I see from today's Greenock Telegraph that SNP list MSP Stuart McMillan - not surprisingly - is supporting the Scottish Government's proposed five year Council Tax freeze, which would mean that by 2016 the Council Tax would have been frozen for 9 years.
The decision to freeze the Council Tax is of course not one that can be taken by the Scottish Government. It is a decision for each of Scotland's 32 local authorities, or it would be if the Scottish Government had any respect for local democracy.
The fact is that they don't. Local authorities are again being told if they don't freeze the Council Tax local government funding will be cut by £70m.
It really is time to end this annual nonsense.
The Scottish Government should bring forward legislation at the earliest opportunity to abolish the Council Tax. Given that they clearly do not trust local authorities to act in the best interests of their communities they should replace it with a national tax and distribute the proceeds to Councils through increased grant.
In the last Parliament they did not proceed with their proposal to replace the Council Tax with that contradiction in terms, a nationally set local income tax, as they did not have the support of other parties. Now they have an overall majority there is no reason for them not to bring forward legislation.
Mind you I won't hold my breath in anticipation. Something tells me that they may have gone cool on the idea of abolishing the Council Tax, preferring instead the short-term populism of the Council Tax freeze.
Not like the SNP to avoid difficult decisions, is it?
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Monday 26 September 2011
Shared Campus Update...
I chaired a meeting of the Port Glasgow Shared Campus Working Group tonight.
Prior to the meeting the working group had a short tour of the temporary shared campus.
At the meeting itself Eddie Montgomery of the Council's School Estates Team gave a progress report on some outstanding works still to be completed and an assessment of the traffic issues since the temporary campus came into operation in August. The outstanding works should be completed over the next few weeks. A leaflet will be issued to parents reminding them of the drop off arrangements at the campus.
The Head Teachers then provided a report on how the schools had settled into their new surroundings. While not unexpectedly there have been a few operational issues, on the whole Mr Parsons and Mr Dick were delighted with the way things had went. The feedback from parents on the working group was also very positive.
Personally I am delighted at the way the schools have adapted to the temporary arrangements. Although it is not ideal having two schools sharing a campus that was not specifically designed for that purpose, the school communities have recognised that an element of short-term disruption is a price worth paying for the long-term prize of a new shared campus.
Eddie Montgomery also gave an update on the development of the new shared campus. He advised the group that the contractor will officially take possession of the site on 3 October, although the pre-demolition works have already commenced. The construction programme anticipates completion of the campus in July 2013.
Prior to the meeting the working group had a short tour of the temporary shared campus.
At the meeting itself Eddie Montgomery of the Council's School Estates Team gave a progress report on some outstanding works still to be completed and an assessment of the traffic issues since the temporary campus came into operation in August. The outstanding works should be completed over the next few weeks. A leaflet will be issued to parents reminding them of the drop off arrangements at the campus.
The Head Teachers then provided a report on how the schools had settled into their new surroundings. While not unexpectedly there have been a few operational issues, on the whole Mr Parsons and Mr Dick were delighted with the way things had went. The feedback from parents on the working group was also very positive.
Personally I am delighted at the way the schools have adapted to the temporary arrangements. Although it is not ideal having two schools sharing a campus that was not specifically designed for that purpose, the school communities have recognised that an element of short-term disruption is a price worth paying for the long-term prize of a new shared campus.
Eddie Montgomery also gave an update on the development of the new shared campus. He advised the group that the contractor will officially take possession of the site on 3 October, although the pre-demolition works have already commenced. The construction programme anticipates completion of the campus in July 2013.
Sunday 25 September 2011
The week ahead...
Monday
On holiday from work. At 3.30 I have the Inverclyde Council Pre-agenda. At 6.30 I will be chairing a meeting of the Shared Campus Working Group. We will receive an update on how the temporary shared campus is operating and the proposed start date for the new shared campus.
Tuesday
I will be at work until 2.00 before traveling to Greenock for meetings at 3.00 (Audit Committee), 3.30 (Members' briefing on Clyde Valley Shared Services) and 5.30 (weekly meeting with Chief Executive).
