Listening to your views...

At a briefing for all political groups earlier this week the Council's Chief Financial Officer reported that the Council is projecting a budget surplus of around £4m in the next financial year, 2012/13. Taking into account the projected budget surplus in the current financial year of £2.3m and other factors, he is projecting that the political groups will have just over £8m available in 'free reserves' to spend on one-off investments as part of the review of the Council's 2012/13 budget, which will be considered at a special Council meeting on 9 February.

Over the coming weeks the ruling Administration will be discussing how we can make best use of this £8m. I would therefore be interested to hear from Inverclyde residents on what they think our priorities should be.

Officers have already come up with a number of suggestions:

£0.3m for the proposed new Inverkip Community Facility taking the Council's funding for the £1.2m project to £0.9m;
£1.0m for the refurbishment of the Watt Complex taking the Council's total funding commitment to £4.0m;
£3.0m to make up a shortfall in the Council's capital funding as a result of the Scottish Government cutting our capital grant, which would cover the cost of existing planned projects, such as our annual investment in road improvements.

I would like to hear residents' views on these proposals and any thoughts on how the balance of £3.7m should be spent.

Suggestions can be emailed to me at Stephen.McCabe@inverclyde.gov.uk or by writing to me at Municipal Buildings, Clyde Square, Greenock PA15 1NB.

As you would expect, I already have a few ideas of my own.

Inverclyde Labour announce Council election candidates...

Inverclyde Labour Party has selected its candidates for the 2012 Council elections.

They are as follows:

Ward 1 (Inverclyde East): Stephen McCabe & James McColgan;
Ward 2 (Inverclyde East Central): Michael McCormick & Robert Moran;
Ward 3 (Inverclyde North): Martin Brennan & Jim Clocherty;
Ward 4 (Inverclyde South): Vaughan Jones & Joe McIlwee;
Ward 5 (Inverclyde West): Terry Loughran;
Ward 6 (Inverclyde South West): Gerry Dorrian & Colin Jackson. 

Paul Mooney, Chair of Inverclyde Labour Party, said: "Local members have selected a fantastic slate of candidates to take forward the Labour message to the people of Inverclyde. There is an excellent mix of individuals who will all use their different life experiences to work for the area. All of them are committed to Labour values of fairness and equality and will be tireless in helping to build the Inverclyde we all want to see."


Current Inverclyde Labour Group Leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: "I am delighted to have been re-selected to represent Labour in Ward 1 at next year's Council elections. The Party has chosen a very strong team of candidates and we will be going all out to retain control of the Council. I believe that we have an excellent record of delivery to put before the electorate and the passion to drive Inverclyde forward for another five years."

A Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year...

2011 has been another year of progress for Inverclyde despite the global economic situation.

The high points included the opening of two new secondary schools – Clydeview Academy and Notre Dame High School – and the opening of Kilmacolm’s new community centre and library.

There is even more to look forward to in 2012.

Work will continue on our exciting new £44m shared campus in Port Glasgow and start on the new £15m St Columba’s High School in Gourock. The £5m refurbishment and extension of the former Overton Primary School building for the new Whinhill Primary School is scheduled for completion in July.

2012 will be marked by further significant progress with our leisure strategy with the completion of the £1.7m refurbishment of Ravenscraig Stadium; a new £3.5m community stadium at Parklea; and the £1.8m re-build of Gourock Pool.

We will see the completion of our new £10m Beacon Arts Centre ; major investment in Port Glasgow and Gourock town centres; the opening of the Council’s new customer service centre on the ground floor of Greenock’s Municipal Buildings; and major investment in new and upgraded play facilities across Inverclyde.

And you will have the opportunity to give your verdict on the past five years at the local government elections in May.

This is of course a time of the year when we remember friends and loved ones who have passed away. In May we lost our local MP David Cairns. It is still difficult to come to terms with the fact that David is no longer with us.

I would like to thank all Council staff for their continued efforts in delivering for the people of Inverclyde, with a special mention for those who will be working over the festive period to maintain essential services.

A Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you all.

The week ahead...

