Author Archives: davidsberry

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About davidsberry

Local ex-councillor, tour guide and database designer. Keen on wildlife, history, boats and music. Retired in 2017.

49: Parliamo Politico VI

Posted on March 17, 2011 by davidsberry

Let’s Talk Pencil-Pusher: Lesson VI—Scrutiny (Sixth of a series, translating bureaucrat-speak into what it means for folk in East Lothian on St Paddy’s Day) Our council operates what is called a ‘scrutiny’ or self-evaluation mechanism. This consists of a Customer … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

50 Days to Go

Posted on March 16, 2011 by davidsberry

At the halfway point to May’s election, ELC’s Education Committee has tabled a paper on destinations for its school leavers. It highlighted a 2% year-on-year improvement in positive destinations (F.E. colleges, universities, training and jobs), despite a huge 40% ‘bulge’ in … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Community, Education | Tagged | Leave a comment

51: Tornado…Tsunami…Tomorrow?

Posted on March 14, 2011 by davidsberry

It was pure coincidence but perhaps symbolic. The day I was invited to visit EDF’s Torness power station was when the 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck Japan. Since we had no news of its impact, the only discussion at the time … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics | Tagged | 2 Comments

52: Coast to Coast

Posted on March 14, 2011 by davidsberry

Going through to Glasgow for the SNP Conference let me sample another SNP Government achievement—the Airdire-Bathgate line. In theory opened in December, it’s only been running to timetable the last week or so—quarter-hourly to Bathgate, with half then running on through … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged | 1 Comment

53: Govan in Sight

Posted on March 13, 2011 by davidsberry

Arriving at the SECC for conference, the Armadillo resembled a huge igloo under the snow but the buzz among delegates was warming. By mid-morning, the hall was already  receptive as I seconded Mike and Angela’s motion on Delivering for Scotland’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

54: Table Talk

Posted on March 12, 2011 by davidsberry

Organised by Stop Climate Chaos and RSPB, together with local organisations like Sustaining Dunbar and the SSC, a ‘Climate Cafe’ in Haddington’s Town House brought the four EL candidates plus a Green list candidate together over tea and biscuits to … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Tagged | 1 Comment

55: Top of the Hill

Posted on March 11, 2011 by davidsberry

No wonder East Lothian needs the affordable homes that the SNP are building—and fast. After 13 years of Labour’s “egalitarian” rule, the divide between ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ is greater than ever and nowhere more so than here. The Hootsmon … Continue reading →

Posted in Community | Tagged | Leave a comment

56: Parliamo Politico, Part V

Posted on March 10, 2011 by davidsberry

Let’s Talk Pencil-Pusher: Lesson V—Education (Fifth of a series, translating bureaucrat-speak into what it means for folk in East Lothian) Probably no one element of local (if not national) government gets as much emotive, hands-on attention as education. While tertiary … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged | Leave a comment

57: Load of Rubbish

Posted on March 9, 2011 by davidsberry

Most of the time people speak of “the Council” in pretty adversarial tones, seeing it as a constipated local version of ‘Yes Minister’. At its bureaucratic worst, the jobsworth form-fillers can make mild-mannered ordinary folk dream of vile tortures for … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Environment | Tagged | 3 Comments

58: Round One (ding!)

Posted on March 8, 2011 by davidsberry

East Lothian’s election was effectively launched yesterday with an hour-long candidate hustings in front of 100 S4-S6 seniors in Modern Studies at North Berwick High, although the Lib-Dem candidate neither responded to nor showed up for the event. How did … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics | Tagged | 3 Comments