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CEC election 2017 (May 4th)

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  1. DdF
    Member

    @chdot SNP in both cities now back '10% for cycling'.

    Are you sure? Edinburgh SNP are indeed promising this (going by leaflets, though manifesto is not yet published) but I think Glasgow SNP is promising 10% for cycling and walking. That is extremely different!

    In Edinburgh the Labour manifesto promises a new fund for walking infra in addition to the 10% for cycling. And it is rumoured that the SNP Edinburgh manifesto when published will say something similar (perish the idea that they may have copied the idea from the long-published Labour one!!)

    Re. the Glasgow SNP walking & cycling 10%, I do not believe they currently intend to use the loophole below, but note that if one includes footway maintenance then it is quite likely that Glasgow already spends 10% of its transport funding on walking and cycling, given that (I think) more than 10% of Edinburgh's transport spending is footway maintenance. This is why Spokes has always stuck to 10% of the council transport budget for cycling rather than for AT - there is just too much wriggle room if it is the whole of AT. Even if they don't use the loophole, 10% for AT obviously means less than 10% for cycling. A separate budget for new walking infra gives a much more reliable promise both for cycling and for walking.

    Coalitions - I'd be astonished if either Lab or SNP went into coalition with the Tories in Edinburgh, even if Tories were to get 2nd highest number of councillors, so with the (definite) Lab and (almost certain) SNP and Green promises for 10% minimum for cycling, it looks very likely that will remain policy in the new council. Brilliant!!

    It so helps that lots of people contact their councillors about cycling issues, keeping up the general profile and awareness, and also giving at least a bit of praise where due!

    Posted 7 years ago #
  2. chdot
    Admin

    Strictly speaking AT -

    https://snpforglasgow.scot/manifesto/transport

    but also

    "

    She added: “We will also commit to fund repairs to our pavements and work to make living streets of our city roads.

    "

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17513

    I think it would be hard to prove that CEC spends its 10% (no more no less) precisely on cycling.

    The detail is always important, but the SNP's Glasgow manifesto seems to be a significant shift in emphasis, and also, I suspect, more/better than Labour have actually intended/achieved to date.

    I'm sure the 1st PoP Glasgow will concentrate minds...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  3. chdot
    Admin

  4. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Labour faces the loss of every council it currently runs in Scotland, according to John Curtice, the country’s foremost elections expert.

    "

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/labour-stands-to-lose-all-its-councils-says-poll-expert-gh3fvcbg0

    Posted 7 years ago #
  5. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The Scottish Conservatives have led the political opposition to Edinburgh Council’s misguided decision to apply a 20mph speed limit to 80 percent of city roads.

    Residents across Morningside Ward have voiced their concerns to Chris over the Council’s approach to speed limits on a nightly basis. Chris Land commented: “When applied appropriately – for example outside schools or in heavily residential areas, 20mph can be an important road safety measure. however, a near blanket approach to 20mph – like in Edinburgh – typically slow cars by less than 1mph and can actually contribute to greater pollution and congestion.”

    “The Council could have better spent these funds on more effective road safety measures. Edinburgh Conservatives would halt implementation of the Council’s 20mph scheme and subject it to a comprehensive review.”

    "

    https://www.edinburghconservatives.org.uk/news/morningsidemeadows-update-chris-land

    Posted 7 years ago #
  6. Frenchy
    Member

    heavily residential areas

    Like, say, Morningside?

    typically slow cars by less than 1mph

    Not sure if he means average journey speed or average speed at a particular point here. If the former - what's the problem? If the latter - then either more enforcement is required or speeds weren't very high before and so the change in speed limit isn't a problem.

    greater pollution and congestion.

    Greater pollution I would worry about, but the research I've seen says this isn't the case. The sheer number of cars around makes congestion just about inevitable, and I find it hard to believe that lowering the speed limit generally increases congestion. Since apparently average speeds don't actually reduce by much, people are spending more time actually moving and less time sat at traffic lights. So less accelerating and braking, which would suggest less congestion and less pollution too.

    The Council could have better spent these funds on more effective road safety measures

    Name them.

    subject it to a comprehensive review

    How much will that cost?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  7. Stickman
    Member

    Yet again, a Conservative candidate who won't stand up and say "20mph isn't appropriate for this particular street", but relies on general "concerns". Cowards.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  8. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The most dramatic electoral upheaval is tipped to take place in Scotland, where the Labour vote is expected to collapse with the Tories on course to chalk up large advances.

    "

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/poll-scottish-labour-face-cataclysmic-may-election-defeat-1-4411204

    As I've said before, I think Edinburgh will vote a bit differently to rest of Scotland/UK.

    I would still be surprised if Lab is 3rd (after Tories), but it is possible. (Also in Glasgow I expect a shift to the SNP so that it controls the Council. No idea if Tories will also win more seats.)

    I'm told that the Greens have high hopes for a win in 11 of the 17 seats! Clearly any Green councillor means that one of the other parties is 'missing' someone - and I do expect the final Green total to be noticeably higher than now.

    'Traditionally' Greens have been less likely to get seats in 'traditional' Labour wards, this year outcomes (not just Edinburgh) probably depend a lot on the extend to which people who have previously voted Labour stay at home.

    PR is obviously not the same as FPTP and has the potential to produce unexpected results due to 'tactical' voting. Previously the collapse in number of LibDem seats in Edinburgh was due to an 'anyone but the LibDems' mood.

    Currently there are people who blame the Capital Coalition for 20mph (and a lot of other things). It seems unlikely there will be a mass move away from Lab&SNP. Any 'anyone but the Hinds/Burns party' is lessened by the fact that neither are standing.

