Monday
At work during the day. In the evening I hope to attend a meeting of the newly established Port Glasgow West Community Council.
Tuesday
At work during the day. In the evening I have a surgery in Kilmacolm Community Centre followed by a meeting of Kilmacolm Community Council.
Wednesday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have meetings regarding the forthcoming Inspection of Children's Services, the Inverclyde Alliance Board Pre-agenda and a meeting of the Labour Group. In the early evening I am meeting with Inverclyde Youth Council.
Thursday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Environment & Regeneration Committee.
Friday
No work or Council commitments at this time.
Sunday, 26 February 2017
Sunday, 19 February 2017
The week ahead...
Monday
At work during the day. In the evening I will be attending Greenock Sea Cadets' Royal Naval Parade.
Tuesday
At work during the day. In the evening I have a meeting of River Clyde Homes Audit & Finance Committee.
Wednesday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive and a meeting of the Labour Group.
Thursday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Health & Social Care Committee.
Friday
Through at COSLA in Edinburgh for the monthly Leaders' meeting.
Saturday
Attending the official opening of the new Inverkip Community Centre in the morning.
At work during the day. In the evening I will be attending Greenock Sea Cadets' Royal Naval Parade.
Tuesday
At work during the day. In the evening I have a meeting of River Clyde Homes Audit & Finance Committee.
Wednesday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive and a meeting of the Labour Group.
Thursday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Health & Social Care Committee.
Friday
Through at COSLA in Edinburgh for the monthly Leaders' meeting.
Saturday
Attending the official opening of the new Inverkip Community Centre in the morning.
Sunday, 12 February 2017
The week ahead...
Monday
At work until mid afternoon. No Council commitments.
Tuesday
In Glasgow for a meeting of the City Region Cabinet and the launch of the Regional Economic Strategy in the morning. In the evening I have a surgery in Boglestone Community Centre.
Wednesday
At work in the morning. In the late afternoon I have a meeting of the Labour Group.
Thursday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the local Police and Fire Scrutiny Sub-Committee followed by a meeting of the full Council. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of Slaemuir Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Friday
At work in the morning. I have a Labour Party campaign meeting in the evening.
At work until mid afternoon. No Council commitments.
Tuesday
In Glasgow for a meeting of the City Region Cabinet and the launch of the Regional Economic Strategy in the morning. In the evening I have a surgery in Boglestone Community Centre.
Wednesday
At work in the morning. In the late afternoon I have a meeting of the Labour Group.
Thursday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the local Police and Fire Scrutiny Sub-Committee followed by a meeting of the full Council. In the evening I will be attending a meeting of Slaemuir Tenants' and Residents' Association.
Friday
At work in the morning. I have a Labour Party campaign meeting in the evening.
Thursday, 9 February 2017
Council set to approve £86m capital investment programme...
Next Thursday at the full Council I will be moving a three-year capital programme covering the period 2017-2020.
The total proposed investment over this period is just over £86m, with £37m to be invested in our schools alone on a range of projects including:
£5.0m on the refurbishment of Moorfoot Primary
£3.6m on the refurbishment of Lady Alice Primary School
£9.1m on a new St Ninian's Primary School
£1.7m on an extension to Gourock Primary School
£5.2m on the refurbishment and extension of St Mary's Primary School
£1.1m on the refurbishment of Bluebird Family Centre
£3.0m on a new early years facility for Greenock's west end
£1.0m on providing a new home for Glenbrae Children's Centre
£1.0m on the refurbishment of Hillend Children's Centre
£0.35m on the upgrade of Larkfield Children's Centre.
Investing in our schools was my number one priority when I first became Council Leader in 2007. Ten years on it remains my number one priority.
This further investment over the next three years will see us achieve our goal of having all pre-five facilities, primary schools, secondary schools and additional support needs schools fully refurbished or re-built by 2020. This is a legacy that I and my colleagues can be extremely proud of.
