Monday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
2.00 Leave work to travel to Greenock
3.00 Chairing the Policy & Resources Executive Sub-Committee
4.00 Meeting with Inverclyde Council on Disability (ICOD)
5.00 Meeting of the Administration Group and Corporate Management Team to discuss the Council's Budget
Tuesday
At work all day. In the evening I am hoping to attend the monthly meeting of Kilmacolm Community Council.
Wednesday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
1.00 Leave work to travel to Greenock
2.00 Weekly meeting with the Chief Executive
3.00 Inverclyde Alliance Board Pre-agenda
4.30 Weekly meeting of the Administration Group
6.00 Christmas Lights Switch-On at Port Glasgow
Thursday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
3.00 Leave work to travel to Greenock
4.00 Meeting of Inverclyde Council
5.30 Christmas Lights Switch-On at Greenock
Friday
At work all day. At 6.00 I will be officiating at the Christmas Lights Switch-On at Kilmacolm
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Thursday, 25 November 2010
SNP rethink on budget...
I see that following defeat in the Scottish Parliament today the SNP Government is rethinking its decision to introduce only a one year budget.
This makes the decision of the other (i.e non Labour) political groups in COSLA to agree a short-term deal with the Government before it had even presented its budget to Parliament look rather foolish, particularly when one of COSLA's main demands had been for a longer-term settlement.
I can understand why the SNP Group in COSLA was desperate for a deal with their Government: I cannot for the life of me work out why the Lib Dem, Tory and Independent Groups were so determined to sign up, and in doing so agree to a punishment clause that fundamentally undermines local democracy.
This makes the decision of the other (i.e non Labour) political groups in COSLA to agree a short-term deal with the Government before it had even presented its budget to Parliament look rather foolish, particularly when one of COSLA's main demands had been for a longer-term settlement.
I can understand why the SNP Group in COSLA was desperate for a deal with their Government: I cannot for the life of me work out why the Lib Dem, Tory and Independent Groups were so determined to sign up, and in doing so agree to a punishment clause that fundamentally undermines local democracy.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
...but tomorrow is another day...
Tomorrow Council officers will unveil a package of savings proposals for Councillors to consider when setting the Council's budgets for 2011/12 and 2012/13.
The financial challenges facing Inverclyde and all other Councils and public bodies are well known. We have been working for the last 18 months or so to identify efficiency savings in order to address these challenges but we have also realised for some time that efficiency savings alone will not close the budget gap.
The savings package to be announced tomorrow will therefore contain a good number of proposals that will involve a reduction in service.
I should stress however that these proposals are options for Councillors to consider.
Officers have estimated that of the £10.9m worth of savings they have identified Councillors will need to agree to just over £6m, unless we come up with alternative savings ourselves, to balance the books over the next two years.
This will require some very tough decisions of Members.
My priority as Council Leader will be to limit the impact on frontline services and in particular services to the most vulnerable in our community. I will also be looking to ensure that we continue with our investment programmes in our schools and leisure facilities.
There is no getting away from the fact however that we will have to cut funding in a number of areas. We will look to manage the impact on staff and service users as sentively as we can.
The financial challenges facing Inverclyde and all other Councils and public bodies are well known. We have been working for the last 18 months or so to identify efficiency savings in order to address these challenges but we have also realised for some time that efficiency savings alone will not close the budget gap.
The savings package to be announced tomorrow will therefore contain a good number of proposals that will involve a reduction in service.
I should stress however that these proposals are options for Councillors to consider.
Officers have estimated that of the £10.9m worth of savings they have identified Councillors will need to agree to just over £6m, unless we come up with alternative savings ourselves, to balance the books over the next two years.
This will require some very tough decisions of Members.
My priority as Council Leader will be to limit the impact on frontline services and in particular services to the most vulnerable in our community. I will also be looking to ensure that we continue with our investment programmes in our schools and leisure facilities.
There is no getting away from the fact however that we will have to cut funding in a number of areas. We will look to manage the impact on staff and service users as sentively as we can.
A good day...
It was a good day today.
At lunchtime I attended a small event in Oronsay to mark the handover of the first new houses to be built by River Clyde Homes in Port Glasgow.
The Oronsay development is part of an overall project comprising of 195 new homes, with other houses being built at Woodhall and Moray Road. The total contract value is £23.5m.