Wednesday
At work until 2.00 with meetings at 4.30 (Administration Group) and 5.30 (Labour Group).
Thursday
At work all day. In the evening I am due to attend the GardenFest Awards in Port Glasgow Town Hall.
Friday
Through at the COSLA Leaders' meeting in Edinburgh most of the day.
Saturday
I have a surgery from 10.00 to 11.00 in Kilmacolm Community Centre.
On holiday from work. At 3.30 I have the Inverclyde Council Pre-agenda. At 6.30 I will be chairing a meeting of the Shared Campus Working Group. We will receive an update on how the temporary shared campus is operating and the proposed start date for the new shared campus.
Tuesday
I will be at work until 2.00 before traveling to Greenock for meetings at 3.00 (Audit Committee), 3.30 (Members' briefing on Clyde Valley Shared Services) and 5.30 (weekly meeting with Chief Executive).
Wednesday
At work until 2.00 with meetings at 4.30 (Administration Group) and 5.30 (Labour Group).
Thursday
At work all day. In the evening I am due to attend the GardenFest Awards in Port Glasgow Town Hall.
Friday
Through at the COSLA Leaders' meeting in Edinburgh most of the day.
Saturday
I have a surgery from 10.00 to 11.00 in Kilmacolm Community Centre.
Sunday 18 September 2011
The week ahead...
Monday
A full day a work. I have a surgery in Clune Park Community Resource Centre at 5.30 followed by a meeting of the Clune Park Task Group at 6.45.
Tuesday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Local Housing Strategy Group at 2.00 and the Policy & Resources Committee at 4.30. I then have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive at 5.30 and the St Stephen's High School Parent Council AGM at 7.00.
Wednesday
At work until mid afternoon followed by meetings of the Administration Group at 4.30 and Labour Group at 5.30.
Thursday
A full day at work. In the evening I am having to miss a couple of community meetings to attend a parents' information meeting at my son's school.
Friday
I have a public holiday from work as it is the Glasgow September weekend. I have however arranged to visit Clydeview Academy along with the Corporate Director for Education and Communities, Albert Henderson, to hear at first hand what is being done to address the issues that have been raised since the school opened a few weeks ago.
Saturday
I am planning to attend the march in support of the Greenock Coastguard Station, which leaves from the east end of the Greenock Esplanade at 11.00.
A full day a work. I have a surgery in Clune Park Community Resource Centre at 5.30 followed by a meeting of the Clune Park Task Group at 6.45.
Tuesday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Local Housing Strategy Group at 2.00 and the Policy & Resources Committee at 4.30. I then have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive at 5.30 and the St Stephen's High School Parent Council AGM at 7.00.
Wednesday
At work until mid afternoon followed by meetings of the Administration Group at 4.30 and Labour Group at 5.30.
Thursday
A full day at work. In the evening I am having to miss a couple of community meetings to attend a parents' information meeting at my son's school.
Friday
I have a public holiday from work as it is the Glasgow September weekend. I have however arranged to visit Clydeview Academy along with the Corporate Director for Education and Communities, Albert Henderson, to hear at first hand what is being done to address the issues that have been raised since the school opened a few weeks ago.
Saturday
I am planning to attend the march in support of the Greenock Coastguard Station, which leaves from the east end of the Greenock Esplanade at 11.00.
Saturday 17 September 2011
"No reason for rejecting plan"...
I see that SNP supporter Colin Quinn was having a pop at Labour Councillors over the Planning Board's decision to refuse planning permission for a new retail development in Gourock in the Greenock Telegraph on Friday.
Regular followers of Mr Quinn on Twitter will be well aware of his deep contempt for the Labour Party and Labour Councillors.
If Mr Quinn had been present at the Planning Board meeting he would have realised that it was not only Labour Councillors who voted to refuse Planning permission.
Also if he has any understanding of how local government works he would be aware Councillors are not permitted to take political decisions on planning matters. I can assure him that planning applications are never discussed at Labour Group meetings.
