Council cost-cutting - 'This must be just the start of the process'

What is clear already is that this is only the beginning of a massive restructuring being forced on the local authority.

The planned merger of its human resources and pay roll departments – resulting in 21 job losses and savings of 500,000 a year – will surely be followed by other amalgamations and it won't be just the middle managers facing the chop.

Yet it is impossible to avoid feeling that some of this pain is overdue and will benefit council tax payers in the long run.

Given the savings involved in this first merger, for instance, why wasn't it done before?

Many residents will be surprised to find that these clearly overlapping functions were being carried out by two different groups of staff – both, no doubt, with their own generously paid bosses and well-funded support services.

Of course, with more than 20,000 staff the council is a massive employer, but no private sector company would consider duplicating personnel work.

The council is being forced to adopt the same sort of hard- headed approach in the current economic climate.

But ridding itself of duplication in its backroom functions is the easy bit for the council. The difficulty will come soon enough when tough decisions have to be taken affecting front line services.

Every saving that is made before then has to be welcomed wholeheartedly, as it will mean more cash stays in the pot for our schools and supporting the elderly and vulnerable.

Protest in peace

The arrival of hundreds of climate change protesters in the Capital will be dreaded by many and welcomed by few who live and work in the city.

That is not to say that no-one has any sympathy with their environmental concerns – far from it – or that anyone wants to see them effectively gagged.

So, the message from us is clear: welcome to Edinburgh, make your protest loud and clear, but above all peaceful. And, whatever you do, don't forget that tens of thousands of us have to carry on going about our daily business.