The week ahead...

Monday
In the morning I am visiting Capplielow Park to hear about Morton's community work from Warren Hawke. In the evening I am attending the annual general meetings of Port Glasgow East and Port Glasgow West community councils.
Tuesday
In the afternoon I am attending a meeting of the Council's Health and Social Care Committee.
Wednesday
In the afternoon I have my weekly meetings with the Chief Executive and Labour Group. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of Kilmacolm New Community Centre Company Board.
Thursday
In the morning I am visiting a constituent at home. In the afternoon I have a members' briefing on employability followed by a meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee.
Friday
I am through at COSLA in Edinburgh most of the day for meetings.

The week ahead...

Monday
In the morning I have a meeting with an environmental training organisation to find out about their work. In the early evening I will be going on a walkabout with the Woodhall Task Group followed by a meeting of the group.
Tuesday
In the morning I am meeting with the new Head Teacher of Kilmacolm Primary School. In the afternoon I have a Members' briefing on capital projects. In the evening I have a surgery in Kilmacolm Community Centre.
Wednesday
In the morning I have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive and and at lunchtime I will be signing our new partnership agreement with the Council's trade unions. In the late afternoon I have a meeting of the Labour Group.
Thursday
In the morning I have an interview with Inverclyde Radio.
Friday
I am in Edinburgh for the COSLA Leaders' Meeting followed by a meeting of Scottish Labour's Local Government Committee. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of Greenock & Inverclyde CLP.
Saturday
I will be in Stirling to attend Labour's Scottish Executive Committee and Policy Forum.

Demolition of a Kilmacolm landmark...

Work re-commenced today 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.

Many people will be sad to see the demolition of the Institute given its long history as a focal point in the village. However the conversion of the building was not considered to be economically variable.

Residents can take comfort from the fact that the sale of the Institute has helped secure the long-term future of the former village primary school and school board buildings across the road at the Cargill Centre.

Extra roads investment...

At the Council's Environment & Regeneration Committee on 3 September Members will be asked to approve an additional £1.4m of investment in the current financial year in carriageways and footways, bringing total planned investment to over £5.4m. This is part of the Council's £29m five-year investment programme on our roads assets.

I am pleased that some of the extra investment this year will be in Ward 1:

Carriageway Resurfacing/Reconstruction
A761, Kilmacolm (Auchenbothie Road to Woodrow Avenue)
Gryffe Road, Kilmacolm (Houston Road to Gryffe Craig)

Footways
Churchill Road, Kilmacolm (full length)
A761 Kilmacolm Road, Port Glasgow (Boglestone Roundabout to second lay-by)
Auchenbothie Road, Port Glasgow (rural section to West Barmoss Avenue)
Dougliehill Terrace, Port Glasgow (full length)

Devolution should not stop at Holyrood...

There has been speculation for some time now that I was considering seeking selection as a candidate for the Scottish Parliament, either for the Greenock and Inverclyde Constituency or for the West of Scotland Region.

I am today bringing that speculation to an end by announcing I will not be seeking selection for the Scottish Parliament.

It is common knowledge I am on the Labour Party’s list of approved candidates for the Scottish Parliament. At the time I applied I was simply looking to keep my options open.

My principle motivation in seeking public office has always been to serve the people of Inverclyde and play my part in making Inverclyde a better place. I have long been of the opinion I can make a greater contribution to that cause by being a local councillor rather than a member of parliament, whether that be at Westminster or Holyrood. The many tangible improvements made since I became Council Leader in 2007 stand testament to this.

It is my intention therefore to serve out the remainder of my term in office as a Councillor. There is still much I want to achieve in that period and many important decisions still to be taken that I want to influence.

I also want to play a role at a national level through COSLA in lobbying for more powers and financial freedom for local government following on from the devolution of additional powers from the UK Parliament to the Scottish Parliament.

Devolution should not stop at Holyrood. In many cases democratically elected local councillors are better placed to make the right decisions for their communities than civil servants or government appointees.

I have made no decision on whether or not I will seek re-selection by my Party for the 2017 Council elections. That is a decision I will make when the Party asks me to.

The week ahead...

Monday
Most of my day will be taken up by chairing the Appointment Panel for the post of Corporate Director Education, Communities and Organisational Development.
Tuesday
In the morning I have a meeting of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Cabinet in Glasgow and in late afternoon a meeting of the Central Gourock Redevelopment Working Group. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of the River Clyde Homes Board.
Wednesday
In the afternoon I have my weekly meetings with the Council's Chief Executive and the Labour Group.
Thursday
In the morning I hope to attend the annual general meeting of Your Voice and in the afternoon a members' briefing on renewable energy.
Friday
No Council commitments at this time.

The week ahead...

With thee summer recess now over the week ahead is a bit busier:

Monday
In the afternoon I have a members' briefing on pension scheme changes for employees followed by a first meeting of the new Integrated Joint Board for health and social care services. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of the Kelburn Action Group.
Tuesday
In the morning I will be walking the Oronsay estate in Port Glasgow with River Clyde Homes officials and my colleague James McColgan to discuss estate management issues. In the afternoon I will be chairing a meeting of the Council's Policy & Resources Committee. In the evening I have a surgery in Clune Park Resource Centre.
Wednesday
In the afternoon I have my weekly meetings with the Chief Executive and the Labour Group.
Thursday
I am hoping to get along to the Parklea Branching Out summer event in the morning and the Cloch Housing Association summer gala in the afternoon.
Friday
In the evening I am attending the annual Recruit gala dinner and awards ceremony.

The week ahead...

Monday
In the late afternoon I have a meeting of the Council's Members' Budget Working Group.
Tuesday
In the morning I am meeting with Duncan McNeil MSP, Ronnie Cowan MP and officers from the Council and Scottish Enterprise to discuss how we can work together to secure a long-term use for Inchgreen Drydock.
Wednesday
In the afternoon I have meetings with Ronnie Cowan MP, the Council's Chief Executive and the Labour Group.
Thursday
No formal Council commitments at this time.
Friday
In the evening I am attending a 'Recruit' event at HP in Erskine.