I see from today's Greenock Telegraph that SNP list MSP Stuart McMillan - not surprisingly - is supporting the Scottish Government's proposed five year Council Tax freeze, which would mean that by 2016 the Council Tax would have been frozen for 9 years.
The decision to freeze the Council Tax is of course not one that can be taken by the Scottish Government. It is a decision for each of Scotland's 32 local authorities, or it would be if the Scottish Government had any respect for local democracy.
The fact is that they don't. Local authorities are again being told if they don't freeze the Council Tax local government funding will be cut by £70m.
It really is time to end this annual nonsense.
The Scottish Government should bring forward legislation at the earliest opportunity to abolish the Council Tax. Given that they clearly do not trust local authorities to act in the best interests of their communities they should replace it with a national tax and distribute the proceeds to Councils through increased grant.
In the last Parliament they did not proceed with their proposal to replace the Council Tax with that contradiction in terms, a nationally set local income tax, as they did not have the support of other parties. Now they have an overall majority there is no reason for them not to bring forward legislation.
Mind you I won't hold my breath in anticipation. Something tells me that they may have gone cool on the idea of abolishing the Council Tax, preferring instead the short-term populism of the Council Tax freeze.
Not like the SNP to avoid difficult decisions, is it?
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Monday, 26 September 2011
Shared Campus Update...
I chaired a meeting of the Port Glasgow Shared Campus Working Group tonight.
Prior to the meeting the working group had a short tour of the temporary shared campus.
At the meeting itself Eddie Montgomery of the Council's School Estates Team gave a progress report on some outstanding works still to be completed and an assessment of the traffic issues since the temporary campus came into operation in August. The outstanding works should be completed over the next few weeks. A leaflet will be issued to parents reminding them of the drop off arrangements at the campus.
The Head Teachers then provided a report on how the schools had settled into their new surroundings. While not unexpectedly there have been a few operational issues, on the whole Mr Parsons and Mr Dick were delighted with the way things had went. The feedback from parents on the working group was also very positive.
Personally I am delighted at the way the schools have adapted to the temporary arrangements. Although it is not ideal having two schools sharing a campus that was not specifically designed for that purpose, the school communities have recognised that an element of short-term disruption is a price worth paying for the long-term prize of a new shared campus.
Eddie Montgomery also gave an update on the development of the new shared campus. He advised the group that the contractor will officially take possession of the site on 3 October, although the pre-demolition works have already commenced. The construction programme anticipates completion of the campus in July 2013.
Prior to the meeting the working group had a short tour of the temporary shared campus.
At the meeting itself Eddie Montgomery of the Council's School Estates Team gave a progress report on some outstanding works still to be completed and an assessment of the traffic issues since the temporary campus came into operation in August. The outstanding works should be completed over the next few weeks. A leaflet will be issued to parents reminding them of the drop off arrangements at the campus.
The Head Teachers then provided a report on how the schools had settled into their new surroundings. While not unexpectedly there have been a few operational issues, on the whole Mr Parsons and Mr Dick were delighted with the way things had went. The feedback from parents on the working group was also very positive.
Personally I am delighted at the way the schools have adapted to the temporary arrangements. Although it is not ideal having two schools sharing a campus that was not specifically designed for that purpose, the school communities have recognised that an element of short-term disruption is a price worth paying for the long-term prize of a new shared campus.
Eddie Montgomery also gave an update on the development of the new shared campus. He advised the group that the contractor will officially take possession of the site on 3 October, although the pre-demolition works have already commenced. The construction programme anticipates completion of the campus in July 2013.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
The week ahead...
Monday
On holiday from work. At 3.30 I have the Inverclyde Council Pre-agenda. At 6.30 I will be chairing a meeting of the Shared Campus Working Group. We will receive an update on how the temporary shared campus is operating and the proposed start date for the new shared campus.
Tuesday
I will be at work until 2.00 before traveling to Greenock for meetings at 3.00 (Audit Committee), 3.30 (Members' briefing on Clyde Valley Shared Services) and 5.30 (weekly meeting with Chief Executive).
Wednesday
At work until 2.00 with meetings at 4.30 (Administration Group) and 5.30 (Labour Group).
Thursday
At work all day. In the evening I am due to attend the GardenFest Awards in Port Glasgow Town Hall.
Friday
Through at the COSLA Leaders' meeting in Edinburgh most of the day.
Saturday
I have a surgery from 10.00 to 11.00 in Kilmacolm Community Centre.