These are the first new family houses to be built in Port Glasgow since 1975, so it is quite a milestone.
I had the opportunity to have a look at a couple of houses and was impressed by what I saw. I also spoke to some of the tenants, who are delighted with their new homes.
This evening I attended a reception at The Custom House in Greenock where His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, unveiled the name of the new Arts Guild theatre: The Beacon Inverclyde Arts Centre. Work started on the new centre - which is being funded in part through a £2.5m grant from the Council - this week and should be completed in 2012.
This again is another major milestone in the regeneration of Inverclyde.
As I said, a good day.
At lunchtime I attended a small event in Oronsay to mark the handover of the first new houses to be built by River Clyde Homes in Port Glasgow.
The Oronsay development is part of an overall project comprising of 195 new homes, with other houses being built at Woodhall and Moray Road. The total contract value is £23.5m.
These are the first new family houses to be built in Port Glasgow since 1975, so it is quite a milestone.
I had the opportunity to have a look at a couple of houses and was impressed by what I saw. I also spoke to some of the tenants, who are delighted with their new homes.
This evening I attended a reception at The Custom House in Greenock where His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, unveiled the name of the new Arts Guild theatre: The Beacon Inverclyde Arts Centre. Work started on the new centre - which is being funded in part through a £2.5m grant from the Council - this week and should be completed in 2012.
This again is another major milestone in the regeneration of Inverclyde.
As I said, a good day.
Monday, 22 November 2010
£7bn Loan to Ireland
It looks very likely that the UK is about to offer a loan of around £7bn to the Republic of Ireland to help them out of their financial crisis.
I will resist the temptation to draw a parallel between Ireland and an independent Scotland.
It is ironic however that the Con Dem Government, which has been telling us that they inherited such a financial mess from Labour, feels able to lend £7bn to Ireland.
Perhaps things in the UK were not quite as bad as they made out after all?
I will resist the temptation to draw a parallel between Ireland and an independent Scotland.
It is ironic however that the Con Dem Government, which has been telling us that they inherited such a financial mess from Labour, feels able to lend £7bn to Ireland.
Perhaps things in the UK were not quite as bad as they made out after all?
What now for Clune Park?
It was another frustrating meeting of the Clune Park Task Group tonight as it became clear that discussions between officers of the Council and the Scottish Government on the way forward are not progressing as quickly or as well as we had hoped.
Members of the Task Group were also deeply disappointed to hear that the Minister for Housing and Communities, Alex Neil, has refused to visit the area until a way forward has been agreed.
Clune Park Tenants' and Residents' Association will now write directly to the Minister asking him to change his mind.
Hopefully they will have more success than me, since I have asked the Minister three times, without success, to visit the area.
Members of the Task Group were also deeply disappointed to hear that the Minister for Housing and Communities, Alex Neil, has refused to visit the area until a way forward has been agreed.
Clune Park Tenants' and Residents' Association will now write directly to the Minister asking him to change his mind.
Hopefully they will have more success than me, since I have asked the Minister three times, without success, to visit the area.
Sunday, 21 November 2010
The week ahead...
Monday
At work all day. In the evening I will be chairing a meeting of the Clune Park Task Group.
Tuesday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
2.00 Leave work to travel to Greenock
3.30 Inverclyde Council Pre-agenda
4.00 All Members' Briefing on the Council's Budget
5.00 Weekly meeting of the Labour Group
Wednesday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
11.30 Leave work to travel to Port Glasgow
12.00 River Clyde Homes handover ceremony at Oronsay
2.00 Weekly meeting with the Chief Executive
3.30 Meeting with Officers and Gibshill Residents' Association
5.30 Greenock Arts Guild Fundraising Reception
Thursday
At work all day with no evening commitments
Friday
In the morning I am due to attend a meeting of the Clyde Valley Community Planning Partnership in Dumbarton. In the afternoon I will be going to work in Glasgow.
Saturday
I have a surgery in Kilmacolm Community Centre at 9.30.
At work all day. In the evening I will be chairing a meeting of the Clune Park Task Group.