Labour Councillors who participate in the Planning Board do so as individual Councillors and are not subject to the party whip.
Mind something tells me that Mr Quinn already knew all of this.
Regular followers of Mr Quinn on Twitter will be well aware of his deep contempt for the Labour Party and Labour Councillors.
If Mr Quinn had been present at the Planning Board meeting he would have realised that it was not only Labour Councillors who voted to refuse Planning permission.
Also if he has any understanding of how local government works he would be aware Councillors are not permitted to take political decisions on planning matters. I can assure him that planning applications are never discussed at Labour Group meetings.
Labour Councillors who participate in the Planning Board do so as individual Councillors and are not subject to the party whip.
Mind something tells me that Mr Quinn already knew all of this.
Friday 16 September 2011
"Ideal solution for Greenock Academy site"...
A rather bizarre editorial in The Greenock Telegraph today arguing that "the west end should derive some benefit from the sale (of the former Greenock Academy site), rather than see the entire amount go into the school estates programme".
There was me thinking that the west end is benefiting from the school estates programme.
After all we have built two new multi-million pound secondary schools that serve the west end. The proceeds of the sale of the former Greenock Academy site will in part fund the refurbishment of the west end's two primary schools: Ardgowan and St Mary's.
It is worth pointing out that the sale proceeds from the former Greenock High School site is not being used to fund a new community facility for the south west of Greenock. The sale proceeds from the Wellington Academy site have not been earmarked for a new community facility for central Greenock and the sale proceeds from the planned sale of the St Stephen's High School site will not be used to fund community facilities in Port Glasgow.
My Administration is always willing to listen to community groups who feel that facilities are lacking in their area.
This is demonstrated by the funding we have provided for new community facilities in Kilmacolm and the funding that has been earmarked for new facilities in Inverkip and the Broomhill area of Greenock. We have also recently allocated funding for a number of projects through our Community Facilities Fund. Interestingly no bid was submitted to this fund for a new community facility for the west end.
I see that SNP Councillor Chris Osborne is backing the case for a new community facility for the west end.
We are now over four years into the current Council. If a community centre for the west end is such a priority for the local SNP why have they not been pushing the case before now? Could their current enthusiasm have anything to do with the fact that there is an election next year?
In their budget in February the SNP Group allocated over £3m of reserves for capital projects. Not one penny of this was allocated for a new community facility for the west end. They did however allocate £600,000 for a new community facility in Inverkip.
If the members of the Cardwell Bay and Greenock West Community Council are serious about wanting to build and run a new community facility in the west end I would be more than happy to listen to their case. All they have to do is give me a call and we can arrange a meeting.
There was me thinking that the west end is benefiting from the school estates programme.
After all we have built two new multi-million pound secondary schools that serve the west end. The proceeds of the sale of the former Greenock Academy site will in part fund the refurbishment of the west end's two primary schools: Ardgowan and St Mary's.
It is worth pointing out that the sale proceeds from the former Greenock High School site is not being used to fund a new community facility for the south west of Greenock. The sale proceeds from the Wellington Academy site have not been earmarked for a new community facility for central Greenock and the sale proceeds from the planned sale of the St Stephen's High School site will not be used to fund community facilities in Port Glasgow.
My Administration is always willing to listen to community groups who feel that facilities are lacking in their area.
This is demonstrated by the funding we have provided for new community facilities in Kilmacolm and the funding that has been earmarked for new facilities in Inverkip and the Broomhill area of Greenock. We have also recently allocated funding for a number of projects through our Community Facilities Fund. Interestingly no bid was submitted to this fund for a new community facility for the west end.
I see that SNP Councillor Chris Osborne is backing the case for a new community facility for the west end.
We are now over four years into the current Council. If a community centre for the west end is such a priority for the local SNP why have they not been pushing the case before now? Could their current enthusiasm have anything to do with the fact that there is an election next year?
In their budget in February the SNP Group allocated over £3m of reserves for capital projects. Not one penny of this was allocated for a new community facility for the west end. They did however allocate £600,000 for a new community facility in Inverkip.