On holiday from work. At 3.30 I have the Inverclyde Council Pre-agenda. At 6.30 I will be chairing a meeting of the Shared Campus Working Group. We will receive an update on how the temporary shared campus is operating and the proposed start date for the new shared campus.
Tuesday
I will be at work until 2.00 before traveling to Greenock for meetings at 3.00 (Audit Committee), 3.30 (Members' briefing on Clyde Valley Shared Services) and 5.30 (weekly meeting with Chief Executive).
Wednesday
At work until 2.00 with meetings at 4.30 (Administration Group) and 5.30 (Labour Group).
Thursday
At work all day. In the evening I am due to attend the GardenFest Awards in Port Glasgow Town Hall.
Friday
Through at the COSLA Leaders' meeting in Edinburgh most of the day.
Saturday
I have a surgery from 10.00 to 11.00 in Kilmacolm Community Centre.
Sunday, 18 September 2011
The week ahead...
Monday
A full day a work. I have a surgery in Clune Park Community Resource Centre at 5.30 followed by a meeting of the Clune Park Task Group at 6.45.
Tuesday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Local Housing Strategy Group at 2.00 and the Policy & Resources Committee at 4.30. I then have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive at 5.30 and the St Stephen's High School Parent Council AGM at 7.00.
Wednesday
At work until mid afternoon followed by meetings of the Administration Group at 4.30 and Labour Group at 5.30.
Thursday
A full day at work. In the evening I am having to miss a couple of community meetings to attend a parents' information meeting at my son's school.
Friday
I have a public holiday from work as it is the Glasgow September weekend. I have however arranged to visit Clydeview Academy along with the Corporate Director for Education and Communities, Albert Henderson, to hear at first hand what is being done to address the issues that have been raised since the school opened a few weeks ago.
Saturday
I am planning to attend the march in support of the Greenock Coastguard Station, which leaves from the east end of the Greenock Esplanade at 11.00.
A full day a work. I have a surgery in Clune Park Community Resource Centre at 5.30 followed by a meeting of the Clune Park Task Group at 6.45.
Tuesday
At work in the morning. In the afternoon I have a meeting of the Local Housing Strategy Group at 2.00 and the Policy & Resources Committee at 4.30. I then have my weekly meeting with the Chief Executive at 5.30 and the St Stephen's High School Parent Council AGM at 7.00.
Wednesday
At work until mid afternoon followed by meetings of the Administration Group at 4.30 and Labour Group at 5.30.
Thursday
A full day at work. In the evening I am having to miss a couple of community meetings to attend a parents' information meeting at my son's school.
Friday
I have a public holiday from work as it is the Glasgow September weekend. I have however arranged to visit Clydeview Academy along with the Corporate Director for Education and Communities, Albert Henderson, to hear at first hand what is being done to address the issues that have been raised since the school opened a few weeks ago.
Saturday
I am planning to attend the march in support of the Greenock Coastguard Station, which leaves from the east end of the Greenock Esplanade at 11.00.
Saturday, 17 September 2011
"No reason for rejecting plan"...
I see that SNP supporter Colin Quinn was having a pop at Labour Councillors over the Planning Board's decision to refuse planning permission for a new retail development in Gourock in the Greenock Telegraph on Friday.
Regular followers of Mr Quinn on Twitter will be well aware of his deep contempt for the Labour Party and Labour Councillors.
If Mr Quinn had been present at the Planning Board meeting he would have realised that it was not only Labour Councillors who voted to refuse Planning permission.
Also if he has any understanding of how local government works he would be aware Councillors are not permitted to take political decisions on planning matters. I can assure him that planning applications are never discussed at Labour Group meetings.
Labour Councillors who participate in the Planning Board do so as individual Councillors and are not subject to the party whip.
Mind something tells me that Mr Quinn already knew all of this.
Regular followers of Mr Quinn on Twitter will be well aware of his deep contempt for the Labour Party and Labour Councillors.
If Mr Quinn had been present at the Planning Board meeting he would have realised that it was not only Labour Councillors who voted to refuse Planning permission.
Also if he has any understanding of how local government works he would be aware Councillors are not permitted to take political decisions on planning matters. I can assure him that planning applications are never discussed at Labour Group meetings.
Labour Councillors who participate in the Planning Board do so as individual Councillors and are not subject to the party whip.
Mind something tells me that Mr Quinn already knew all of this.
Friday, 16 September 2011
"Ideal solution for Greenock Academy site"...