A shorter week with the count down to Christmas:

Monday
At work in Glasgow until 1.30. There is an all Member budget briefing at 2.30 and I am due to chair a meeting of the Inverclyde Alliance Board at 3.30. I have a surgery in Clune Park Resource Centre from 5.30 to 6.30.
Tuesday
At work again in the morning. In the afternoon I have a meeting with Derek Mackay MSP, the new Local Government Minister in the Scottish Government. At 4.00 I have my last weekly meeting of 2011 with the Council's Chief Executive, John Mundell. In the evening I hope to attend a meeting to discuss a possible new community facility for the Woodhall area of Port Glasgow.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
No Council commitments in the diary. Time to prepare for Christmas!

Introducing Labour's Team for Inverclyde East....

I am delighted to announce that I have been selected as a Labour candidate for the Inverclyde East Ward at next year's Council elections, along with my colleague James McColgan.

Having represented the Ward - which covers most of Port Glasgow, Kilmacolm and Quarrier's Village - since 2007 I am deeply honoured to have been chosen once again to stand for my Party. It will be my fifth time standing for election and I will be aiming to continue my 100 per cent success rate.

In contrast it will be James' first election as a candidate at the tender age of 20.

He was born and brought up in Port Glasgow, where he still lives. After attending primary and secondary schools in the town James served a two-year modern apprenticeship in IT with Inverclyde Council. After leaving the Council he worked in the private sector for a period before starting a degree course in law and politics at Glasgow University in October this year.

James is a former Chair of Inverclyde Youth Council and a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament. He was recently appointed to the new Port Glasgow West Community Council  and is the current Secretary of Port Glasgow and Kilmacolm Labour Party Branch.

James is very passionate about Inverclyde and is keen to play his part in making it a better place to live.

In 2007 we narrowly missed out on having two Labour candidates elected in Ward 1. In 2012 James and I will be looking to put that right.

Setting the record straight....

I have been asked by Mr Ralph Roberts to point out that he is standing as an SNP candidate in Ward 5 and not Ward 6. I am very happy to do so.

I am actually flattered by how many members of the local SNP read my blog. I am glad that I keeping them amused!

Getting on board...

Word has reached me from one of my many moles in the local SNP that Ralph Roberts, Managing Director of McGill's Buses, is being lined up as one of their candidates in either Ward 5 or Ward 6 at next year's Council Elections.

I am told that Mr Roberts has been headhunted by SNP campaign mastermind Stuart McMillan to lead the SNP Group should they be successful in seizing control of Inverclyde Council next May. I understand that Stuart believes that Mr Robert's success in turning McGill's into Scotland' third biggest bus operator shows that he is the man to lead an SNP run council.

A link between the SNP and a Scottish bus operator is nothing new of course. Stagecoach owner Sir Brian Souter is a major funder of the national party.

It looks like the local SNP are now getting on board the bus.

Shared Campus update...

I chaired a meeting of the Port Glasgow Shared Campus Working Group tonight.

Despite the poor weather, good progress is being made on the ground works, demolition of the former Port Glasgow High School and the new roundabout and road layout. Spend to date is over a £1m.

The contractors have reported that they are 9 days behind schedule, largely due to the weather, but they are confident of making this up.

It is hoped that a webcam and website will be set up shortly so that progress with the contract can be monitored online.

The next meeting of the working group has been scheduled for 19 March.

The week ahead...

Monday
At work until 2.00. At 3.00 I have a meeting with the President of James Watt College Students' Union (who happens to be my nephew) to discuss the implications of cuts to funding. At 4.00 there is an all Members' briefing on the Operating Model by the Chief Executive. At 6.30 I am due to chair a meeting of the Port Glasgow Shared Campus Working Group.
Tuesday
At work until 3.00. At 4.00 I have the Regeneration Committee pre-agenda followed by my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive.
Wednesday
At work until lunchtime before attending the Kilmacolm Primary School Nativity Show. At 4.30 I have the weekly meeting of the Administration Group followed by the weekly meeting of the Labour Group at 5.30. I hope then to attend a meeting of Newark Primary School Parent Council at 6.30.
Thursday
At work until lunchtime again before attending the St Michael's Primary School Christmas show in Port Glasgow. At 4.00 I have a special meeting of the Council to discuss the Operating Model. At 7.00 I will be attending the annual general meeting of Slaemuir Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Friday
I have taken the day off work so that I can attend the COSLA Convention in Edinburgh.