If the members of the Cardwell Bay and Greenock West Community Council are serious about wanting to build and run a new community facility in the west end I would be more than happy to listen to their case. All they have to do is give me a call and we can arrange a meeting.
Clydeview Academy...
I see that my comments on Clydeview Academy have generated a number of responses on Inverclyde Now and the Greenock Telegraph website.
I was particularly interested in the response from Graeme Brooks, former Chair of the Greenock Academy Parent Council.
I am not sure who Graeme allegedly spoke to but the decision not to have temporary classrooms at Clydeview had nothing to do with Councillors not wanting to be embarrassed and everything to do with Councillors and non Councillors on the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee wanting to ensure that the rolls of other secondary schools were protected.
The people who should be embarrassed are those who are talking down the school at present; those responsible for the failure of the capping strategy; and those who are seeking to exploit the current situation for their own narrow political ends.
I think Graeme will know who I am talking about.
I was particularly interested in the response from Graeme Brooks, former Chair of the Greenock Academy Parent Council.
I am not sure who Graeme allegedly spoke to but the decision not to have temporary classrooms at Clydeview had nothing to do with Councillors not wanting to be embarrassed and everything to do with Councillors and non Councillors on the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee wanting to ensure that the rolls of other secondary schools were protected.
The people who should be embarrassed are those who are talking down the school at present; those responsible for the failure of the capping strategy; and those who are seeking to exploit the current situation for their own narrow political ends.
I think Graeme will know who I am talking about.
Thursday 15 September 2011
Clydeview Academy...
I have been following with interest the 'debate' on Inverclyde Now about the difficulties at Clydeview Academy due to the school having opened with a school roll significantly above the roll it was designed for.
This situation is clearly not ideal and the Head Teacher, his staff and Education Officials are working to address the specific issues raised by parents and pupils.
Those who have short memories, and wish to blame the current Labour-led Administration, might find a short history lesson of use in putting these difficulties into context.
The decision to merge Greenock Academy and Gourock High School was taken by the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee on 19 January 2005. The proposal was moved by the then Convener Jim Mitchell on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Administration. An alternative Labour proposal to merge Greenock Academy with Wellington Academy and Gourock High School with Greenock High School was defeated by 11 votes to 6.
The specific proposal from the Liberal Democrats was to build a new non-denominational secondary school with a capacity of 950 on the site of the existing St Columba's High School to replace Gourock High School and Greenock Academy.
It was also agreed that the school rolls of Gourock High School and Greenock Academy be capped with the annual intake limited to 100 and 80 respectively. Crucially the capping was not to take effect until December 2007, meaning that the school intake of August 2008 would be the first to be affected. It was no co-incidence that the capping would not come into effect until after the May 2007 Council elections. This politically motivated decision to delay capping and the subsequent well-documented difficulties in enforcing the caps once introduced has resulted in the present situation where the school has opened with a school roll well above the design capacity.
When Labour won back control of the Council in May 2007 we initiated a review of the school estate strategy. Unfortunately due the advanced nature of the proposed merger of Wellington Academy and Greenock High School and the stage that the PPP procurement process was at we could not fundamentally change the decisions of the previous Council in respect of non-denominational secondary provision. We did however consider the option of building a bigger school at Bayhill to accommodate pupils from King's Glen Primary School.
At its meeting on 18 June 2008 the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee unanimously re-affirmed the previous decision to build a new non-denominational school on the Bayhill site with a capacity of 950. While the proposal for a bigger school had met with opposition from the parent body of Greenock Academy, the reason it was rejected by the Administration was the potential detrimental impact such a decision would have on the long-term rolls of other secondary schools.
It is worth making the point that it was never the intention of the current or previous administration to build a school to accommodate placing requests. The new school was to be built to accommodate the natural intake from its associated primary schools, namely Moorfoot, Gourock and Ardgowan Primary Schools. The use of roll caps was to be the means by which the joint school rolls of Gourock High School and Greenock Academy were to be reduced over time to ensure that the new school did not open over capacity.
