I have to admit, I missed it!
I have been a busy girl over the summer. I have handed in my Masters degree dissertation (a 15,000 word essay on how video games function as narrative) and been working on the big issues for the council.
The biggest issue (outside parking) that we have been looking at is the Blue Collar contracts. This is the bins and the recycling and cleaning. Most councils across the country (I am told) are transferring to a fortnightly collection services in order to save some of the money that all councils have to save due to funding cuts from the Government - and the need to cut the deficit in the council. If you read the local paper, you will know that EDC need to save over £1,000,000 per year in order to have a balanced budget. (For me, this begs the question, as it does for the Government, which idiot let the deficit grow like this - and why does it take a major emergency to review and change the budget?)
Anyway, the Council, as the Herald has been reporting, are looking at ways of saving money - but making sure YOU get a good service - and the estimates for the bins and recycling appear to be able to give a saving, whilst still giving a better service for you. As my daughter might say 'RESULT!'
It is not a done deal though, there are still another round of tenders to go yet, which might see prices rise to the point where they are not offering such a good deal, but at the moment, it seems like we can offer a good service (which means that your plastic recycling can be collected from the door) and save money.
