grant-migrating incoming businesses is so much better than supporting the useless locals.

More to follow

The cash economy

Just about enough to buy a house in Uist

Is rapidly becoming the "no cash" economy in Stornoway, where the number of counterfeit notes is spiralling out of control.

At least three shops I know have stopped accepting cash, and with even experienced bank staff being fooled, it looks like we are being flooded by dodgy notes of various denominations and supposedly from various banks.

I hope that the Police get to the bottom of this before the economy is further destroyed.

Policies the SNP have promised and CAN implement

I've been doing a bit of brainstorming to determine what we can now to be delivered by the SNP Government based on three criteria:

• It was as SNP promise or aspiration before the election
• It can be delivered under the current powers, and
• It is a sensible policy, rather than just grandstanding

After a bit of discussion, we selected what we think is probably the easiest and most attractive policy, and one that will gain widespread support.

I refer, of course, to petrol prices.

If you were to pile up all the press releases that have been issued on this matter by the SNP, you would undoubtedly need planning permission and a aircraft warning light on the top.

The solution is actually simple and most of the mechanism is already in place since it was devolved to Transport Scotland last year.  The process [and my suggestions].

1. Designate the areas to benefit from price reductions [all the islands]
2. Determine the price reduction for the coming year [50p/litre]
3. All petrol stations in the designated areas claim a rebate from Transport Scotland based on litres delivered  [quarterly, like Bus Service Operators Grant]

Er, that's it.  No consultation fee charged.

Some safeguards are necessary: any mainland red-lined areas would have to be carefully defined - using islands as a test area allows the problems to get ironed out; deliveries into drums would have to be limited to 50 litres; deliveries over 100 litres fully traceable; bus and marine fuel duty claims reduced accordingly.

What's stopping this happening; and I hope our MSP is busy lobbying for this, rather than just waiting to praise whatever list of promises is presented to the Parliament.

It isn't difficult, and isn't hugely expensive, so there can be no excuses for non-delivery by the Government.  Agreed?

Stornoway Street names

The Stornoway Trust, in the shape of the inestimable Mr Robson, have provided an excellent listing and explanation for all many of the street names of Stornoway (opens in Google docs).

We have over the years honoured many prominent citizens, some local worthies, and some significant global events; such as the reasoning for Assaye Place.

Rumblings reach me from the centre of Stornoway where Robertson Road (Chief Inspector of Schools) meets Ripley Place (Ripley in Canada, founded as Scottish settlement in mid 19th century by families from the Isle of Lewis) meets Leverhulme Drive (Lord Leverhulme (1851-1925) who bought Lewis in 1917).

The demolition of the Gibson Hostel site (former Rector of the Nicolson Institute) [named after the Nicolson brothers who were the principal benefactors] is to be the site of a major new social housing development.

I can't locate and plans or outline pictures at the moment, but would be grateful if someone can direct me to them.

I understand that there has been a long debate - for which read a huge argument - about what to call the site.  There are two choices available.  Which one would you choose?

Gibson Court
Moldova Court

That's right, you got it in one, we are going to name a street after a drowned dog.


Without going into full Borat mode, it is not probably the most attractive name for a social housing development, and in my view would be no better than Dole Drive or ......

I understand fully where the person pushing for the name is coming from, but the neighbours are up in arms, and I think he is completely wrong.

Complaints to be directed to your Councillor before the meetings next week.

Council savings strategy

Reading through the agendas for next week I see two extremely well written and well argued reports about how the Council can save money next year.

Both will be the subject of (unduly) long argument in Committee.

Both will adversely affect clients.

But the clients respect the ability and understanding of the officers and have said that they will work with them to effect the savings - they are Council Tax payers too - as they feel included in the whole process.

THAT is how you can deliver savings; but the Council (and especially the senior officers) also need to recognise the skills and abilities of many of the officers who can deliver real benefits to the islands.

Minimum booze pricing

It's going to happen; although if it is per unit of alcohol based, it is not going to affect the cheapest and nastiest of the own brand spirits and luminous concoctions on the shelves.

Unless, of course, having set the principal the unit price is then levered up until such time as the booze run to Carlisle becomes an attractive option.

It will be highly symbolic, but utterly ineffective.