The central thrust of the Council's education strategy is to make every school in Inverclyde a school of choice. We do not believe in a free market in education. If parents want to exercise their right to make a placing request then we must respect that under the law. We do not have to build in surplus capacity to our schools to guarantee that such placing requests will always be granted.
While there was and is the option of providing temporary accommodation on site the danger is that a short-term fix turns into a long-term solution, which has the same detrimental impact on other schools that building a larger school than required would have had.
I would certainly have preferred that Clydeview Academy had not opened with more pupils than it was designed for. I am confident however that staff, pupils, parents and the Education Authority working together will overcome this short-term challenge and that Clydeview will prove to be a worthy successor to Gourock High School and Greenock Academy.
This situation is clearly not ideal and the Head Teacher, his staff and Education Officials are working to address the specific issues raised by parents and pupils.
Those who have short memories, and wish to blame the current Labour-led Administration, might find a short history lesson of use in putting these difficulties into context.
The decision to merge Greenock Academy and Gourock High School was taken by the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee on 19 January 2005. The proposal was moved by the then Convener Jim Mitchell on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Administration. An alternative Labour proposal to merge Greenock Academy with Wellington Academy and Gourock High School with Greenock High School was defeated by 11 votes to 6.
The specific proposal from the Liberal Democrats was to build a new non-denominational secondary school with a capacity of 950 on the site of the existing St Columba's High School to replace Gourock High School and Greenock Academy.
It was also agreed that the school rolls of Gourock High School and Greenock Academy be capped with the annual intake limited to 100 and 80 respectively. Crucially the capping was not to take effect until December 2007, meaning that the school intake of August 2008 would be the first to be affected. It was no co-incidence that the capping would not come into effect until after the May 2007 Council elections. This politically motivated decision to delay capping and the subsequent well-documented difficulties in enforcing the caps once introduced has resulted in the present situation where the school has opened with a school roll well above the design capacity.
When Labour won back control of the Council in May 2007 we initiated a review of the school estate strategy. Unfortunately due the advanced nature of the proposed merger of Wellington Academy and Greenock High School and the stage that the PPP procurement process was at we could not fundamentally change the decisions of the previous Council in respect of non-denominational secondary provision. We did however consider the option of building a bigger school at Bayhill to accommodate pupils from King's Glen Primary School.
At its meeting on 18 June 2008 the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee unanimously re-affirmed the previous decision to build a new non-denominational school on the Bayhill site with a capacity of 950. While the proposal for a bigger school had met with opposition from the parent body of Greenock Academy, the reason it was rejected by the Administration was the potential detrimental impact such a decision would have on the long-term rolls of other secondary schools.
It is worth making the point that it was never the intention of the current or previous administration to build a school to accommodate placing requests. The new school was to be built to accommodate the natural intake from its associated primary schools, namely Moorfoot, Gourock and Ardgowan Primary Schools. The use of roll caps was to be the means by which the joint school rolls of Gourock High School and Greenock Academy were to be reduced over time to ensure that the new school did not open over capacity.
The central thrust of the Council's education strategy is to make every school in Inverclyde a school of choice. We do not believe in a free market in education. If parents want to exercise their right to make a placing request then we must respect that under the law. We do not have to build in surplus capacity to our schools to guarantee that such placing requests will always be granted.
While there was and is the option of providing temporary accommodation on site the danger is that a short-term fix turns into a long-term solution, which has the same detrimental impact on other schools that building a larger school than required would have had.
I would certainly have preferred that Clydeview Academy had not opened with more pupils than it was designed for. I am confident however that staff, pupils, parents and the Education Authority working together will overcome this short-term challenge and that Clydeview will prove to be a worthy successor to Gourock High School and Greenock Academy.
Sunday 11 September 2011
The week ahead...
Monday
At work until late afternoon then down to Greenock for a meeting at 5.00. I will be chairing a meeting of the Shared Campus Working Group at 6.30.
Tuesday
At work until 2.00 then picking the kids up from school. At 5.00 I have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive, followed by a meeting of the Three Wards Community Council at 7.00.
