December Column

Published on Wed 5th Dec 2007

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Trump bid should be tested at full council

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The furore over the rejection of the Trump Organisation's bid for a major development at Menie Park, Balmedie, has demonstrated the flawed nature of Aberdeenshire Council's means of dealing with major planning applications.

While some of the reaction has been over the top it is clear that there is a great deal of public support in principle for the development.

I have spoken to senior council representatives and to the Trump organisation and following that wrote to the council urging them to try and find a way of testing the application with the whole council.

I do not in any way impugn those who oppose the development, their integrity or their diligence. However, it does not seem right that such a crucial development should be determined by a sub committee of a 68 member council most of whom have had no opportunity to express their views.

I hope therefore it a way may be found quickly to unlock the majority view on the council and give this proposal a representative decision.

That is, of course, if the Trump Organisation are prepared to await such an outcome. It seems they are unlikely to appeal as this will take too long.

Aberdeenshire Council's procedures have derailed it. It seems likely that only they can get it back on track to an outcome that represents the majority of the council.

Thirty five years ago I was closely involved in the advent of North Sea oil and gas to Aberdeen. There were many who were opposed to that, believing it would amount to environmental destruction with little benefit for local people.

Aberdeenshire County Council played a key role in securing the industry for Aberdeen with all its challenges including laying a pipeline through the bird sanctuary at the Loch of Strathbeg.

It would be an irony if that council's successor today could not manage to find ways to accommodate a golf development.

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Labour donations scandal diverts from real politics

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The donations issue engulfing Labour is fatally damaging the Government in London and the main opposition in Scotland.

Labour having set rules to outlaw sleaze finds it cannot live by them.

The trouble is the fall out damages the whole body politic and further alienates the voting public.

Worse still it distracts people from considering the Government's conduct on the real issues of the day such as Labour's fatally flawed policies on ID cards, trial without charge, dubious foreign adventures and overwhelming debt that has led to the first run on a bank for more than a century.

It also conveniently for the SNP distracts attention from the Scottish Government's abandonment of many of its election promises notably on police numbers, class sizes and the abolition of student debt to say nothing of compromising local council finances which could lead to major cuts in services.

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BA discards customers

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British Airways have decided to cut their Aberdeen to Gatwick service despite having taken bookings into next summer

What exactly is British Airways up to? Aberdeen Airport is the fastest growing in the BAA Group. Yet, BA is abandoning their Gatwick service despite, I am told, carrying around 200,000 passengers a year.

What is worse is that the company continued accepting bookings for next summer after they had decided to scrap the service but before they had announced the decision.

The opening of Heathrow Terminal Five may mean BA is switching its emphasis but it is still a major operator out of Gatwick and the withdrawal of the service means many people will find it harder to make connections through Gatwick.

It is to be hoped that other airlines will take up the slots and improve the service but it would have been nice for BA to have consulted and explained their reasoning. But then what are customers if not an inconvenience?

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Merry Christmas to the Posties!

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We are in the run up to Christmas and millions of Christmas cards are about to be winging their way around the UK and the world.

I have judged and decided on my own Christmas card competition again through Gordon primary schools and I would like to thank the many schools and pupils which took part on the theme of "I'm dreaming of a green Christmas."

Congratulations to Martin Burnett and the hard working postmen and women

Congratulations to the overall winner, Martin Burnett of Oyne. His well drawn and coloured card featured the three kings with recycling emblems on their robes bringing recycled gifts for baby Jesus.

This will be printed and sent out as my Christmas card to the hundreds of organisations and individuals I send cards to at this time of year.

I have also visited postal workers as they tackle the mountains of Christmas mail which is a huge challenge to be sorted and delivered. But every year it is done efficiently and cheerfully.

The Royal Mail faces stiff and not always fair competition but long may it continue to deliver our last mile so cheerfully in all weathers. Thanks to the Posties and Merry Christmas to them.

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UK poised to be biggest World Bank development donor

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Last week I visited the World Bank in Washington as the UK is poised to become the largest single donor to the IDA - the bank's development fund for the world's poorest countries.

Every three year's countries are invited to contribute to IDA. In the last round the UK was the second largest donor. Now with a weak dollar and rising UK aid budget the UK's contribution is likely to be the largest.

It is therefore very important to be sure that the way the bank spends the money accords with UK objectives and works effectively. Secondly, we need to establish that the UK's influence on the bank which has always had a US nominated President is effective on behalf of the poor.

I receive many representations from individuals across Gordon and NGOs nationally and internationally and believe it is right for us to question the bank closely on its work.

Some Presidents have seen the Bank as an extension of US foreign policy and I was anxious to establish whether the newly appointed Bob Zoellick shared our view that the funds should be used in ways that reduce poverty and help achieve the millennium development goals.

He spent more than an hour with us and made it clear as did many of the other senior executives we met that the UK's Department for International Development is a key partner and does help shape the direction of the bank's activities and the voice of the poor.

We have more work to do before we can produce a definitive report. I hope we will be able to confirm that the partnership between the bank and the UK is effective but no doubt we will have some further recommendations to increase the positive impact on poverty reduction.