Local economic development

A report to the Council on 1 June indicates just what the impac of the cuts agenda is going to be.

According to the report, there has been a cut of £40m in the economic support budget, and the perception that all the new initiatives are simply the recycling of existing cash into new launches of not so new ideas.

As the report acknowledges, future land buy-outs are going to be more difficult, never mind the day-to-day business of supporting and developing businesses in this area.

As the report summarises:

25. The Committee therefore recommends that the Scottish Government considers what more it can do to enable businesses to access investment capital, without further reducing the resources available to the enterprise agencies to meet their existing responsibilities.

I think that this probably understates the likely impact, and is a shape of cuts to come.  Most unavoidable, but most unacknowledged in the 2010 or 2011 elections.

Tax Returns

And who says accountancy is dull....  This option popped up by default on a Norwegian Tax Return I'm doing.

There's also a box to tick if you owned a power station during the year -you get extra allowances.

Broadband

Isles MSP Alasdair Allan has today written to Connected Communities to raise the capacity issues which are now occurring on the BT link from Stornoway to London, which provides the internet connection for customers of Connected Communities.

Didn't our MSP promise that the SNP would solve all the Broadband issues?

Shouldn't he be writing to the Minister?  Surely his mate can have more influence to fix the problem.

Your chance to see the Olympic flame......

Lovely story from Mike Merritt highlighting the non-Olympic standard somersaults that are having to be done to keep everyone happy on Sunday 10th June, when the flame arrives.

Remember, the Council policy (in Lewis & Harris) is that no-one should work on the Sunday.

Quoth a spokesperson just a few days ago:

"The Comhairle has invested heavily in sport across the Islands and we want this event to be a major sports celebration for people to join in and make the most of what will be a wonderful occasion.

There will also be an economic spin-off for the islands with an additional 70 visitors or so associated with the Relay arriving in the Islands. In addition the media coverage is likely to generate interest in the Islands and prompt many people to visit”

So we have 70 people coming off the 37-seater Inverness plane at 4pm on Sunday, piling into 18 taxis and heading to the hotel.

As they pass the Sports Centre they can view it from outside with amazement, as the Olympic slogan "Faster, Higher, Closed" is spelled out by protesters*

Perhaps, of course, they'll get a Council bus, for which the driver obviously won't be working or paid, and which won't cause any wear and tear on the bus, dropping the visitors off at the various hotels like some dour package tour.

With 70 beds taken, or 35 if they are doing a Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the not-working chefs, waitresses and other staff will serve them.  After which they can take a walk around town, and give media coverage that is likely to focus on pretty, quaint, unwelcoming and shut.

Check-in for the Aberdeen flight is 1:30pm, and surely much earlier if you are carrying a naked flame (I must check these rules) as the 70 visitors pile onto the 25-seater, meaning a maximum of 5-6 hours of running time after the 7am start.  Expect to hear about entire schools being decanted to the route to catch the merest glimpse, when they could really have had their Olympic ambitions nurtured at a ceremony in the Sports Centre after the flame arrives.

Shotgun.  Both barrels.  Own feet.

* Protesters of both persuasion.

Renting from the Council

Wouldn't you like to receive a year's rent every month?

What about paying the annual rent every month?

Commercial tenants of the Council this week were given the opportunity to understand the difficulties that an accounting error can cause when when 12 months rent was drawn from their bank accounts this week by mistake.

Thankfully they have all be repaid at 4pm on Friday, but I am aware of at least one business that had to arrange an extension on its overdraft at very short notice to cover the sudden hole in it's bank balance.

My call to the White House for an explanation for my client remains unreturned, but at least it has been remedied. 

Any chance of an official apology to those affected?

Coastguard Station saved?

The announcement today that the scale of the Coastguard closures will be reduced is very welcome, and a long overdue realsiation of the complexity of the work that is done, and particualrly the need for local knowledge.

Hopefully the Select Committee will be able to put some minds at rest today, but the real push - an old acquaintance tells - has come from the Civil Servants, who have finally persuaded the Minister that the potential downside was too great, for what was going to be a limited level of savings.

I'm not certain that Stornoway is saved, yet, but I'm advised that it seems a very high probability according to the current briefing for the Minister.

