The week ahead...

A busy week ahead:

Monday
Most of the day is taken up with induction for the new Inverclyde integrated joint health and care shadow board. In the evening I will be attending a joint meeting of the two Port Glasgow Community Councils.
Tuesday
In the morning I have a pre-agenda for the next meeting of the full Council followed by my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive. In the late afternoon I will be attending the inaugural meeting of the Port Glasgow Regeneration Forum. In the evening I have a surgery in Kilmacolm Community Centre and a meeting of Park Farm Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Wednesday
In the morning I am attending the annual general meeting of the Peter Stanton Memorial Trust. In the afternoon I have the Inverclyde Alliance Board pre-agenda followed by meetings of the Members' Budget Working Group and the Labour Group. In the evening I have a meeting of the Kilmacolm New Community Centre Board.
Thursday
I am at a meeting at the DWP in the morning and have a meeting of the new Inverclyde joint health and care shadow board in the afternoon.
Friday
I will be through in Edinburgh for most of the day at the COSLA Leaders' Meeting.

Great morning at Kelburn environmental makeover...

I was delighted to join my fellow Ward 1 Councillors James McColgan and David Wilson at the Kelburn Terrace environmental makeover this morning.

While David stood around like a gaffer James and I mucked in, taking turns at cleaning play equipment, litter picking and filling planters. It was great to see so many youngsters from the Terrace and their parents pitching in too.

Great credit is due to River Clyde Homes' Greener Cleaner Team who organised the day with support from the contractor Wates and Parklea Branching Out. Thanks go as well to other staff from River Clyde Homes who came along to support the initiative and the Council's Community Learning & Development Team who also gave their support, including bringing along the youth services trailer.

Local residents are hoping to build on this initiative by securing funding for a new children's play area for the Terrace.

Lots of fun in the sun making a difference in Kelburn this morning...

Council to demolish fire-damaged pub...

I am delighted that the Council has finally acquired the derelict shell of Monty’s Bar on Bay Street, Port Glasgow, which was gutted by fire in March 2009.

I have been doggedly pursuing this matter for a number of years and I am pleased that my perseverance has paid off at last.

Monty’s Bar is located on a corner of Bay Street opposite the junction with Court Road at the heart of Port Glasgow town centre. Its appearance has detracted from our efforts to improve the town centre.

The building will now be demolished and the area landscaped by the end of the summer pending a decision on the long term future of the site. This will be considered by the new Port Glasgow Regeneration Forum - comprising Councillors and representatives from both Port Glasgow community councils and the traders association, as well as Council and Riverside Inverclyde officials - which meets for the first time on Tuesday afternoon in 71/2 John Wood Street.

Monty's Bar

Demolition of Kilmacolm Institute underway...

Work has commenced on the demolition of the Kilmacolm Institute - comprising of two vacant shop units and the former village community centre - to pave the way for the construction of a new three-storey development with two ground floor shops units and 13 flats on the upper floors. Ten basement car parking spaces will also be provided. The development was granted planning permission in June 2014.

It is intended that existing Co-operative Food store in the village will relocate to the larger of the two units.

The Kilmacolm Institute was sold by the Council to a developer to help fund the new village community centre and library and its redevelopment should enhance the amenity of the village centre. The expanded food store will be welcomed by villagers as the size of the existing Co-op store restricts the range of products on offer.

Demolition work underway...

What the new development will look like...

The week ahead...

Monday
In the afternoon I am meeting with Lord Willie Haughey, the Chair of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Economic Leadership Board, regarding Inverclyde's input into the City Deal initiative. In the evening I have a meeting of the Kelburn Action Group.
Tuesday
In the afternoon I have a briefing on the Council's new website and a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee. In the evening I will be chairing a meeting of the River Clyde Homes Audit & Finance Committee.
Wednesday
In the afternoon I have my weekly meetings with the Chief Executive and Labour Group.
Thursday
In the evening I will be attending a meeting of Slaemuir Tenants' & Residents' Association.
Friday
No Council commitments at this time.

Resignation from Unite the Union...

It is with deep regret that after 24 years of continuous membership (previously as a member of the Transport and General Workers’ Union) I have decided to resign from Unite the Union in protest at the ongoing attacks by union officials on the Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Jim Murphy. I find these public attacks distasteful and contrary to the interests of the Scottish Labour Party and the wider Labour and trade union movement.

The week ahead...

Monday
In the late afternoon I will be attending a meeting of the Council's Strategic Leadership Forum followed by a meeting of the Clune Park Task Group in the early evening.
Tuesday
In the morning I will be attending a meeting of the City Deal Cabinet in Glasgow and in the afternoon a service to celebrate the life of former Labour Councillor Sir Simpson Stevenson. In the early evening I have a surgery in Boglestone Community Centre followed by a meeting of St Michael's Primary School Parent Council.
Wednesday
In the afternoon I have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive and a meeting of the Labour Group.
Thursday
In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Council's Policy & Resources Executive Sub-Committee and a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce.
Friday
No Council commitments at this time.