What ever happened to the “Jannies” they are now called Support Officers, supporting who I ask? Call into the centre they can be found feet on the desk watching TV, not a welcoming sight. Bring back the old school.
Was quietly sitting in Leith Centre last week enjoying lunch when we were rudely interrupted by a slightly oversized member of staff and told us to leave the building as the water had been turned off and the centre has to be evacuated immediately! One would assume that a building this size would have a sufficient water supply to continue functioning. I hope the canteen staff claims loss of earnings.
We see from the Leith Community Centre’s website that the AGM will take place on the 11th June. Are the exisiting committee standing for re-election especially Ilene “the pisoned dwarf” Davidson?
If the answer to the above is yes, then we at Leith Sucks challenge the Committee and send us a formal invitation to attend the meeting were we would like to ask a number of questions the most important being the dwarf, and her explanation as to how she can be chair of a local organisation when she does not stay in the area, work in the area, and is not involved in any club that uses the centre.
The management committee of Leith Centre are calling an Extra Ordinary General meeting for the 2nd October, apparently to ratify changes to their constitution. Hold on a minute was this not on the agenda at the Annual General Meeting in June. Is this another case of incompetence on behalf of the management committee?
Martin Black: Very interesting article on Mr Martin Black, to much detail to be fiction and there is not doubt in my mind that the posting to be fact. As a centre member and regular user for over 12 years, it is most disturbing not to mention worrying that this can be allowed to materialise. I would like to ask what the local elected Councillors Munn and Munro are going to do about it and more to the point the spineless Management Committee in particular Ilene Davidson.
Rhona Hyslop: Just seen the latest issue of the Leither (43) Interesting article on the centre by Sandy Campbell. I would like to point out that it is actually Leith Community Centre and not the Kirkgate Community Centre. Mr Campbell refers to the 2007 AGM in which the numbers in attendance was huge. I was at this AMG and can confirm the large attendance was because Mr Campbell tried to take over the centre.
Now Mr Campbell sings the praises of the new facilities co-ordinator Rhona Hyslop. I agree that the centre has undergone a facelift, however this was only partly down to Rhona Hyslop.
Being a member and user for over 12 years, I know the retired co-ordinator Helen Hodge was the backbone of the centre for 18 years, and had most of the wheels in motion for the facelift, Rhona just picked up the pieces. Helen ran the centre for years alone when Earl Ross took his quota of sick leave. I fail to see why Rhona can get all the credit when the truth is, Helen done all the hard graft. Rhona is not there to run the place; one would assume that the management committee are in charge of the centre affairs and not some upstart who has only been in the job for a few months.
Valid email address supplied.
Sexual Harassment Offender Martin Blank lands the prime job in Leith Community Centre as the SCLD. Martin Black, the “Beast of Craigmillar”, was Senior Community Education Worker in the Jack Kane Centre in Craigmillar. He was removed from the JKC having been being found guilty of Sexual Harassment and Unfair Treatment at Work. He was immediately transferred out of the JKC and into the Forrestines Project. During the lengthy investigation into his misconduct, the Council were able to prove from a Council mobile phone, through text messages that he had made inappropriate approaches and comments to a female member of Council staff. When the case was brought to a disciplinary hearing the female member of staff resigned and moved to Wales to get away from the “Beast of Craigmillar”. What I hear you ask did the Council do about this beast? Yes, they did not fire him, instead they transferred him to a safe post on a protected salary.
It might not surprise you to know that the investigation was conducted under the auspices of none other than Mike Rosendale who withdrew the Beast from Forrestines and installed him in a plum post in Waterloo Place and subsequently on into Waverley Court. It was a condition on the Beast of Craigmillar that he was not allowed to work directly with staff in Communities or the general public. He was to be incarcerated in the post in HQ until a suitable vacancy arose somewhere in the Council. He was asked to research alternatives ways to run community centres without staff and preferably without constitutions and leases. It is also worth noting that Martin the Beast of Craigmillar has absolutely no time for Community Centres, Management Committees or members of the public who like to get voluntarily involved in community associations. The Beast believes he has a fundamental right to rationalise Council facilities irrespective of who uses them.
Finally, it should not be a surprise to anyone that he re-emerges under the management of Fraudster Rosendale’s wife, Hard as Nails, Christine Mackay. Where better to place a proven bully, harasser and thug than with his female equal.
We have just found out that Leith Comminity Centre will be holding its Auunal General Meeting on Thursday 19th June. After last years fiasco they are certainly keeping this one quiet. If you are at a loose end on that night come along for a guaranteed night of fun. Will Ilene “the poisoned dwarf” Davidson be re-elected as chair for another term in office or do the decent thing and walk away?
Having lived in Leith for 50 years, I am extremely disappointed by what is happening in our local community. Praise is due to the team at Leith Sucks for highlighting the irregular and underhanded tactics, in particular the goings on in the community centre. Is the management committee on some sort of ego trip or perhaps drugs? The centre is there for the benefit of the community. How is the management committee elected? I have never seen any documentation relating to annual general meetings. Moreover, how can council employees decide what is best for the community when they do not know what the community wants.
I am most captivated by the frolics of the current chairperson (Ilene Davidson) and the so-called people who are part of the children and families department, and let us not forget the councillors representing the Leith ward.
I cannot understand why Ilene Davidson (according to articles on this site) is at the helm when she has no personal involvement in Leith whatsoever and a council employee to boot, maybe it will look good on her CV or is she sleeping with the powers that be in the council to get up the promotion ladder. Either way she should be removed from chair.
Ilene “The Rat” Davidson gets into training for more lies and deceit. The latest saga to hit the news desk is “The Rat” claims to be a centre member through the badminton club, hold on a minute, why don’t the badminton club know who she is. A clear-cut case of lies and deceit. We already know “The Rat” does not stay or work in Leith now she is not attached or involved with any groups that use the centre. Yet again we ask WHY IS SHE CHAIRPERSON??
In tonight’s Evening News
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/letters.cfm?id=1881592007
THE letter from James Rooney (Letters, November 24) somewhat misses the point of the lack of a lift at Leith Community Centre and the responsibility for correcting the matter.
He correctly states that disabled access is of the essence in all buildings, public or not. He also confirms that his clients accept that responsibility, but in making advances to the parties mentioned, suggests that his clients want to lay the operation of this function elsewhere.
The maintenance, cleaning etc; is a whitewash and is irrelevant when discussing the subject.
The alternative access routes do not adhere to the letter of the law concerning disabled access. People with walking difficulties cannot negotiate stairs and vehicular access is of no use in negotiating access to the building.
There is no mention of emergency evacuation of the building, which, even with the lift in operation, falls short of health and safety requirements - this being the sole egress point for disabled persons. Young mothers with children in buggies have to contend with the same situation.
Those involved in the alleged attempt to resolve this problem should meet those most affected by the shortfall at the location and witness the situation and facility in use - or not in use, depending on the time of day.
Offering the lift to the council as a gift is nothing more than crass dereliction of responsibility. If the running of the buildings in accordance with H&S regulations is a problem, they should not have taken up the role. The commercial aspects of the operation seem to be more important than the law.
If planning permission was being sought now without this facility, it would be refused. Why, therefore, is the access and egress now a matter for discussion? And why is the council, including Cllr Munro, who earlier had said that he would have the matter brought to the attention of the correct department, not now simply closing the facility until this matter is resolved.
The planning permission would have been for the site as a whole so, in closing the community centre, the retail outlets would also have to be closed.The current situation is an accident waiting to happen. What then?
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