Wednesday
At work until 2.00 then down to Greenock for meetings at 3.30 (Inverclyde Alliance Board Pre-agenda), 4.30 (Administration Group), and 5.30 (Labour Group).
Thursday
At work all day. In the evening I am due to attend a meeting of the Slaemuir TARA.
Friday
Most of the day will be taken up by a special COSLA Leaders' meeting in Edinburgh.
At work until late afternoon then down to Greenock for a meeting at 5.00. I will be chairing a meeting of the Shared Campus Working Group at 6.30.
Tuesday
At work until 2.00 then picking the kids up from school. At 5.00 I have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive, followed by a meeting of the Three Wards Community Council at 7.00.
Wednesday
At work until 2.00 then down to Greenock for meetings at 3.30 (Inverclyde Alliance Board Pre-agenda), 4.30 (Administration Group), and 5.30 (Labour Group).
Thursday
At work all day. In the evening I am due to attend a meeting of the Slaemuir TARA.
Friday
Most of the day will be taken up by a special COSLA Leaders' meeting in Edinburgh.
Saturday 10 September 2011
New community sports facility taking shape...
The Council’s multi-million pounds Community Sports Facility at Parklea Playing Fields in Port Glasgow will be completed on schedule for the start of the new football season in summer 2012.
On Thursday morning I was given a tour of the development along with Regeneration Committee Convener Ronnie Ahlfeld.
The new £2.9 million pavilion is now wind and watertight and work is underway inside to install walls, vents and finishes. Work is also underway on the large £650,000 3-G all-weather pitch, which will satisfy Scottish Junior Football Association regulations and be suitable for American Football and rugby training.
Parklea is very much the jewel in the crown of our £23 million investment in leisure and it is exciting to think that it is so near to completion.
 |
| The new community sports facility at Parklea taking shape |
Thursday 8 September 2011
Additional £1m to be spent on road repairs...
One of the Council Administration's priorities over the months ahead will be to come up with a long-term investment strategy for our roads.
Between financial years 2007/08 and 2010/11 over £7.1m was invested in surfacing and repairs to the Council’s roads and footways. A further £1m has been approved for the current financial year, 2011/12. Despite this, the backlog of repairs is increasing, not helped by the recent severe winters.
While I make no apology for putting our schools and leisure facilities first, the time has come to give a higher priority to our roads. That is why I will be proposing at the Policy & Resources Committee on 20 September that we allocate an additional £1m from reserves for road and footway repairs over the next 6-9 months.
At the same meeting I will be proposing that officers look at how we can fund increased investment in our roads in the years ahead to eradicate the maintenance backlog and bring them up to a good state of repair. I am under no illusion however that this will be easy given the real terms funding cuts we are facing from the Scottish Government.
Wednesday 7 September 2011
Exciting times for education...
Inverclyde Council’s Education and Lifelong Learning Committee has been told £22.8 million will be spent on the Education Capital Programme this financial year.
The Council’s School Estate Strategy is a comprehensive programme to modernise the entire school stock either by re-building or refurbishment.
Key projects in the Capital Programme include Port Glasgow’s new £44 million Shared Campus. The contract to build it has just been awarded to GRAHAM construction and work is expected to get underway in the next few weeks. The new campus will be home to Port Glasgow High and St Stephen’s High Schools and a new Additional Support Needs (ASN) School to replace Glenburn and Lilybank Schools.
The £4 million refurbishment of the former Earnhill Primary school is nearing completion. The work includes new doors, windows, floors, wall and ceiling finishes and improvements to the main entrance and dining area. The building will be the home of the new St Andrew’s Primary, created by the merger of Sacred Heart and St Gabriel’s Primary School.
Overton Primary is also being refurbished to provide accommodation for Overton Primary School and Highlander’s Academy. The £5 million project is slightly ahead of schedule and is expected to be completed in July next year.
Work is expected to start in November on the £15 million refurbishment of the former Gourock High School building to become the new home of St Columba’s High School. It will include an additional floor to the main building and a completely new wing.
