Monday
Inverclyde Council pre-agenda and Peter Stanton Trust meetings in the morning. In the evening I will be attending meetings of St Michael's Primary School Parent Council and Port Glasgow Community Councils.
Tuesday
In the afternoon I am visiting a local employer and meeting with a local school pupil interested in politics. In the evening I have a surgery followed by meeting of Park Farm Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Wednesday
In the afternoon I have a members' briefing, my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive and a meeting of the Labour Group. In the evening I have a meeting of Kilmacolm New Community Centre Board.
Thursday
No Council commitments
Friday
No Council commitments.
Sunday 29 March 2015
Saturday 28 March 2015
Boundary Commission proposals for Inverclyde...
The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has rejected cross-party representations from Inverclyde Council against its proposal to increase the number of Councillors in Inverclyde from 20 to 22 and is now consulting on proposed new ward boundaries for the 2017 elections.
Currently Inverclyde has 20 Councillors spread across 6 multi-member wards - two 4 member wards and four 3 member wards - but the Commission is proposing that the number of Councillors is increased to 22 and the number of wards to 7 - one 4 member ward and six 3 member wards.
The Council opposed the increase in the number of Councillors as we felt that in terms of workload 20 Councillors was sufficient and that the extra cost of two additional councillors could not be justified in these times of public expenditure restraint.
With the Commission deciding to proceed with its original proposal it is now consulting on its detailed proposals for individual wards. This consultation runs until 19 May 2015.
Details of the proposals for Inverclyde can be found on the Commission's website www.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk
The Council will consider the Commission's proposals at our meeting on 9 April.
Currently Inverclyde has 20 Councillors spread across 6 multi-member wards - two 4 member wards and four 3 member wards - but the Commission is proposing that the number of Councillors is increased to 22 and the number of wards to 7 - one 4 member ward and six 3 member wards.
The Council opposed the increase in the number of Councillors as we felt that in terms of workload 20 Councillors was sufficient and that the extra cost of two additional councillors could not be justified in these times of public expenditure restraint.
With the Commission deciding to proceed with its original proposal it is now consulting on its detailed proposals for individual wards. This consultation runs until 19 May 2015.
Details of the proposals for Inverclyde can be found on the Commission's website www.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk
The Council will consider the Commission's proposals at our meeting on 9 April.
Sunday 22 March 2015
The week ahead...
Monday
In the afternoon I am chairing a meeting of the Inverclyde Alliance Board. This is being held in Broomhill, Greenock to allow the Board to have a walk about to view key regeneration projects in the area. In the late afternoon I am attending the official opening of the new Port Glasgow i-Youth Zone. In the evening I have a meeting of the Kelburn Action Group.
Tuesday
In the afternoon I will be chairing a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee.
Wednesday
In the morning and early afternoon I will be attending the 'Clyde Conversations' young peoples' health and well-being conference in Port Glasgow Town Hall. Later in the afternoon I have my weekly meetings with the Chief Executive and Labour Group. In the evening I hope to attend the 'Mentors in Violence' awards in Greenock Town Hall.
Thursday
In the early afternoon I have members' training on the role charities' trustees. In the evening I am attending a meeting Riverside Inverclyde has arranged with residents in Kilmacolm to discuss the proposed self-build project.
Friday
Most of my day will be spent through in Edinburgh at COSLA for the monthly Leaders' meeting.
In the afternoon I am chairing a meeting of the Inverclyde Alliance Board. This is being held in Broomhill, Greenock to allow the Board to have a walk about to view key regeneration projects in the area. In the late afternoon I am attending the official opening of the new Port Glasgow i-Youth Zone. In the evening I have a meeting of the Kelburn Action Group.
Tuesday
In the afternoon I will be chairing a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee.
Wednesday
In the morning and early afternoon I will be attending the 'Clyde Conversations' young peoples' health and well-being conference in Port Glasgow Town Hall. Later in the afternoon I have my weekly meetings with the Chief Executive and Labour Group. In the evening I hope to attend the 'Mentors in Violence' awards in Greenock Town Hall.
Thursday
In the early afternoon I have members' training on the role charities' trustees. In the evening I am attending a meeting Riverside Inverclyde has arranged with residents in Kilmacolm to discuss the proposed self-build project.
Friday
Most of my day will be spent through in Edinburgh at COSLA for the monthly Leaders' meeting.
Sunday 15 March 2015
The week ahead...
Monday
In the early afternoon I am paying a visit to the Phoenix Community Health Project to hear about their work. In the evening I will be chairing a meeting of the Clune Park Task Group.
Tuesday
In the morning I am attending a meeting of the Clyde Valley Cabinet in Glasgow. In the late afternoon I will be attending a meeting for the River Clyde Homes Board.
Wednesday
In the morning I am paying a visit to the new Gibshill Community Centre. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Policy & Resources Executive Sub-Committee; the opening of Hector McNeil House; my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive; and a meeting of the Labour Group.
Thursday
In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Riverside Inverclyde Board. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of the Slaemuir Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Friday
In the evening I am due to attend the Inspiring Inverclyde Volunteer Ball.
In the early afternoon I am paying a visit to the Phoenix Community Health Project to hear about their work. In the evening I will be chairing a meeting of the Clune Park Task Group.
Tuesday
In the morning I am attending a meeting of the Clyde Valley Cabinet in Glasgow. In the late afternoon I will be attending a meeting for the River Clyde Homes Board.
Wednesday
In the morning I am paying a visit to the new Gibshill Community Centre. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Policy & Resources Executive Sub-Committee; the opening of Hector McNeil House; my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive; and a meeting of the Labour Group.