The week ahead...

Monday
At work for a while in the morning before heading to Barrhead for a meeting of the Clyde Valley Community Planning Partnership for a few hours. I will then be returning to work until 5.00. I have a surgery in Boglestone Community Centre at 6.00 before heading to Kilmacolm for a meeting of the Kilmacolm Primary School Parent Partnership.
Tuesday
At work for most of the day with no day time Council commitments. In the evening I am scheduled to attend the Port Glasgow Old Peoples' Welfare Council Christmas Dinner in Port Glasgow Town Hall.
Wednesday
At work in the morning. I have the official opening of the new Notre Dame High School at 2.00; my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive at 3.30; the weekly meeting of the Administration Group at 5.00; the weekly meeting of the Labour Group at 6.00; and the switch on of the Port Glasgow Christmas Lights at 7.00.
Thursday
At work until 12.00 before heading to Port Glasgow for the Lilybank School Show. In the evening I am hoping to attend the  Schools' Concert in Greenock Town Hall.
Friday
At work in the morning followed by my staff Christmas Lunch in the afternoon. In the early evening I will be attending the Council's annual staff awards - 'The Pride of Inverclyde' - in Greenock's Municipal Buildings.

December promotion at Birkmyre Park MUGA...

Stuart is the mastermind...

Word has reached me that West of Scotland regional list MSP Stuart McMillan is masterminding an audacious bid by the SNP to seize control of Inverclyde Council at next May's elections.

The SNP - who stood 6 candidates at the 2007 elections and had 5 elected - are planning to stand 10 candidates next year in the hope of being the largest party and therefore best placed to lead a coalition or operate as a minority Administration.

For Ward 1 (Quarrier's Village, Kilmacolm and most of Port Glasgow) the SNP have selected sitting Councillor Jim MacLeod and newcomer Math Campbell-Sturgess. Campbell-Sturgess is a protege of Stuart McMillan. I understand that he was originally rejected as a candidate but was put through on appeal by McMillan. Campbell-Sturgess, who lives in Greenock, has been described to me as a rather colourful character.

Putting two candidates up in Ward 1 is being viewed as a major risk to sitting Councillor MacLeod, who will come after Campbell-Sturgess on the ballot paper. Unless the SNP get their voter management strategy right Jim could end up losing out to his SNP colleague if they are only successful in getting one candidate elected.

As we know already, the SNP are putting one candidate up in Ward 2 (Port Glasgow West and Greenock East Central). Sitting Councillor Jim Grieve beat fellow Councillor Chris Osborne in a close selection contest. It is understood that McMillan's backing for Grieve was decisive in his victory.

Insiders within the SNP are concerned by the choice of Grieve given that he has attended only 3 Council meetings in the last two years or so due to illness.

The SNP are apparently planning to put two candidates up in Ward 3 (Greenock Central/West). With Chris Osborne withdrawing from the selection process however they are on the hunt for another candidate to partner academic Alex De Rutyner.

Former Labour Party member Jim Watson has been selected to replace another former Labour Party member, Keith Brooks, in Ward 4 (Greenock South). Watson is almost certain to be elected as the sole SNP candidate in the ward.

In Ward 5 (Gourock) the SNP are believed to be standing two candidates - John Crowther and Chris McEleny. This again is viewed as a risky strategy since they currently do not have a Councillor in Gourock.

Similarly in Ward 6 (Greenock South West, Inverkip and Weymss Bay) they are putting up two candidates, one of whom is likely to be current Group Leader Innes Nelson. They seem to believe that with the collapse in the Lib Dem vote locally they could squeeze out former Lib Dem Provost Ciano Rebecchi and gain two Councillors in this ward.

Looks like interesting times ahead in 2012.