| Ms. Angela Constance, MSP Minister for Youth Employment T3.25The Scottish Parliament EH99 1SP Dear Minister Youth Employment Strategy Funding I wish to raise several concerns with the methodology, transparency and outcome of the current allocation of additional funding to support Local Authorities in tackling youth unemployment. I understand that the available £9m is the balance from an initial allocation of £30m originally announced for this activity. It is worrying that this allocation has been diluted over recent months, particularly since I have learnt that funding has been diverted to Further Education and the Community Jobs Fund. I am sure that you are aware that Inverclyde remains one of the most employment deprived areas of Please clarify who agreed the Local Authority allocations, as it appears there has been no consultation through SLAED, which is the primary economic development engagement forum for all Local Authorities below COSLA. Please clarify the justification for additional funds for the Community Jobs Fund which has underperformed, both in participation and outcome rates since the allocation of funds to SCVO. I think it is worthwhile to note that Inverclyde currently has 905 young people aged 18-24 in receipt of JSA, the 31 posts provided through the Community Jobs Fund programme will not even begin to tackle youth unemployment in Inverclyde. You will appreciate that Inverclyde Council through the Single Outcome Agreement and Community Planning procedures has allocated resources for employability and has been successful in programme delivery, including targeted initiatives with young people from care leavers to graduates. Nevertheless, the Local Authority alone cannot solve all of the historical and deep rooted labour market challenges we face, we rely on support from partner agencies and indeed we would welcome much needed support from the Scottish Government. Finally, this decision has been made when it appears that Inverclyde has been disadvantaged in other areas of economic development as a result of the decision making process of Scottish Government. There have been significant cuts to the budget associated with our Urban Regeneration Company, Riverside Inverclyde, which put at risk our efforts to regenerate the area and develop the business base. Inverclyde has been excluded from the award of Enterprise Area status whilst neighbouring authorities have been included and are, therefore, more attractive destinations for inward investment. The net effect of all the above is that the physical regeneration of Inverclyde is stalling and is increasingly reliant on the singular funding of the Local Authority. If the area becomes less competitive in attracting new companies, unemployment will continue to increase in the area which is something none of us aspire to. I welcome your response and certainly the opportunity to sit down and discuss this situation further. Yours sincerely Stephen McCabe Leader of the Council |
Monday, 19 March 2012
Letter to Minister on Youth Employment Strategy Funding...
Port Glasgow Shared Campus Update...
I chaired a meeting of the Port Glasgow Shared Campus Working Group tonight in the Enterprise Centre.
Eddie Montgomery of the Council's School Estates Team gave an update on progress with the new shared campus. He advised the Group that the demolition works are complete, with groundworks, drainage, piling and formation of the new roundabout on Kilmacolm Road all at an advanced stage. The steelwork for the sports wing will start emerging from the ground very soon.
Members of the Group were pleased to hear that the contract is on schedule for completion in July 2013.
The Working Group were advised that agreement had been reached between the Head Teachers of the secondary schools on the wings of the main block that each would occupy. Port Glasgow High School will be located in the wing nearest Kilmacolm and St Stephen's High School in the other wing.
The Working Group also agreed to consult parent councils on a proposed name for the campus, which will also house the new Craigmarloch School. The name proposed is "Port Glasgow Community Campus" reflecting the fact that the campus will be a community resource for all of Port Glasgow.
The next meeting of the Working Group will take place on Monday 28 May.
Eddie Montgomery of the Council's School Estates Team gave an update on progress with the new shared campus. He advised the Group that the demolition works are complete, with groundworks, drainage, piling and formation of the new roundabout on Kilmacolm Road all at an advanced stage. The steelwork for the sports wing will start emerging from the ground very soon.
Members of the Group were pleased to hear that the contract is on schedule for completion in July 2013.
The Working Group were advised that agreement had been reached between the Head Teachers of the secondary schools on the wings of the main block that each would occupy. Port Glasgow High School will be located in the wing nearest Kilmacolm and St Stephen's High School in the other wing.
The Working Group also agreed to consult parent councils on a proposed name for the campus, which will also house the new Craigmarloch School. The name proposed is "Port Glasgow Community Campus" reflecting the fact that the campus will be a community resource for all of Port Glasgow.
The next meeting of the Working Group will take place on Monday 28 May.
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| Work is progressing well at the new 'Port Glasgow Community Campus' |
Sunday, 18 March 2012
The week ahead...
Monday
At work until 2.00 then down to Greenock for a meeting with the Inverclyde Tourist Group at 3.00 and the Chief Executive's appraisal interview at 4.30. I will be chairing a meeting of the Port Glasgow Shared Campus Working Group at 6.30.
Tuesday
Again at work until 2.00 and then down to Greenock for a meeting on the Gourock Town Centre development at 3.00. In the evening I hope to attend a meeting of Port Glasgow High School Parent Council.
Wednesday
At work until 11.00 before heading to Port Glasgow for the unveiling of the new 'Endeavour' sculpture at 11.30. I have another meeting at 3.00 on the Gourock Town Centre development, the Administration Group at 4.30 and the Labour Group at 5.30. In the evening I hope to attend the Inverclyde Tourist Group AGM.
Thursday
At work until 2.00 before returning to Kilmacolm to pick my kids up from school. I have a Labour Party meeting in the evening.