Other projects in Inverclyde’s Education Capital Programme include the £1.3 million refurbishment of the Binnie Street Community Centre in Gourock to become a new Children’s Centre and the refurbishment of the former St Laurence’s Primary School to become the new home of the Mearns Centre in Greenock.
Much to look forward to...
Inverclyde Council’s Regeneration Committee has been hearing details of the £58.8 million projected spend over the next three years.
The Council’s Regeneration Capital Programme includes arts, leisure and civic projects to provide first class leisure, cultural and tourist facilities.
A new community stadium is taking shape as part of the £6 million transformation of Parklea in Port Glasgow into a centre of excellence for football. It will incorporate a changing pavilion and a large 3G all-weather pitch. Drainage to eight grass pitches has already been improved and a 3G all-weather pitch with floodlights installed.
Work is also progressing on the £1.8 million refurbishment of Ravenscraig Stadium which includes the installation of a new quality running surface.
Building work is well underway transforming Gourock’s iconic outdoor swimming pool and there is an ongoing public consultation process as we develop plans with Riverside Inverclyde to redevelop Gourock Pierhead.
The Committee was also told that a project to build a new Rangers Station and Public Toilet at Lunderston Bay can now go ahead after delays caused by issues involving access to a water supply and sewage system.
There is much to look forward to.
Major boost for Town Centre...
Inverclyde Council is to spend £1 million regenerating Port Glasgow town centre.
The Regeneration Committee has approved the development of proposals that could see among other things additional car parking provided, new entrance features to the town centre created and public landscaped areas upgraded.
Council officers have also been working with Strathclyde Partnership Transport to see whether the former Highholm Primary School site could be used as a park and ride facility. This could encourage more people to use the train or bus which can only be good for the environment. We have to ensure however that there is a clear demand for such a facility and that it will have no detrimental impact on the town centre before proceeding.
Riverside Inverclyde has also allocated £360,000 for Port Glasgow Town Centre in this financial year.
Monday 5 September 2011
Deadline for community council nominations...
In April, Inverclyde Council agreed a new Community Council scheme following a national consultation by the Scottish Government, COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils. Nominations for the first elections under the new scheme are now open.
Forms can be downloaded from the Council’s website and are available in local libraries, Safer Communities at 40, West Stewart Street Greenock and from existing Community Councils. Nominations close on Friday 9 September ahead of elections on Thursday 13 October in Community Council areas where the number of nominations exceeds the maximum set. The minimum age is 16.
Sunday 4 September 2011
The week ahead...
Monday
Holiday today for many people in Inverclyde but not for me. At work until 2.00 and then down to Greenock to chair my first Policy & Resources Committee pre-agenda since returning as Convener. No evening commitments in the diary.
Tuesday
At work again until 2.00 and then down to Greenock for meeting with the Provost and Lord Lieutenant at 3.00, Education & Lifelong Learning Committee at 4.00 and weekly meeting with the Chief Executive at 5.00. Due to attend a meeting of the Woodhall Task Group at 6.30.
Wednesday
At work in the morning before going down to Greenock in the afternoon for the weekly meetings of the Administration Group and Labour Group. In the evening I hope to attend a meeting of the Whitecroft Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Thursday
Full day at work.
Friday
Another full day at work.
Holiday today for many people in Inverclyde but not for me. At work until 2.00 and then down to Greenock to chair my first Policy & Resources Committee pre-agenda since returning as Convener. No evening commitments in the diary.
Tuesday
At work again until 2.00 and then down to Greenock for meeting with the Provost and Lord Lieutenant at 3.00, Education & Lifelong Learning Committee at 4.00 and weekly meeting with the Chief Executive at 5.00. Due to attend a meeting of the Woodhall Task Group at 6.30.
Wednesday
At work in the morning before going down to Greenock in the afternoon for the weekly meetings of the Administration Group and Labour Group. In the evening I hope to attend a meeting of the Whitecroft Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Thursday
Full day at work.
Friday
Another full day at work.
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