Thursday
In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Riverside Inverclyde Board. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of the Slaemuir Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Friday
In the evening I am due to attend the Inspiring Inverclyde Volunteer Ball.
Sunday 8 March 2015
The week ahead...
Monday
In the evening I will be attending a meeting with traders in Kilmacolm to discuss parking arrangements in the village.
Tuesday
In the afternoon I have the Policy & Resources Committee pre-agenda and the Education & Communities Committee. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of Kilmacolm Parent Partnership.
Wednesday
In the early afternoon I am visiting one of our major employers EE with my colleague Michael McCormick followed by my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive and a meeting of the Labour Group. In the evening I am attending a civic reception for the Moderator of the Church of Scotland.
Thursday
I am attending the COSLA Conference.
Friday
I am attending the COSLA Convention.
In the evening I will be attending a meeting with traders in Kilmacolm to discuss parking arrangements in the village.
Tuesday
In the afternoon I have the Policy & Resources Committee pre-agenda and the Education & Communities Committee. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of Kilmacolm Parent Partnership.
Wednesday
In the early afternoon I am visiting one of our major employers EE with my colleague Michael McCormick followed by my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive and a meeting of the Labour Group. In the evening I am attending a civic reception for the Moderator of the Church of Scotland.
Thursday
I am attending the COSLA Conference.
Friday
I am attending the COSLA Convention.
Wednesday 4 March 2015
My latest Greenock Telegraph column...
With the Council’s budget put to
bed for a few months I have been arranging a series of visits to local
businesses and community organisations.
On 18 February I accompanied my
colleague Michael McCormick to Ferguson’s shipyard in Port Glasgow to find out how
things are going since the takeover by Clyde Blowers Capital in September last
year. We met with senior management and were pleased to hear that they are
optimistic about the future. We also heard about their plans to invest in the
yard itself, in new equipment and in training for staff.
While the markets for ships and
related activity appear to be quite buoyant they are also very competitive. It
is crucial therefore that all stakeholders in the company work together to
ensure that shipbuilding continues on the lower Clyde for many years to come,
offering quality jobs to this and future generations.
In the same week I went along to
the Waterfront Cinema in Greenock to meet the management team and hear about
the good work they are doing supporting local community groups and their plans
to continue investing in the cinema to ensure it offers what local cinema goers
want and meet the demand for screenings of national and international live
events.
Many of the Tele’s younger
readers will probably not know that the Council owns the cinema building. When
our last commercial cinema closed in the mid 1990s the Council stepped in to
provide a new cinema building and bring in West Coast Cinemas to operate it. Nearly
twenty years on this partnership is still going strong.
Having a local cinema is
important to the quality of life in Inverclyde. Just as important many would
argue as having our own local theatre.
Also important to our quality of
life are good facilities for young people. I was delighted therefore to get a
sneak preview recently of the excellent new Port Glasgow I Youth Zone in the
former Boglestone Library building at Dubbs Place. The facility will be
officially opened on 23 March by our Young People’s Champion Councillor James
McColgan.
My most recent visit was to
Inverclyde Foodbank’s base in West Blackhall Street in Greenock.
While I’m sure we would all wish
there was no need for foodbanks, it was gratifying to hear about how public and
voluntary agencies are working with the foodbank management and volunteers to
provide support to hundreds of Inverclyde citizens who find themselves in
difficulty.
The Council does its bit by
providing financial assistance to the foodbank towards its running costs but it
is important to realise that the ethos behind the foodbank is members of the
community helping other members of the community who are in need. In this
regard the people of Inverclyde have excelled themselves by donating a vast
quantity of food since the foodbank was established back in 2012, making it one
of the most successful in the UK.
The Foodbank operates on a 100%
referral basis from charities, statutory agencies, faith groups, housing
associations, voluntary groups and schools and nurseries. I am pleased that
Inverclyde Labour Party and the Inverclyde Council branch of Unite the Union
are also registered as referring agencies.
Further information on the
foodbank can be found at their website www.inverclyde.foodbank.org.uk or by
calling 787177/07506530638.
Sunday 1 March 2015
The week ahead...
Monday
No Council commitments at this time.
Tuesday
I have a meeting with a consultant in the morning and in the evening I have a surgery in Clune Park Resource Centre followed by a civic reception to mark the centenary of the 32nd Greenock and District Scouts.
Wednesday
Early afternoon I am attending a briefing on changes to the parking arrangements in Greenock Town Centre. This is followed by an interview with Inverclyde TV; the Inverclyde Alliance pre-agenda; my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive; and the weekly meeting of the Labour Group. In the evening I am hoping to attend a meeting of Newark Primary School Parent Council and a presentation by Inverclyde Tourist Group.
Thursday
In the afternoon I have training on new HR procedures followed by a meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee.
Friday
In the afternoon I hope to attend an event to mark International Women's Day.
No Council commitments at this time.
Tuesday
I have a meeting with a consultant in the morning and in the evening I have a surgery in Clune Park Resource Centre followed by a civic reception to mark the centenary of the 32nd Greenock and District Scouts.
Wednesday
Early afternoon I am attending a briefing on changes to the parking arrangements in Greenock Town Centre. This is followed by an interview with Inverclyde TV; the Inverclyde Alliance pre-agenda; my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive; and the weekly meeting of the Labour Group. In the evening I am hoping to attend a meeting of Newark Primary School Parent Council and a presentation by Inverclyde Tourist Group.
Thursday
In the afternoon I have training on new HR procedures followed by a meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee.
Friday
In the afternoon I hope to attend an event to mark International Women's Day.
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