“SENIOR COUNCIL SOURCE” – SAVE POLLOK PARK CAMPAIGN COULD BANKRUPT COMMON GOOD FUND

In other news – council claims protesters cause flood, pestilence & global financial crisis

COUNCIL COMMON GOOD POLICY MUST CHANGE

We’re kidding about the flood and pestilence…

…but this is just as nonsensical as the ‘senior council source’ who is quoted by The Herald:

“The stance taken by the campaigners has been overly simplistic and this issue is just another example of how managing successful services is more complex than they want to admit.”

This blatant attempt to shoot the messenger is not only crude but inaccurate. We welcome the following assurance from Cllr Stephen Curran, Executive Member for Service Reform:

“I share your concern at these unfortunate and unattributable comments, which are simply inaccurate with regard to “Save Pollok Park” for whom the phrase “overly simplistic” is wholly inappropriate. Clearly there is a risk to maintaining the current high level of expenditure in Pollok Park and the Common Good Fund if those are not addressed, but they did not preclude its consideration and inclusion as a Common Good Asset and are in no way insurmountable.” “ In my previous role as City Treasurer I introduced a new investment policy on the Common Good that had been developed on a non-partisan and cross-party basis, focussing on appropriate measures to protect the level of the Common Good Fund in future.”

Referring to Common Good assets in general, Cllr Curran says:
“(At the Executive Committee meeting) I also asked and received confirmation that it was “not difficult” to manage Pollok Park effectively as a Common Good asset.” “I added that we support Pollok Park’s inclusion as a Common Good asset and that accounting for this will be an ongoing issue in future, particularly as additional properties may be included on the Common Good Asset Register.”
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Council policy on Common Good must change

The Council would not be in such disarray if they were simply to update the Common Good asset register as required by the Scottish Government. This should have been completed by 31 March 2009.

According to the Chief Executive’s department this would cost £1.3 million to implement. Perhaps a ‘senior council source’ would tell us how this figure has been calculated? It sounds like a lot of money but perhaps it should be put in the context of the £2 million bill for the salaries and expenses of the Chief Officers’ for 2008-9. Details here.

The absence of an up to date register was partly responsible for the wrong advice to councillors about Pollok Park’s status and the eventual downfall of the Go Ape proposal. It will be interesting to see how much that fiasco cost the Council when our FOI request for details of all the expenditure is finally answered. Having failed to provide the data at the first request the Council now has until 9 November to provide this information on appeal.

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…and finally – more news about Go Ape

The website for Friends of Itchen Valley Park reports on Go Ape’s attempts to build a course in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the local council’s attempts to block the protesters.

Bill Fraser

Save Pollok Park

Tel: 0141-424 0447

Mob: 07775 832 461

Fax: 0141-626 4235

How We Organise – Event update

How We Organise event: Where we go from here

Conclusions: How We Organise – There is not enough being done to break down the barriers that stop people participating. While the “activist” is to busy and has no time for whatever reasons – there is a whole community out
there looking in. What they are looking at (generally) is something they do
not feel part of – something out-with their experience – or more troubles
to add to the ones they already have. If we are to get more people involved
(an imperative if we want things to change) we need to start using our
imagination and the type of tools that do not create more alienation – but
power and understanding for those who need it most.

The event attracted some new people interested in what is going on around them. The Common Good day event, also set out some of the benefits we could gain by more communication through our various groups and activities. A few highlights of the events and updates, follows.

MALADMINISTRATION COMPLAINT REJECTED BY GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL – CASE REFERRED TO OMBUDSMAN

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FOI REQUEST – WHAT INFORMATION?

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MORE FROM GO APE!
Council rejects SPP maladministration charge

Rejecting our recent letter of complaint the Executive Director of Corporate
Services at GCC replied:

Glasgow School Closures & rising school rolls

In an embarrassing gaffe [sic] by members of Glasgow City Council, revealed over the weekend, it was shown that the principal reason put forward for the closure of nearly two dozen schools in the city earlier this year could not now be supported by official statistics. In April this year leading Labour politicians within the country’s largest local authority revealed that they intended to close a significant number of city schools because of “falling school rolls”.

SAVE POLLOK PARK LAUNCHES MALADMINISTRATION COMPLAINT AGAINST GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL

SAVE POLLOK PARK LAUNCHES MALADMINISTRATION COMPLAINT AGAINST GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL

Save Pollok Park today launched a formal complaint of maladministration against Glasgow City Council over its handling of the Go Ape project.
Full complaint PDF

Common Good report Fife Council.pdf

Common Good report Fife CouncilPDF

Common Good fund ‘failings’ – Fife council’s external auditors…

FIFE COUNCIL’S external auditors have told the local authority it needs to improve the way it looks after the Common Good funds.

Scott Moncrieff state that it is not clear where specific responsibilities for administering the funds lie, there is poor information about moveable Common Good assets such as paintings and books, and there is a risk the funds do not receive rental income which is rightfully theirs.

Pollok Park Victory – Common Good

On 12th June Glasgow Council finally gave in and abandoned the idea of of Go Ape in Pollok Park

Thanks to all our supporters – we knew we spoke for the majority and could prove it – they thought we would gradually go away – but were wrong

In their press statement the Council and Go Ape tried to save face – that is to be expected – but they and we know that they simply could not overcome the legal and financial mess they go into – and which we have been pointing out for 18 months

We established that Pollok Park (and Knowehead Lodge ) are part of the Common Good and they would have had to go to court to remove them
Bridge report

Save Pollok Park

North Kelvinside Meadow Picnic

Inspecting the Accounts of your Council and also getting information about the Common Good

In June or July each year the Local Authority should put a public notice in the local
newspaper. This will be headed up:
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 – Draft Accounts year to 31 March 200X
This will give the place and dates when the draft accounts of the Council can be inspected.
Anyone can take copies of extracts of these, and all books, deeds, contracts, vouchers and
receipts will also be made available. Enquiries concerning this will be directed to a
designated officer of the council who will be named on the public notice.