Tuesday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
2.00 Leave work to travel to Greenock
3.30 Inverclyde Council Pre-agenda
4.00 All Members' Briefing on the Council's Budget
5.00 Weekly meeting of the Labour Group
Wednesday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
11.30 Leave work to travel to Port Glasgow
12.00 River Clyde Homes handover ceremony at Oronsay
2.00 Weekly meeting with the Chief Executive
3.30 Meeting with Officers and Gibshill Residents' Association
5.30 Greenock Arts Guild Fundraising Reception
Thursday
At work all day with no evening commitments
Friday
In the morning I am due to attend a meeting of the Clyde Valley Community Planning Partnership in Dumbarton. In the afternoon I will be going to work in Glasgow.
Saturday
I have a surgery in Kilmacolm Community Centre at 9.30.
Friday, 19 November 2010
Deal or No Deal?
I attended a rather heated meeting of Council Leaders at COSLA today where the Local Government Finance Settlement was high on the agenda.
With the other political groups congratulating themselves on how good a deal they had secured from the SNP Government it was left to Labour Council Leaders to point out that what was on offer was nowhere near as good as they were making out.
The fundamental point that the other groups chose to ignore however was that the threat by the Government to slash funding to Councils who do not sign up to do their bidding is an affront to local democracy.
Let us have no more talk of mutual trust and partnership from this Government. They have made it quite clear that if Councils don't agree to do as they are told they will be severely punished like disobedient children.
Unfortunately they have been encouraged to act in this way by SNP, Lib Dem, Independent and Tory Council Leaders, who would be only too happy to see Labour Councils get their comeuppance.
These Council Leaders should enjoy their time of preeminence while it lasts, as I suspect come May 2012 a number of them will be looking for new jobs.
With the other political groups congratulating themselves on how good a deal they had secured from the SNP Government it was left to Labour Council Leaders to point out that what was on offer was nowhere near as good as they were making out.
The fundamental point that the other groups chose to ignore however was that the threat by the Government to slash funding to Councils who do not sign up to do their bidding is an affront to local democracy.
Let us have no more talk of mutual trust and partnership from this Government. They have made it quite clear that if Councils don't agree to do as they are told they will be severely punished like disobedient children.
Unfortunately they have been encouraged to act in this way by SNP, Lib Dem, Independent and Tory Council Leaders, who would be only too happy to see Labour Councils get their comeuppance.
These Council Leaders should enjoy their time of preeminence while it lasts, as I suspect come May 2012 a number of them will be looking for new jobs.
A brass neck...
The brass neck of our SNP Government never fails to amaze me.
After continually arguing for the Scottish Parliament to have greater fiscal responsibility we find out that they have irresponsibly allowed the Parliament's tax varying power - which I and over 1.5m other Scots voted for in 1997 - to lapse.
This is nothing short of a disgrace. It is also a betrayal of the devolution settlement and the Scottish people.
Roll on next May!
After continually arguing for the Scottish Parliament to have greater fiscal responsibility we find out that they have irresponsibly allowed the Parliament's tax varying power - which I and over 1.5m other Scots voted for in 1997 - to lapse.
This is nothing short of a disgrace. It is also a betrayal of the devolution settlement and the Scottish people.
Roll on next May!
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Local Government Settlement...
So the Scottish Government has published its draft budget for 2011/12 and the details of its 'offer' to local government.
In a letter to Council Leaders the Finance Secretary John Swinney tells us that the agreement he has struck with COSLA - the local authority umbrella body - is "based upon mutual respect and partnership". I beg to differ.
The choice for individual Councils like Inverclyde is quite stark.
If we sign up to the deal - I have to send a letter to Mr Swinney by 21 December confirming our agreement - we will face a cut of 2.6% in our revenue funding. If we don't sign up we will face a cut of 6.4%!
This hardly smacks of mutual respect to me and it certainly doesn't demonstrate mutual trust.
Previous Scottish Governments were criticised for the excessive use of ring fenced funding. This Government might be taking a different approach but the message is very much the same i.e. do as you are told on your funding will be cut.
Surely any pretence of parity of esteem between the two levels of Scottish Government has gone for ever?
As some of us have realised for a long time, we in local government are very much the junior 'partner' in the relationship and when push comes to shove we have no option but to do as we are told.
Mind you one good thing has come of the latest 'deal' between COSLA and the SNP Government and that is the end of the 'historic' Concordat.
In a letter to Council Leaders the Finance Secretary John Swinney tells us that the agreement he has struck with COSLA - the local authority umbrella body - is "based upon mutual respect and partnership". I beg to differ.
The choice for individual Councils like Inverclyde is quite stark.