    Though, of course, 20mph seems to be quite popular with Edinburgh residents!

    Posted 7 years ago #
  9. Stickman
    Member

    Some of the priorities for the Conservative candidate for Portobello:

    "
    Safeguarding and improving pedestrian and cycle safety in crossing Sir Harry Lauder road and railway line

    Improving access to the city centre, airport and West through the bus and local rail network and safe cycle ways

    No mention of 20mph.

    http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2017/04/council-elections-2017-callum-laidlaw-portobello-and-craigmillar/

    Posted 7 years ago #
  10. chdot
    Admin

    "Safeguarding and improving pedestrian and cycle safety in crossing Sir Harry Lauder road and railway line"

    That's good, what could/should it mean?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  11. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Cllr. Andrew D Burns (@AndrewDBurns)
    04/04/2017, 8:05 am
    just 1-mnth to go & still only 1-Party published a vision for future of Capital;
    @EdinburghLabour Manifesto details:
    edinburghlabour.com/manifesto2017

    http://pic.twitter.com/IK7PS6LfXV

    "

    "

    Devin Scobie (@CaledoniaPA)
    04/04/2017, 8:12 am
    @AndrewDBurns @EdinburghLabour Think the LD one is out too Andrew - I've certainly seen one

    "

    Posted 7 years ago #
  12. chdot
    Admin

    Just a reminder -

    http://walkcyclevote.scot/what/

    Posted 7 years ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

  14. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Scottish Greens (@scotgp)
    05/04/2017, 17:44
    Launching our Council Elections Manifesto 2017 on Tuesday 11 April.
    Stay tuned for info on our policies to put #powerinyourhands
    #VoteGreen

    http://pic.twitter.com/2H3tWvxEjV

    "

    Posted 7 years ago #
  15. chdot
    Admin

  16. chdot
    Admin

  17. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The May 4 poll will allow voters to give their verdict on the Labour-SNP coalition which has run Edinburgh for the past five years and help choose who will govern the city for the next five.

    But the varying fortunes and ambitions of all the parties point to the possibility of some major upheaval.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/national-issues-look-set-to-dominate-council-election-1-4411748

    Posted 7 years ago #
  18. chdot
    Admin

  19. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Our Manifesto is a call to action to prioritise the wellbeing of Edinburgh’s citizens. We have noticed a polarisation in society and politics – rich vs poor, left vs right, union vs independence. Our Third Sector acts as a bridge across these divisions, bringing people together to problem solve and reduce inequality and isolation. We passionately believe that only through investing in our communities will it be possible to create a stronger foundation to tackle inequalities, poverty and injustice.

    "

    http://www.evoc.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/media/2017/04/Everybodys-Edinburgh-Manifesto.pdf

    Posted 7 years ago #
  20. chdot
    Admin

    "

    In the run-up to May's local elections, our Walking Cities campaign is calling on future council leaders to commit to making Edinburgh a world-leading walking city.

    "

    https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/what-you-can-do/campaigns/walking-cities-edinburgh

    https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/media/2527/blueprint-for-change.pdf

    http://sydneyyoursay.com.au/walking-strategy/documents/21576/download

    Posted 7 years ago #
  21. chdot
    Admin

  22. chdot
    Admin

    "

    On the environment it says it would promote reuse and recycle schemes, pilot bottle, coffee cup and other deposits schemes, plant an additional 1000 trees across Edinburgh by 2021 and introduce free uplifts of bulky items along with tougher penalties on fly-tippers.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-manifesto-gives-tram-extension-green-light-1-4415848

    Posted 7 years ago #
  23. neddie
    Member

    1000 trees over 4 years, 250 trees per year?

    That's not many.

    They probably replant that many each year anyway to replace trees that have died of natural causes.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  24. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Politics on a local level is made to seem like an expensive luxury but it doesn’t have to be that way, says Lesley Riddoch

    A minority of Scots will vote in local elections next month, unfamiliar with the politicians they are electing and spurred on by national not local issues.

    The only Sunday paper coverage of these elections was headline: “IndyRef2 and Brexit set to turn usually boring council elections into political earthquake.”

    So far, so normal.

    Of course elections in “lower” tiers of democracy are often no more than proxy battles for arguments decided by national legislatures. But it’s some time since Scottish elections were fought entirely on the basis of Westminster issues. Love it or hate it, Holyrood and the Scottish political realm has developed a legitimacy all of its own.

    Not so local government, even though it’s been here far longer.

    Yet last time round there was a miserable council election turnout of just 38 per cent.

    Why? Well, Scottish councils are both too large and too weak representing an average population of almost 170k against the European average of 14k, and depending on Holyrood for cash, legitimacy and permission to spend.

    "

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/lesley-riddoch-local-democracy-needs-a-hand-1-4415708

    Posted 7 years ago #
  25. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Council tax and business rates should be fully devolved to the Capital and other Scottish local authorities, a think tank has said.

    Reform Scotland has put forward the proposals as part of a Blueprint For Local Power manifesto before the council elections on May 4.

    The think tank argues that local democracy is “eroded” by the current system of taxation, which it argues is “almost entirely outwith the control of elected councillors”.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/council-tax-should-be-fully-devolved-says-think-tank-1-4415870

    Posted 7 years ago #
  26. chdot
    Admin

  27. Stickman
    Member

    SNP manifesto published:

    http://www.edinburghsnp.org/council-manifesto-2017

    Posted 7 years ago #
  28. chdot
    Admin

    Posted 7 years ago #
  29. piosad
    Member

    Am I alone in finding bullet points two and six somewhat, eh, contradictory?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  30. DdF
    Member

    Would be interested to hear if people think this is reasonably fair so far?

    Posted 7 years ago #

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