Other major projects in the capital programme include:
£12.9m on upgrading roads, footways, street lighting and other roads assets
£2.5m on flood prevention works
£2.2m on two new Children's Homes
£1.7m on the refurbishment of the Watt Library and McLean Museum
£3.2m on private sector housing support including funding for aids and adaptations
£1.4m on Broomhill regeneration works including the realignment of Bakers Brae.
The total proposed investment over this period is just over £86m, with £37m to be invested in our schools alone on a range of projects including:
£5.0m on the refurbishment of Moorfoot Primary
£3.6m on the refurbishment of Lady Alice Primary School
£9.1m on a new St Ninian's Primary School
£1.7m on an extension to Gourock Primary School
£5.2m on the refurbishment and extension of St Mary's Primary School
£1.1m on the refurbishment of Bluebird Family Centre
£3.0m on a new early years facility for Greenock's west end
£1.0m on providing a new home for Glenbrae Children's Centre
£1.0m on the refurbishment of Hillend Children's Centre
£0.35m on the upgrade of Larkfield Children's Centre.
Investing in our schools was my number one priority when I first became Council Leader in 2007. Ten years on it remains my number one priority.
This further investment over the next three years will see us achieve our goal of having all pre-five facilities, primary schools, secondary schools and additional support needs schools fully refurbished or re-built by 2020. This is a legacy that I and my colleagues can be extremely proud of.
Other major projects in the capital programme include:
£12.9m on upgrading roads, footways, street lighting and other roads assets
£2.5m on flood prevention works
£2.2m on two new Children's Homes
£1.7m on the refurbishment of the Watt Library and McLean Museum
£3.2m on private sector housing support including funding for aids and adaptations
£1.4m on Broomhill regeneration works including the realignment of Bakers Brae.
Wednesday, 8 February 2017
Further details of budget proposals...
"In addition to the proposals I announced last night the cross-party Members' Budget Working Group will be making the following recommendations to the full Council meeting on 16 February.
Town Centre Regeneration
£2.5m to support the regeneration of our three town centres - Greenock, Gourock and Port Glasgow - with the lion's share of the money to be targeted at Greenock Town Centre reflecting the relative sizes and needs of each town centre. Priority projects will be drawn up in consultation with the three town centre regeneration forums.
Employability
£500,000 to support a range of employability initiatives, including the creation of apprenticeship opportunities, building on the Council's existing successful employability programmes.
Anti-Poverty Fund
£1m to fund a range of initiatives to support individuals and families living in poverty.
Grants to Voluntary Organisations
£150,000 to support local voluntary groups, supplementing the existing Grants to Voluntary Organisations fund.
'Autism Friendly Community'
£150,000 to support a new initiative to make Inverclyde an 'Autism Friendly Community' building on the existing local autism strategy and the good work of local voluntary groups like 'Reach for Autism'.
Indoor Sports Facility
£350,000 matching funding for a bid to the Scottish Government for a new indoor sports facility suitable for tennis, building on the longstanding local interest in tennis and the renewed interest in the sport generated by the success of the Murray brothers.
I'm sure these proposals will be welcomed across the community."
Town Centre Regeneration
£2.5m to support the regeneration of our three town centres - Greenock, Gourock and Port Glasgow - with the lion's share of the money to be targeted at Greenock Town Centre reflecting the relative sizes and needs of each town centre. Priority projects will be drawn up in consultation with the three town centre regeneration forums.
Employability
£500,000 to support a range of employability initiatives, including the creation of apprenticeship opportunities, building on the Council's existing successful employability programmes.
Anti-Poverty Fund
£1m to fund a range of initiatives to support individuals and families living in poverty.
Grants to Voluntary Organisations
£150,000 to support local voluntary groups, supplementing the existing Grants to Voluntary Organisations fund.
'Autism Friendly Community'
£150,000 to support a new initiative to make Inverclyde an 'Autism Friendly Community' building on the existing local autism strategy and the good work of local voluntary groups like 'Reach for Autism'.