If we sign up to the deal - I have to send a letter to Mr Swinney by 21 December confirming our agreement - we will face a cut of 2.6% in our revenue funding. If we don't sign up we will face a cut of 6.4%!
This hardly smacks of mutual respect to me and it certainly doesn't demonstrate mutual trust.
Previous Scottish Governments were criticised for the excessive use of ring fenced funding. This Government might be taking a different approach but the message is very much the same i.e. do as you are told on your funding will be cut.
Surely any pretence of parity of esteem between the two levels of Scottish Government has gone for ever?
As some of us have realised for a long time, we in local government are very much the junior 'partner' in the relationship and when push comes to shove we have no option but to do as we are told.
Mind you one good thing has come of the latest 'deal' between COSLA and the SNP Government and that is the end of the 'historic' Concordat.
Sunday, 14 November 2010
The week ahead...
Monday
I am at work all day. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of the Woodhall Task Group.
Tuesday and Wednesday
At a conference through work on both days. On Wednesday evening I hope to attend a meeting of the Kelburn Task Group.
Thursday
In the morning I have a meeting scheduled with the Chair and Chief Executive of River Clyde Homes, before going to work in Glasgow. In the evening I hope to attend a public meeting organised by Whitecroft Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Friday
Most of the day I will be through at Edinburgh for the COSLA Leaders' meeting. In the afternoon I will be at work in Glasgow for a few hours.
I am at work all day. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of the Woodhall Task Group.
Tuesday and Wednesday
At a conference through work on both days. On Wednesday evening I hope to attend a meeting of the Kelburn Task Group.
Thursday
In the morning I have a meeting scheduled with the Chair and Chief Executive of River Clyde Homes, before going to work in Glasgow. In the evening I hope to attend a public meeting organised by Whitecroft Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Friday
Most of the day I will be through at Edinburgh for the COSLA Leaders' meeting. In the afternoon I will be at work in Glasgow for a few hours.
....we will remember them
I laid a wreath at the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in Port Glasgow today.
While I have done this a number of times over the years I always feel greatly honoured to undertake this duty on behalf of the Council and the local community in remembrance of the men and women of our town who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country.
It also was good to see so many people - young and old - turn out for the service.
While I have done this a number of times over the years I always feel greatly honoured to undertake this duty on behalf of the Council and the local community in remembrance of the men and women of our town who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country.
It also was good to see so many people - young and old - turn out for the service.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
MSPs' Pay Freeze...
I see that our MSPs have agreed to a two year freeze in their pay from next year, following the lead of Councillors who agreed to a freeze in the current financial year. Well done to them.
Mind you the basic salary of an MSP at £57,521 is still nearly four times the basic salary of a Councillor, which currently stands at £16,234.
Mind you the basic salary of an MSP at £57,521 is still nearly four times the basic salary of a Councillor, which currently stands at £16,234.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Kids are Street Smart...
I had the pleasure of attending one of the Council's 'Street Smart' showcases in Port Glasgow High School tonight where youngsters from P7 in local primary schools demonstrated what they had learned about various safety issues (including Internet safety, road safety and alcohol awareness) at workshops run by Council staff in September and October.
The youngsters from Kings Oak, St John's, St Michael's and St Francis all gave very informative and entertaining presentations. The trophy for the best presentation went to St Michael's Primary School.
Well done to the youngsters, their teachers and Council staff for making this such a successful event.
The youngsters from Kings Oak, St John's, St Michael's and St Francis all gave very informative and entertaining presentations. The trophy for the best presentation went to St Michael's Primary School.
Well done to the youngsters, their teachers and Council staff for making this such a successful event.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
The future of Education...
I was interested in the coverage today of the views of Keir Bloomer, a leading educationalist, on the management of schools, where Mr Bloomer was arguing that schools should be removed from local authority control and taken over by local community trusts.
While our Council has a reputation for delivering quality education services, we are not complacent. We recognise that there is always room for improvement and that we need to continually look for new ways of meeting the needs of all our young people.
While I strongly believe that our state education system should be democratically accountable I am nevertheless prepared to listen to the case for change. I intend to contact Mr Bloomer to invite him down to Inverclyde to give him an opportunity to explain to us where we are going wrong and to outline how his proposals would improve the quality of education delivered to our young people.
I am sure that, if he accepts my invitation, we will have an interesting debate.
