Letters: Gathering all the facts on clan event controversy

There have been reports, commentary and editorial on The Gathering in recent weeks and there are several issues that need clarified.

The deputy leader and I welcome wholeheartedly the review that the council's chief executive will conduct. Indeed, it was us who first asked for this to be undertaken, as noted in the motion that was passed at our council meeting last week.

Cllr Cardownie and I both gave honest answers during over three hours of questioning at the Scottish Parliament's Public Audit Committee (PAC) on November 3, 2010. We remain mystified at some of the comments in the PAC report.

Regarding legal advice "funded by the taxpayer", I made clear at the council meeting on March 10 that this was advice sought immediately from our legal services division by the council director who was also sullied by the PAC report. Given that two officers and two elected members were all treated to the same contemptuous comment, it seems reasonable for us to share advice on what steps would be open to us regarding our right to reply to the PAC and how to defend our names.

The news that The Gathering brand has been sold to Stirling for a mere 6000 does not surprise me. I am on record as saying I doubted the initial value being put on the brand, a view influenced by the fact that it is not a unique name, being shared with Scotland's largest voluntary sector event.

Finally, the failure of a private company to pay bills cannot be blamed on Scottish Government or local politicians. I have never moved from my original position that, while I have sympathy for the creditors, the City of Edinburgh Council has no moral or legal obligation to address the debts of a private company. The loss experienced by various businesses is caused solely by the failings and collapse of The Gathering 2009 Ltd.

Councillor Jenny Dawe, leader, Edinburgh City Council

Unnecessary grit is waste of money

I WAS wondering if your readers are aware that Edinburgh council has squads of men working night shift, out gritting the routes when temperatures are +5C (Tuesday, March 15).

In these times of job cuts and spending cuts it seems ridiculous that our council tax is being wasted this way. When I phoned Bankhead depot to complain I was told there was a severe weather warning from the Met Office that the temperature could drop to 0C.

This is what the Met Office report actually says: "This evening rain, heavy in places, will continue across Lothian and Borders. Tonight dry conditions spreading east across all parts. Mist, patchy frost and ice developing, mainly across Dumfries and Galloway. Minimum temperature 0C."

Margret Miller, Glasgow Road, Edinburgh

Council tax leaflet is misleading

All council tax payers have recently received their tax demands for the next financial year. But how misleading can the attached explanation leaflet be?

Despite many Scottish firms having to shed ten to 20 per cent of their staff, Edinburgh council shows just a two per cent reduction. Where is the efficiency? The council fails to mention that it has control of an number of arms-length operations, such as the trams, where grossly inflated salaries are being paid. It also fails to mention that a number of retiring staff are immediately re-employed as consultants.

No wonder the majority of Edinburgh's citizens are sickened by the lack of financial acumen shown by the councillors and the sleeket way their figures appear to be presented.

Colin C Maclean, Hillpark Avenue, Edinburgh

Traffic light party must be a joke

When I read about the traffic light party on Fountainbridge, I thought it was "Joke of the Day". Are they celebrating the amount of traffic lights they can put into two-and-a-half blocks?

1: Fountainbridge and Lothian Road. 2: Fountainbridge and Semple Street. 3: Fountainbridge and Tollcross School. 4: Fountainbridge and Gardners Crescent.

I don't see the bus drivers on that route invited to the party.

J Simard, Edinburgh