Voluntary organisations benefit from Council grants...but only just!

A range of voluntary groups across Inverclyde received funding totalling nearly £93,000 from the Council's Grants Committee Sub-Committee this afternoon, which is on top of over £180,000 already awarded since the new financial year began on 1 April to a number of other groups who benefit from a 3 year funding commitment.

I am told however that the Sub-Committee meeting nearly never took place. With 10 minutes to go before the meeting started it was looking like it would be inquorate. Fortunately SNP Councillor Chris Osborne turned up to join the three Labour Members on the Sub-Committee - Jim Clocherty, Terry Loughran and Iain McKenzie - to make the quorum. There was no sign of Lib Dem Alan Blair and Independent Charlie McCallum, and no nominated substitutes.

Just as well the other members take their duties more seriously and understand the importance of these grants to the many volunteers who give so much to our community.

Same old Tories

You have got to hand it to the Tories: they haven't taken long to show their true colours.

A regressive budget hitting the poor and hardworking families hardest; the unemployed being told to get on their bikes; talking tough on immigration; and offending the families of those who died at Hillsborough by claiming that hooliganism contributed to the disaster.

Just like the 1980s all over again!

Lib Dem support in free fall

I see that the latest UK wide opinion polls are showing a sharp fall in support for the Lib Dems - down to 16% in one poll - as their supporters become increasingly disillusioned by the way in which they have abandoned many of their election pledges in return for sharing power with the Tories. Even the 'Blessed' Vince Cable seems to have sold out, with his attacks on Labour becoming increasingly vitriolic as he attempts to justify his change of heart on public expenditure cuts.

Curiously we have not heard a word from the Lib Dems' general election candidate since his party went into coalition with the Tories. He seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth.

If he is out there somewhere, I would like to hear from him.

The week ahead...

Due to the summer recess I don't have any day time Council commitments this week, which will give me the chance to make up a few hours at work.

I do have some evening commitments:

Monday
7.00 I am due to attend the Connect Leadership Academy Graduation Ceremony at St Stephen's High School for pupils of St Stephen's and Port Glasgow High Schools.
Tuesday
7.30 I am due to attend a meeting of Kilmacolm Community Council in Kilmacolm Community Centre.
Thursday
6.30 I am due to attend a meeting to discuss the future management arrangements for the new Kilmacolm Community Centre when it opens later this year.

A busy Saturday...

This morning, along with Provost McCormick and his good lady, I attended a service in Paisley Abbey to mark Armed Forces Day. The Service was organised by Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire Councils to show our support for service personnel, past and present, who have served our country so well.

This afternoon I paid a visit to the Comet Festival Gala Day in Port Glasgow where a large crowd was enjoying the various activities. A big thank you to the Comet Festival Committee, the Council's Events Team and everyone else who helped to make the gala day such a big success. My son Dylan certainly enjoyed himself.

Congratulations...

...to my colleague Iain McKenzie on his appointment as COSLA's Spokesperson on Resources and Capacity. The appointment was made at the COSLA Convention meeting in East Renfrewshire yesterday.

Iain was nominated by the COSLA Labour Group for this important position and he will have a key role to play as Councils across Scotland face an extremely difficult funding environment over the next few years and seek to negotiate a fair settlement from the Scottish Government. I am sure that he will do well in his new role.

At the COSLA Labour Group Annual General Meeting earlier in the morning I was appointed to the role of Group Secretary. Iain was appointed as Group Treasurer.

Parent Power

I went along to the annual general meeting of Newark Primary School Parent Council tonight and was delighted by the turnout of parents. The meeting was conducted in a very professional way and the various reports highlighted how parents are making a real contribution to the success of the school.

There cannot be many schools with a more active parent body than Newark, so well done to all those involved.