I'm pleased to see KIMO continuing it's marine campaigning role, and the contacts I made during my period of involvement have proved lasting and very useful!

Olympic Flame

We need thirty-two nominees to carry the Olympic Flame.

I suggest the 31 Councillors and the MSP to run at high speed until they spontaneously combust.

Any other nominations???

President Trump

Not the candidate

Donald Trump has just announced that he is not going to stand in 2012.

It is understood that his wig has had a long term relationship with Dominique Strauss-Khan and is now considered a flight risk.

The hairpiece planned to sponsor a sheep shearing contest in Lewis this summer, but with Trump suffering from Foot in Mouth disease, and the toupee unable to produce a long-form manufacturing certificate from WotWig Mfg of Shanghai, "Outrageous hairpieces for the discerningly vain".

The Trump is now planning a casino and 1,400 room executive hotel next to Tong International Airport.

A new World Record

Those who consider the Council an utterly useless organisation should be aware that such a calumny is unfair and derogatory.

Never in the Comhairle....

Why, only today I received a hand-delivered envelope providing (apparently) a complete and comprehensive answer to my FoI submitted electronically on Monday morning.

Those who accuse the Council of deliberately foot-dragging and disinformation over responses to FoI requests should hang their heads in shame when the Guinness World Record is verified and the certificate is presented at the next series of meetings.

Now that the Council have set this standard, we will all expect them to match it with each and every FoI request, so as to avoid any suggestion of preferential treatment for anyone caught in the searchlight.

The very pleasant, intelligent, young man who delivered the paperwork asked me to promise to correct any errors in the previous posting.  I said I would do so with no sarcasm, cynicism or snide remarks about anything I found when reading the papers over the weekend.  Or about any unfortunate conclusions one might draw from the whole affair.

This comment was not covered by the above undertaking.

I spy with my FoI

After singing all the praises of the recycling rate for the new schools project, I was really disappointed to be told about an apparent failure to recycle.
"Just why", posited my informant, "Have FMP abandoned some of the old school portacabins at the Creed Recycling Park?"

It's not who you are, but who you know...

It took some digging to get to the bottom of what appears to be a murky tale.
These 9 portacabins sitting rotting at the Recycling Park appear not to actually belong to the Council or any of it's subcontractors.  FMP are not just innocent, but sinned against it transpires.
So just who could be able to acquire and site these portacabins on Council owned property?  Is there a possibility for other businesses to store their unwanted goods half under a tarpaulin on Council property at very short notice?
(The tarpaulin seems to have blown off since I took this photo, exposing some of the internals to the weather and making the area look a real mess)

Just how do you achieve all these things, whilst on the back of an enforcement notice from Planning to remove the portacabins from their temporary home?

Obviously, being the nephew of the Chief Executive of the Comhairle has absolutely nothing to do with it, as I am sure you will agree.
In an effort to quash these nasty rumours, I have lodged an FoI to ensure that there is no basis in the following wild and malicious claims:

• That there is no formal lease agreement in place; in breach of the financial regulations
• That the lease terms are unprecedented compared to similar leases
• That the lease terms have been hidden or obscured from Councillors and officials
• That no payments have been made for the rent of the site
• That the use of the site was approved by the Chief Executive or his department without any disclosure of his conflict of interest
• That when the Environmental Services Committee considered the plannign application, the Chief Executive had never declared his interest in the matter, despite having authorised the use of Council property to help the applicant with the Planning Department enforcement action
• That serious complaints from SEPA and the Fire Brigade about the applicants behaviour were not brought to the attention of the Councillors as germane to the application

All of these are so obviously improbable, the lawyers tell me, that I am happy to give equal publicity to the quick and complete answers to my FoI and any accompanying press statement from the Whitehouse.

On the other hand, however, the nephew did claim to have almost unrestricted access to the Chief Executive and was able to advise third parties of various items of highly confidential business related discussions that had taken place in the Executive Office. Virtually all of which later turned out to be exceptionally accurate.

As a consequence, I became aware of a number of very high profile matters direct from the Chief Executive's office long before they were public - sometimes even on the day they had arisen - but for professional reasons I could not disclose them to others.

And if these are the ones I know about....