MITIE disappointed with Council’s ABM decision
Update on the Statutory repairs investigation
Sir Fred to lose his honour?
Coriolanus opens today
Edinburgh Rugby
The Council voted yesterday not to privatise any of their services, and will not be entering into a contract with the facilities management company, MITIE, as planned. A spokesman for MITIE said:-“We are very disappointed by the decision of the elected members. We are surprised that they have rejected our proposals which would have generated significant benefits to Edinburgh creating 200 new jobs, 50 apprenticeships and a healthy school meal plan for all children. The proposals guaranteed material financial savings of £51m with the potential for £63m additional savings.
This process has been going on for almost two years and if there was a presumption against outsourcing, it should have made clear at the beginning of the process thereby saving the Council and all bidders considerable time and money.
The people of Edinburgh and the next generation have been deprived of having more modern, efficient services that would have improved their quality of life. However as a major Scottish employer with over 8,000 people working across the country, we will continue to support our Scottish customers in the years ahead.”
Ruby McGregor-Smith, chief executive of MITIE Group PLC, was named on the 2012 New Year Honours List and will be honoured with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to business and diversity in business.
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The Edinburgh Evening News tries hard to make something scandalous of recent high level suspensions at the council’s property management department, naming the individuals involved, but there is no real meat on the bones as the quotes towards the end of the article show.
There have been around 20 suspensions among department staff. There are two ongoing investigations; one by Lothian & Borders Police and the other by Deloitte, but so far there have been no criminal charges made against any individual. It is clear that this is a serious issue, but until the two enquiries come to an end there is little that can be reported.
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Sir Fred Goodwin received his knighthood on the recommendation of the UK Treasury and also apparently with the support of former PM, Gordon Brown. Now there is a move towards his honour being removed. David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, spoke about this yesterday in the House of Commons as reported by the BBC. Edinburgh MP, Mark Lazarowicz, sponsored an Early Day Motion as long ago as March 2009 to have the banker’s knighthood revoked.
The matter would have to be considered by the Honours Forfeiture Committee. On their website they set out the circumstances in which they might rescind an honour:-
“The Honours Forfeiture Committee exists to consider cases where an individual’s actions subsequent to their being awarded an honour raise the question of whether they should be allowed to continue to be a holder of the honour.
The Committee normally conducts its business by correspondence, but aims to meet at least once a year to review any policy issues and cases which have arisen. To ensure the honours system is not brought into disrepute the Committee normally considers cases put to it when a holder of an honour:
- has been found guilty by the courts of a criminal offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than three months; or
- has been censured/struck off etc by the relevant regulatory authority or professional body for actions or failures to act which are directly relevant to the granting of the honour.”
Not sure that either of those applies to Sir Fred, even if many people, including many Edinburgh residents do not hold him in high esteem any more.
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Coriolanus opens today at The Cameo offering us a glimpse of former Edinburgh trainee solicitor, Gerard Butler, in a starring role along with Ralph Fiennes who is also director of the film adaptation of the Shakespeare play.
Here is a little taster for you:-
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And there will just be time during your coffee break this morning to book your tickets for the Edinburgh Rugby v London Irish Heineken Cup match at Murrayfield this Sunday. That should keep you busy this weekend!
