February 2009 diary column
03 July 2009
Budget vote.
Well, it’s not every month you get to vote down a £33 billion budget, but that is exactly what I had to do at the start of the month when the Government presented its Budget Bill to Parliament. Weeks of discussions, bargaining, wrangling, dealing (call it what you will) with the other Parties in Parliament still gave no clear picture of the likely outcome at the end of the debate, although it was more or less accepted that the 2 Members of the Green Party held the balance. If they were to vote against the Budget then I, as Presiding Officer, would have the casting vote. Great!
Actually, it’s not as awful as it sounds, as convention dictates that the casting vote should be used against change and in favour of the status quo – in many other legislatures, a 50-50 vote results in whatever was being voted on being simply dropped. I had let it be well known in advance how I would vote, so there were no surprises when I voted against the Bill, but it was still an odd feeling to call the vote, then watch the small screen in front of me for the 30 seconds that it takes to vote, almost willing it to change from the 64-64 position that appeared after about 10 of those seconds. It didn’t, and I had to vote against – yet the Chamber was remarkably calm given the circumstances.
The truth is that the politicians, unlike some of the press, knew that there was a second chance, and I think almost everyone breathed a sigh of relief when it became obvious over the next few days that the Budget Bill (vol. 2) would be passed. Interesting days ‘though, and lessons learned all round.
Playgroup (non)sense.
Like many others, I was horrified to learn that the Council proposed a scheme to increase the rent for playgroups that use school premises to run their activities. Now, rents will always go up to reflect inflation and the cost of services, and it is only right that they should do so, but the increases proposed had zilch to do with inflation. One had a proposed increase of 321%, and most others were facing a doubling of their existing rents at the very least. Added to the fact that the affected groups were invariably in small rural communities within which the parents work their socks off to attract enough money to keep the playgroup going, and you end up with an unacceptable proposal in normal circumstances, but a totally illogical one given the economic circumstances of today.
So credit to the Council, therefore, for taking a step back from this, and agreeing to look at it again. They should not bring back any similar proposals, because they will simply be met with the same degree of anger and hostility that greeted the original scheme. I have considerable sympathy with the Council’s financial difficulties, but the way to solve them is assuredly not doubling and trebling the rent for providing a facility that it already owns and runs.
Speed & more speed.
A recent public meeting that I chaired in Cairnryan highlighted the community’s concerns over the speed with which traffic passes through the village – despite the theoretic protection of a 30mph limit. Numerous stories relate to cars overtaking other vehicles within the village itself and HGVs, no doubt late for their ferry, completely ignoring the limits in place. The good people of Mennock now live in real fear as a newly opened upgrade to the A76 deposits traffic at great speed almost in the middle of that village before the driver even realises it. Residents of Springholm and Crocketford on the A75 know all about this problem and yet nothing is ever done about it.
Travelling to and from Edinburgh, as I do at least once a week, I cannot help noticing other Councils increasing the use of automatically triggered devices that are designed to slow drivers down – AND THEY WORK, because most drivers don’t intend to speed or break the law and, if they are reminded of that law by a flashing sign, they tend to slow down. As almost every other region in Scotland recognises that, and is using these devices in ever increasing numbers, why on earth do our agencies, be it Police, Council or Amey, not deploy more of them? I am not optimistic about getting a decent answer to that question, because I haven’t had one yet, despite having asked it for more years than I care to remember.
Haggis-no-more.
What a pleasure it was to be asked to speak to the first ever lunch for the combined Guilds within the Stewartry (with invited representatives from Dumfries). I think it was the first meal I’ve been asked to since the turn of the year that didn’t include haggis! Now, don’t get me wrong – I love haggis but, by mid-February, one is starting to suffer from a mild dose of haggisitis if you’re on the Burns supper circuit. I thought I’d attended quite a few suppers having ‘done’ 6 of them this year but, at the last one, I met a splendid individual who had attended 19 and still had 7 to go! Clearly that individual is no casual user of haggis but has moved to a full addiction.
Yet, the menu apart, my Guild lunch had much in common with Burns suppers, in that they are all about camaraderie and communion, about getting together in a common cause and about sharing with each other. I defy anyone not to feel the better for any such experience.
Befriending.
My last Burns supper engagement was as the Chair of the Dumfries & Galloway Befrienders supper. Although it is only the 3rd one held by the Befrienders, it has been so successful that it had to be held in the Easterbrook Hall, as it has outgrown everywhere else. Its purpose is threefold – to have an enjoyable Burns supper, to raise funds and to spread the word about the project. I have no doubt that all 3 aims were successfully met and that this particular supper, like the project itself, will go from strength to strength.
Put simply, a Befriender is teamed up with a young person – often a very vulnerable young person – to provide a regular oasis in an otherwise difficult and troubled life. I spoke to one befriender who told me that they feel they get far more benefit from the experience than the youngster they have befriended, and that they simply can’t wait for the next visit to come round – and doesn’t that say it all.
The pinnacle.
My life is complete – whatever does or doesn’t happen to me from now on is entirely irrelevant. The reason? I was asked to accept a trophy on behalf of the Parliament the other day, and pleased to do so. This was the inter-Parliamentary football trophy which is contested annually between teams from the devolved assemblies of Wales and Northern Ireland, the Scottish Parliament and, of course, Westminster. The Scottish Parliamentary team won it (for the 4th year out of 6) keeping a clean sheet throughout the competition and beating the Westminster team in the final. None of the above has any bearing on my elation – regular readers will be aware of my somewhat tenuous relationship with the sport of association football!
No, the cause of my sublime contentment was that the trophy was presented to me by the Scottish team coach – none other than Kenny Dalgleish Esq. – he who single handedly turned me into a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter, and who I have now met. I cannot help it – I was like a 10 year old schoolboy in front of their hero – I’ve no idea whether my brief speech made any sense, and I’ve been cursing myself since for not getting his autograph. Perhaps next year…
Weavers winner.
Some time ago I wrote in this column of the wonderful collaborative effort by the Wigtownshire Guild of Spinners & Weavers in putting together a tapestry depicting local scenes. I am delighted to report that the finished article is now on display, and can be seen at Bladnoch distillery Monday – Friday until Easter and 7 days a week thereafter. What is more is that the distillery is producing a whisky with a label depicting the tapestry. Surely that is worthy recognition for an excellent project.
Contact.
As always, just phone free on 0800 028 7260 for a surgery or home appointment.