Name that Bridge.

Carnegie reads that the battle between Fife, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Councils to win the honour of naming the new Forth Crossing Bridge at Kincardine continues.

You would think that these three Councils would have better things to be doing with their time ... cracking down on anti-social tenants, improving council services, making sure our kids can read and write better ... but no, the focus is on naming a bridge.

Speaks volumes about the current priorities of local government. Maybe we should auction the rights to a commercial company a bit like they do with football stadiums these days and that way the Council Tax payer might get some benefit out of the process?

The McDonald's Bridge anyone?

"Fairly" confident.

Carnegie notes the comments this morning of Councillor Alex Rowley, Leader of the Labour Group on Fife Council and embattled Prime Minister Gordon Brown MP's Election Agent, in relation to his thoughts on whether the PM would overcome his current difficulties.

Councillor Rowley's less than ringing endorsement was summed by his comment that he was "fairly confident" the PM would prevail.

As the old saying goes ... with friends like Alex who needs enemies? Another Rowleyism ... and he works for the PM as well. A very fitting 100th post for the That's Fife Blog.

£158 million.

Carnegie reads that "FIFE IS facing a bill for more than £158 million in landfill taxes and penalties over a 10-year period unless new ways of treating waste generated by households and businesses are found. And that is despite record recycling rates, the council’s head of environmental services Fraser Thomson has told councillors."

The bill doesn't start falling due until 2010/11 so that gives our elected representatives on Fife Council a few years to get their finger out. Unfortunately, Carnegie isn't confident given their poor record on administration.

But Carnegie thinks a starting point might be to get to the bottom of the statement "Fife already produces more waste per household than the Scottish average and, with increasing population, the amount of rubbish produced is forecast to rise." But why?

That's logic.

Carnegie reads "FIFE COUNCIL has said it will not follow in the footsteps of Perth and Kinross Council by applying for legal city status for Dunfermline – because it is already a city. Despite the decision taken by its Perthshire counterpart to apply for city status at the next opportunity, which is thought to be in 2012, Fife Council insisted there was no need for Dunfermline to apply. A spokeswoman explained, “We already have city status. Dunfermline was created as a Royal Burgh in 1588.”

Carnegie agrees. If I was a city and already had that status I would be loathe to let Fife Council anywhere near the concept.

By the time they had finished, I probably wouldn't even be a humble hamlet.

Goodbye Mr Depute Provost.

So, "COMPLAINTS ABOUT the conduct of Fife’s former depute provost Alf Patey regarding the dedication ceremony of Glenrothes War Memorial were mainly “well-founded,” a top level inquiry has concluded. The local authority’s head of law and administration Harry Tait was asked to look into Mr Patey’s actions before and during the ceremony on November 7 after concerns were expressed at a council meeting. Mr Tait’s report, based on interviews with all concerned, was made public yesterday. Councillors have received a copy and it will be made available online and on request, said chief executive Ronnie Hinds. Councillor Patey, who resigned as depute provost on Tuesday but is continuing to represent Glenrothes West and Kinglassie, declined to comment on the findings."

Carnegie seems to recall that the reason for the move to using proportional representation for May's Council Elections was to raise the calibre of Councillors elected. That obviously worked then .... eh?

Planning enforcement.

So, "A NEW Guide on how Fife Council deals with people who fail to stick to planning regulations is being compiled, with the authority insisting it will act against anyone breaking the rules. Fife Council is in the process of putting together a Planning Enforcement Charter which will give customers advice and information on the subject."

Given Fife Council's appalling record on defending its planning refusals, they have obviously given up on trying to do that and will instead be pursuing Joe Public for minor breeches of planning laws. Anyone for a new conservatory while you still have a chance of getting one? It would be easier to get a new quarry.

Can't Pay. Won't Pay.

So, "UNPAID Poll Tax from the 1990s totalling £12 million has been written off by Fife Council after efforts to chase debtors failed. But finance chiefs insist they will still continue to push for payments owed from bills issued between 1989 and 1992 when the controversial tax was imposed under Conservative Party rule. The writing off process has been described as a 'technical, tidy-up exercise' by bosses who had budgeted for it, recognising no tax system yields a 100 per cent collection rate."

Given the financial difficulties of Fife Council it isn't good to be writing off £12 million unpaid debts, but then again the chances of getting much of the cash are virtually non-existent Carnegie thinks after the fifteen years that have elapsed.

No tax system has a 100% collection rate, but Fife Council seemed to miss that target by a mile.

Here we go again.

Carnegie reads "Motorists have been warned they face at least three months of delays on one of the country's most congested commuter routes. Parts of the Forth Road Bridge carriageway will close for weeks at a time to enable the work to be carried out, starting in April 2009. The major roadworks are needed to replace the roadway's main expansion joins, now reaching the end of their life after 43 years wear and tear."

Carnegie points out that over the last couple of years there have been lane closures on the Forth Road Bridge running to dozens of weekends to allow road surfacing works. Surely there must have been some way of doing the replacement of "expansion joints" at the same time given that the road surface was very largely exposed? And avoiding the next lot of major roadworks in 2009.