While our Council has a reputation for delivering quality education services, we are not complacent. We recognise that there is always room for improvement and that we need to continually look for new ways of meeting the needs of all our young people.
While I strongly believe that our state education system should be democratically accountable I am nevertheless prepared to listen to the case for change. I intend to contact Mr Bloomer to invite him down to Inverclyde to give him an opportunity to explain to us where we are going wrong and to outline how his proposals would improve the quality of education delivered to our young people.
I am sure that, if he accepts my invitation, we will have an interesting debate.
Sunday, 7 November 2010
The week ahead...
Monday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
4.00 Leave work to travel to Greenock
5.00 Special meeting of the Administration Group
Tuesday
At work all day. In the evening I have a surgery at Boglestone Community Centre at 6.00.
Wednesday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
1.30 Leave work to travel to Greenock
2.30 Weekly meeting with the Chief Executive
4.30 Weekly meeting of the Administration Group
5.30 Weekly meeting of the Labour Group
7.00 Street Smart 2010 at Port Glasgow High School
Thursday
At work all day. In the evening I have a meeting of the Kilmacolm New Community Centre Company Board.
Friday
At work all day again. In the evening I will be attending the 'Pride of Inverclyde' Awards in Greenock Town Hall.
Sunday
I will be representing the Council at the Remembrance Sunday Service in Port Glasgow and laying a wreath at the Cenotaph.
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
4.00 Leave work to travel to Greenock
5.00 Special meeting of the Administration Group
Tuesday
At work all day. In the evening I have a surgery at Boglestone Community Centre at 6.00.
Wednesday
7.30 Start work in Glasgow
1.30 Leave work to travel to Greenock
2.30 Weekly meeting with the Chief Executive
4.30 Weekly meeting of the Administration Group
5.30 Weekly meeting of the Labour Group
7.00 Street Smart 2010 at Port Glasgow High School
Thursday
At work all day. In the evening I have a meeting of the Kilmacolm New Community Centre Company Board.
Friday
At work all day again. In the evening I will be attending the 'Pride of Inverclyde' Awards in Greenock Town Hall.
Sunday
I will be representing the Council at the Remembrance Sunday Service in Port Glasgow and laying a wreath at the Cenotaph.
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Good on you Tom...
Opening my Greenock Telegraph last night I was pleasantly surprised to see that my fellow Ward 1 Councillor, Lib Dem Tom Fyfe, was holding a surgery in Kilmacolm Community Centre this morning.
Tom is not known for holding regular surgeries - in fact I can probably count on the fingers of one hand how many surgeries he has held since he was elected in 2007.
So good on you Tom: who knows, maybe next month it will be Port Glasgow's turn?
Tom is not known for holding regular surgeries - in fact I can probably count on the fingers of one hand how many surgeries he has held since he was elected in 2007.
So good on you Tom: who knows, maybe next month it will be Port Glasgow's turn?
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Improvements at Kilmacolm Cross...
Work is due to start on Monday (8 November) to improve pedestrian crossing points at Kilmacolm Cross. The work, which is scheduled to last for 3 weeks (weather permitting), will cost around £18,000.
I have received a number of representations from constituents about the difficulties for pedestrians crossing Bridge of Weir and Port Glasgow Roads at the Cross since I was elected - and have experienced them at first hand - so I am pleased that this work is getting underway. Hopefully it will go some way to make it safer for pedestrians crossing at this very busy location in the heart of the village.
I have received a number of representations from constituents about the difficulties for pedestrians crossing Bridge of Weir and Port Glasgow Roads at the Cross since I was elected - and have experienced them at first hand - so I am pleased that this work is getting underway. Hopefully it will go some way to make it safer for pedestrians crossing at this very busy location in the heart of the village.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Parking U-turn...
I see that outspoken SNP Councillor Chris Osborne has now welcomed key aspects of the draft parking strategy for Greenock Town Centre developed by the Council's consultants.
Quite a U-turn from young Chris given that he had previously attacked the proposals without actually knowing what they were.
Maybe the next time he will attend the Members' briefing rather than relying on one of his colleagues to tell him what was discussed!
Quite a U-turn from young Chris given that he had previously attacked the proposals without actually knowing what they were.
Maybe the next time he will attend the Members' briefing rather than relying on one of his colleagues to tell him what was discussed!
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