Indoor Sports Facility
£350,000 matching funding for a bid to the Scottish Government for a new indoor sports facility suitable for tennis, building on the longstanding local interest in tennis and the renewed interest in the sport generated by the success of the Murray brothers.
I'm sure these proposals will be welcomed across the community."
Tuesday, 7 February 2017
Cross-Party Budget Proposals Agreed...
Following a two-hour meeting earlier
tonight the Council’s cross-party
Members’ Budget Working Group reached agreement on a package of budget
proposals to be recommended to a meeting of the full Council on 16 February 2017.
Despite a reduction in the Council’s grant of
nearly £5m from the Scottish Government the cross-party group has honoured the
commitment given previously to balance the 2017/18 budget without further
service reductions over and above those previously agreed as part of the
2016/18 two-year budget set in March 2016. This will be achieved through the
use of reserves.
The Group had considered closing some of the
budget gap with a 3% Council Tax rise for all Council Taxpayers as recommended
by the Scottish Government. However, on balance, members of the Group decided
against this. They are conscious that 7,000 households in Inverclyde already
face potential rises of between 7.5% and 22.5% and did not wish to add to the
burden on these families.
Members of the Group recognise that
if the Scottish Government continues to cut the Council’s funding year on year
a rise in the basic level of Council Tax is inevitable next year and every year
thereafter.
The Council’s Chief Financial Officer is
estimating that the potential funding gap in 2018/19 is of the order of £10.5m,
assuming a further £4.7m cut in Scottish Government funding. A savings target
of this magnitude will be hugely challenging for the new Council elected in May
and will require a fundamental review of the services the Council delivers.
The members of the Council’s cross-party Members’
Budget Working Group are: Councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld (Independent); Councillor
Jim Clocherty (Labour); Councillor Vaughan Jones (Independent); Chair,
Councillor Stephen McCabe (Labour); Councillor Ciano Rebecchi (Liberal
Democrat) and Councillor David Wilson (Conservative). The SNP Group Leader
Councillor Christopher McEleny withdrew his Group from the working group in
December 2016.
The cross-party group represents 14 of the
Council’s 20 members with the remaining 6 being SNP Councillors.
Sunday, 5 February 2017
The week ahead...
Monday
At work in the morning. In the early afternoon I will be attending the launch of the regional economic strategy in Glasgow. In the late afternoon I have the Council pre-agenda followed by a meeting with the Principal of Newlands College in Glasgow, Iain White, to hear about the work of the college, which was set up by Scottish entrepreneur Jim McColl, and what lessons its success might have for Inverclyde.
Tuesday
At work until mid afternoon. In the late afternoon I am meeting with the Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Alex Rowley MSP. This will be followed by a meeting of the cross-party Members' Budget Working Group, where we hope to agree the final budget proposals to be made to the Council on 16 February. It is likely the SNP Group will submit their own separate proposals.
Wednesday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive followed by a meeting of the Labour Group.
Thursday
At work until mid afternoon. No Council commitments at this time.
Friday
At work in the morning. No Council commitments at this time.
At work in the morning. In the early afternoon I will be attending the launch of the regional economic strategy in Glasgow. In the late afternoon I have the Council pre-agenda followed by a meeting with the Principal of Newlands College in Glasgow, Iain White, to hear about the work of the college, which was set up by Scottish entrepreneur Jim McColl, and what lessons its success might have for Inverclyde.
Tuesday
At work until mid afternoon. In the late afternoon I am meeting with the Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Alex Rowley MSP. This will be followed by a meeting of the cross-party Members' Budget Working Group, where we hope to agree the final budget proposals to be made to the Council on 16 February. It is likely the SNP Group will submit their own separate proposals.
Wednesday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive followed by a meeting of the Labour Group.
Thursday
At work until mid afternoon. No Council commitments at this time.
Friday
At work in the morning. No Council commitments at this time.
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