Carnegie is beginning to think that the guys at the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) are either severely incompetent or intent on causing as much disruption as is possible to the punters using the Bridge. He is really not sure which of these two scenarios is most likely.

Planning for failure ... again.

Carnegie reads that yet again Fife Council has lost yet another appeal against one of its planning refusals.

"A PLANNING application to redevelop St David’s Harbour in Dalgety Bay has been approved by the Scottish Government, despite opposition from residents and Fife Council. The decision by the government reporter to allow developers Eadie Cairns to begin work at the harbour brings a long-running saga to an end. Fife Council and the town’s community council had opposed the project because the developer planned to build a large number of flats. Residents were keen for the area to be used for leisure facilities, and in particular new bars and restaurants. But, after a two-day public inquiry in September, the reporter has decided to allow the project to go ahead."

Carnegie has said all of this before but what is the point of Fife Council taking planning decisions and then not being able to defend them when they are challenged? Carnegie reckons that the Council have lost at least three planning appeals in as many months and Mr Carnegie thinks that the Council needs to put his own house in order, otherwise it is local people and communtities that will pay the price for their failure, again ... and again ... and again.

For sale?

Carnegie reads that "ELECTRONICS manufacturer Cemtron’s bid to shut its three sites in Fife and move into the empty Lexmark factory could be scuppered by Fife Council. The firm wants to sell its Dalgety Bay site for housing and use the cash to buy the Rosyth plant, expand its business and bring in new jobs. But Cemtron’s current site, in Hillend Industrial Park, is zoned for employment use only and the fear is they will pull the plug on Scotland if they don’t get the green light."

Carnegie suspects the proposal is nothing short of economic blackmail: give us planning permission for a housing development or we will go elsewhere.

The view of Fife Council should be very simple. Consider the planning application as just that and nothing else. If it stands up and should be approved then approve it, but let's not give way to any developer or property owner trying to hold a gun to the Council's head, especially given the recent experience of Lexmark. It has after all been less than a year since Lexmark shut their former facility in Rosyth with the loss of 700 jobs. Perhaps we should be taking the promises of new jobs by any business with a big pinch of salt.

£1 a day.

Carnegie reads that Fife Council is to consider extending car parking charges in Inverkeithing and Dunfermline aimed at rail commuters at a minimum cost of £1 a day, three times that for other users.

Sounds very simple doesn't it. The problem is that it probably won't work, especially if people aren't used to paying any charges at the moment. It will lead to more people parking in residential streets, or indeed even perhaps trying to park their cars at other stations not covered by the parking charges, e.g. in Dalgety Bay or Aberdour.

The fundamental problem is that there isn't enough car parking provision near the the stations that are becoming increasingly busy. Fife Council should be trying to sort that out. After all, you shouldn't encourage people to use public transport and not put in place the facilities to allow them to do it.

The real irony is that over ten million pounds has been spend on the 1040 parking space "park and ride" facility at Ferrytoll near Inverkeithing for bus services, which is regularly running 30% empty (you can see it from the train). Perhaps we should be encouraging people to take the bus?

Righting a palpable wrong.

So, "MSPS gave their overwhelming backing to plans to scrap the tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges—the Scottish Government’s first piece of legislation ... The basis of the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill was passed by 107 votes to four with two abstentions. Those who voted against were Green MSPs Robin Harper and Patrick Harvie, Lib Dem Hugh O’Donnell and Tory Margaret Mitchell. Lib Dem Edinburgh MSPs Mike Pringle and Margaret Smith abstained. A Tory spokesman said later that Ms Mitchell supported abolition and voted in error."

So the end is now in sight and Carnegie leaves the last word to MSP Ted Brocklebank: "We are righting a palpable wrong." It's just a pity it took so long. Longer than it had to if some of Fife's elected representatives had shown more commitment for putting the interests of their constituents ahead of those of their party.

Crime down?

Carnegie reads in this week's local press that Fife Constabulary are claiming that since April the amount of anti-social behaviour, vandalism and breach of the peace in the Kingdom has fallen by 10%.

Do you believe them?

Carnegie doesn't. Perhaps it's because people have given up complaining because of the lack of response from the cops, or because of the fact that much of the crime that falls into these categories is committed by young people below the age at which the cops and the courts have any ability to get really involved, with those caught being referred to the overwhelmed children's' reporters system.

Or maybe even because of the problems with using Fife Police's automated call handling system with the nice prerecorded music whilst you wait. Take your pick, but Carnegie doesn't believe Fife Police on this ... he wished he could.

Green machine.

Carnegie reads that recycling rates in Fife broke through the 40% barrier between April and September with more than 56,000 tonnes of waste recycled or composted. Amongst this were: 18.000 tonnes of garden waste, 12,000 tonnes of paper and 4,000 tonnes of glass, giving a recycling rate of 41.8% for the Kingdom.

But Carnegie would question how much more scope there is for Fifers to recycle in the areas where two weekly bin collections have been introduced without Fife Council making much more readily available facilities for recycling materials not bearing recycling logos like specialised packaging.