Friday
A full day at work.
At work until 2.00 then down to Greenock for a meeting with the Inverclyde Tourist Group at 3.00 and the Chief Executive's appraisal interview at 4.30. I will be chairing a meeting of the Port Glasgow Shared Campus Working Group at 6.30.
Tuesday
Again at work until 2.00 and then down to Greenock for a meeting on the Gourock Town Centre development at 3.00. In the evening I hope to attend a meeting of Port Glasgow High School Parent Council.
Wednesday
At work until 11.00 before heading to Port Glasgow for the unveiling of the new 'Endeavour' sculpture at 11.30. I have another meeting at 3.00 on the Gourock Town Centre development, the Administration Group at 4.30 and the Labour Group at 5.30. In the evening I hope to attend the Inverclyde Tourist Group AGM.
Thursday
At work until 2.00 before returning to Kilmacolm to pick my kids up from school. I have a Labour Party meeting in the evening.
Friday
A full day at work.
Youth employment funding blow...
So it is official: the SNP Government does not believe that youth unemployment in Inverclyde is bad enough to justify a share of the £9m they are allocating to local authorities, despite the fact that we have a higher unemployment rate than 3 of the 6 Councils - including neighbouring SNP controlled Renfrewshire - who are being allocated funding.
Surprise, surprise the money has been given to 6 councils that the SNP are either trying to hold onto or take control of at May's council elections. Clearly the SNP have already written off their chances in Inverclyde.
Coming on top of savage cuts to Riverside Inverclyde funding; the fact that we were not even able to bid to become an enterprise area; and the pitiful number of posts we were given through the Community Jobs Fund, this is another hammer blow to Inverclyde from the SNP Government.
Fortunately for the young people of Inverclyde the current Administration recognises that we do have a major youth unemployment problem, which is why we allocated an additional £600,000 for a range of initiatives in our February budget. At the time the budget was set I had anticipated that we would also receive our fair share of the additional funding announced by the Scottish Government as part of their budget. To say I am disappointed is an understatement.
I will be writing in the strongest possible terms to the SNP Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance to protest about the fact that we have received none of this funding.
Surprise, surprise the money has been given to 6 councils that the SNP are either trying to hold onto or take control of at May's council elections. Clearly the SNP have already written off their chances in Inverclyde.
Coming on top of savage cuts to Riverside Inverclyde funding; the fact that we were not even able to bid to become an enterprise area; and the pitiful number of posts we were given through the Community Jobs Fund, this is another hammer blow to Inverclyde from the SNP Government.
Fortunately for the young people of Inverclyde the current Administration recognises that we do have a major youth unemployment problem, which is why we allocated an additional £600,000 for a range of initiatives in our February budget. At the time the budget was set I had anticipated that we would also receive our fair share of the additional funding announced by the Scottish Government as part of their budget. To say I am disappointed is an understatement.
I will be writing in the strongest possible terms to the SNP Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance to protest about the fact that we have received none of this funding.
Saturday, 17 March 2012
New Port Glasgow sculpture to be unveiled...
I am looking forward to the long-awaited unveiling of the new Port Glasgow town centre sculpture on Wednesday.
The new sculpture was commissioned by the Council and Riverside Inverclyde to make the entrance to the town centre more distinctive and welcoming. Having seen drawings of the chosen sculpture by Malcolm Robertson - Endeavour - I am sure that it will not disappoint.
The unveiling takes place on Wednesday 21 March at 11.30 a.m. at Fore Street, opposite the town's War Memorial. All are welcome.
Play time...
It is great to see youngsters enjoying the new play facilities at Kilmacolm's West Glen Park.
I also am pleased to report that the officer in charge of the Council’s play area investment programme has agreed to fund some improvements to the adjacent toddlers’ play area, including the provision of new safety fencing.
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| Dylan McCabe (7) enjoying the new aerial slide |
He has also agreed to investigate the flooding problem in the lower part of the park and seed or turf the area to improve its appearance.
Looking forward to welcoming the Olympic Torch to Inverclyde...
The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will visit Inverclyde on Friday 8 June on day 21 of the torch's 70 day journey around the UK.
I am delighted that Inverclyde - and specifically Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow - will be playing host to the torch. The Olympics will be a fantastic event for our country and it is great that we in Inverclyde can be a part of it.
The Council will be responsible for event planning around the Relay in Inverclyde and the Policy and Resources Committee will receive a report on the arrangements at our meeting on 27 March. We are being asked to approve a budget of £26,000 to pay for traffic management, flags and bunting, pedestrian barriers, public toilets, etc.
It is intended that local schools will hold events to mark the arrival of the Olympic torch and potentially sport's days could be planned around this.
It gives us something to look forward to.
I am delighted that Inverclyde - and specifically Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow - will be playing host to the torch. The Olympics will be a fantastic event for our country and it is great that we in Inverclyde can be a part of it.
The Council will be responsible for event planning around the Relay in Inverclyde and the Policy and Resources Committee will receive a report on the arrangements at our meeting on 27 March. We are being asked to approve a budget of £26,000 to pay for traffic management, flags and bunting, pedestrian barriers, public toilets, etc.
It is intended that local schools will hold events to mark the arrival of the Olympic torch and potentially sport's days could be planned around this.
It gives us something to look forward to.
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