While they are at it they might also want to give some thought to helping those like the elderly or those suffering from poor health, who can't always get ready access to cars to transport their recycling to recycling points. Oh and how about a Council tax rebate for the poor council taxpayers who like Carnegie are probably spending scores of hours of their own time every year recycling materials that would previously have been collected and sorted by Fife Council itself?

Lauder-able change.

Carnegie also reads that the Scottish Government has given the go ahead for Lauder College to change its name to Carnegie College. Another good week for Carnegie then. Here's hoping it generates a few more visitors to his Birthplace Museum.

Visitors up.

Carnegie reads that the numbers of visitors to his Museum (the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum in Dumfermline) has doubled "this season" to 7,000.

Carnegie hates to blow his own trumpet but he feels he must, given his international reputation and the number of Carnegie bequests that have been created around the world he would have expected a few more punters to make the pilgrimage to Dunfermline to to see where the great man himself was born and lived.

Carnegie also notes that the Carnegie Trust has allocated £250,000 to further develop the Museum. Mr Carnegie says about time too. He is no spring chicken but some aspects of the Museum are definitely showing their age, which probably explains why so few people are visiting it.

Pulling teeth.

Carnegie reads that "Almost 34,000 NHS patients have had their registration with a dental practice in Tayside or Fife withdrawn in the past three years, the Scottish Government has revealed. The figures come after it emerged last month that over half of all adults north of the border are not registered with a health service dentist. Public health minister Shona Robison said she is not ruling out changes to the length of time patients can go without a visit before they are effectively struck off lists."

Carnegie thinks that this figure is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg with many more Fifers not realising as yet that they don't any longer have an NHS dentist, or even the prospect of getting onto a private dental list, even if they were willing to pay the much higher costs for treatment.

Something really should be done about this whole situation. The sad thing is that it has been a problem for years and as yet no politician has bitten the bullet as regards solving it and it is the public that are losing out in increasing numbers.

Fife's Dream Factory.

Carnegie reads "A MICROCHIP plant which promised to create 2000 jobs in west Fife is facing demolition after lying empty for 10 years. The former Hyundai plant near Dunfermline, which was bought by Motorola in 2000, is the region’s latest victim of outsourcing. An industry expert said the £2.4 billion white elephant had failed to produce a single micro-chip because of the lure of cheap labour in the Far East. It is unlikely anyone will find a use for the building because of its purpose-built interior."

Carnegie thinks that demolishing a building which cost so much to build would be nothing short of a financial scandal, but even he recognises that when a building is not "fit for the purpose" for which it was designed then what is the point in leaving it in place, like the blot on the landscape that this white elephant is fast becoming?

Whatever happens, with so much cash involved (even on a balance sheet somewhere), don't expect anything to happen fast to Fife's Dream Factory.

Forth View.

Carnegie reads that "FORTH ROAD BRIDGE bosses are set to spend £250,000 demolishing the canopy over the toll plaza after residents complained it ruined their view. The £5 million toll booths have only been in place for just over a year but will be removed following the decision to scrap tolls by the government."

This expensive saga just gets worses and worse, and worse ... what a waste of public money.

Hands free.

Fresh from disclosures last week that the UK Government's Immigration Minister Liam Byrne MP plead guilt to using his mobile phone whilst driving, Carnegie notes that Fife Conservative Regional MSP Ted Brocklebank is apparently also due to appear in court on charges related to doing exactly the same thing.

"MID-SCOTLAND and Fife MSP Ted Brocklebank is facing court proceedings over alleged use of a mobile telephone while driving ... the MSP, who lives in St Andrews, has been charged by police following an alleged incident in north-east Fife. The case has been called on the roll at Cupar District Court and Mr Brocklebank tendered a not guilty plea by letter to a charge alleging that he committed the offence on May 7 this year at Guardbridge. The trial will not take place until next year."

Carnegie is reminded that Mr Brocklebank spent a lot of time during the Scottish Parliament's last session pursuing the health risks around the location of mobile phone masts so it is ironic that he will find himself in court having to defend his own apparent driving related mobiole phone useage. It's clearly not just the masts that are the only dangerous thing associated with mobile phones.

Lapping it up.

So, Carnegie reads that the Councillors serving on the Fife Licensing Board have managed to give the go ahead to a lap dancing club in Dunfermline without realising they had done it, and are now seeking to blame officials of the Board for the proverbial "cock-up."

"COUNCILLORS have been left red-faced after it emerged they gave the go-ahead for a lap-dancing club in Dunfermline, without knowing what they were doing. The licensing board last week granted a licence transfer to the new owners of the old Robins Cinema in East Port, which until last year housed nightclub Déjà vu. But when the application came up for approval the board was not made aware of the lap-dancing plans and members gave it the nod, along with a number of others, without discussion."

Carnegie thinks that their Justices are washing their hands too lightly of their mistake. They are after all the ones who actually take the decisions and they should be the ones satisfying themselves that everything is above board. The mistake is therefore their own and they should just admit as much, instead of blaming the officials that work for them and can't answer back.