A rather bizarre editorial in The Greenock Telegraph today arguing that "the west end should derive some benefit from the sale (of the former Greenock Academy site), rather than see the entire amount go into the school estates programme".
There was me thinking that the west end is benefiting from the school estates programme.
After all we have built two new multi-million pound secondary schools that serve the west end. The proceeds of the sale of the former Greenock Academy site will in part fund the refurbishment of the west end's two primary schools: Ardgowan and St Mary's.
It is worth pointing out that the sale proceeds from the former Greenock High School site is not being used to fund a new community facility for the south west of Greenock. The sale proceeds from the Wellington Academy site have not been earmarked for a new community facility for central Greenock and the sale proceeds from the planned sale of the St Stephen's High School site will not be used to fund community facilities in Port Glasgow.
My Administration is always willing to listen to community groups who feel that facilities are lacking in their area.
This is demonstrated by the funding we have provided for new community facilities in Kilmacolm and the funding that has been earmarked for new facilities in Inverkip and the Broomhill area of Greenock. We have also recently allocated funding for a number of projects through our Community Facilities Fund. Interestingly no bid was submitted to this fund for a new community facility for the west end.
I see that SNP Councillor Chris Osborne is backing the case for a new community facility for the west end.
We are now over four years into the current Council. If a community centre for the west end is such a priority for the local SNP why have they not been pushing the case before now? Could their current enthusiasm have anything to do with the fact that there is an election next year?
In their budget in February the SNP Group allocated over £3m of reserves for capital projects. Not one penny of this was allocated for a new community facility for the west end. They did however allocate £600,000 for a new community facility in Inverkip.
If the members of the Cardwell Bay and Greenock West Community Council are serious about wanting to build and run a new community facility in the west end I would be more than happy to listen to their case. All they have to do is give me a call and we can arrange a meeting.
There was me thinking that the west end is benefiting from the school estates programme.
After all we have built two new multi-million pound secondary schools that serve the west end. The proceeds of the sale of the former Greenock Academy site will in part fund the refurbishment of the west end's two primary schools: Ardgowan and St Mary's.
It is worth pointing out that the sale proceeds from the former Greenock High School site is not being used to fund a new community facility for the south west of Greenock. The sale proceeds from the Wellington Academy site have not been earmarked for a new community facility for central Greenock and the sale proceeds from the planned sale of the St Stephen's High School site will not be used to fund community facilities in Port Glasgow.
My Administration is always willing to listen to community groups who feel that facilities are lacking in their area.
This is demonstrated by the funding we have provided for new community facilities in Kilmacolm and the funding that has been earmarked for new facilities in Inverkip and the Broomhill area of Greenock. We have also recently allocated funding for a number of projects through our Community Facilities Fund. Interestingly no bid was submitted to this fund for a new community facility for the west end.
I see that SNP Councillor Chris Osborne is backing the case for a new community facility for the west end.
We are now over four years into the current Council. If a community centre for the west end is such a priority for the local SNP why have they not been pushing the case before now? Could their current enthusiasm have anything to do with the fact that there is an election next year?
In their budget in February the SNP Group allocated over £3m of reserves for capital projects. Not one penny of this was allocated for a new community facility for the west end. They did however allocate £600,000 for a new community facility in Inverkip.
If the members of the Cardwell Bay and Greenock West Community Council are serious about wanting to build and run a new community facility in the west end I would be more than happy to listen to their case. All they have to do is give me a call and we can arrange a meeting.
Clydeview Academy...
I see that my comments on Clydeview Academy have generated a number of responses on Inverclyde Now and the Greenock Telegraph website.
I was particularly interested in the response from Graeme Brooks, former Chair of the Greenock Academy Parent Council.
I am not sure who Graeme allegedly spoke to but the decision not to have temporary classrooms at Clydeview had nothing to do with Councillors not wanting to be embarrassed and everything to do with Councillors and non Councillors on the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee wanting to ensure that the rolls of other secondary schools were protected.
The people who should be embarrassed are those who are talking down the school at present; those responsible for the failure of the capping strategy; and those who are seeking to exploit the current situation for their own narrow political ends.
I think Graeme will know who I am talking about.
I was particularly interested in the response from Graeme Brooks, former Chair of the Greenock Academy Parent Council.
I am not sure who Graeme allegedly spoke to but the decision not to have temporary classrooms at Clydeview had nothing to do with Councillors not wanting to be embarrassed and everything to do with Councillors and non Councillors on the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee wanting to ensure that the rolls of other secondary schools were protected.
The people who should be embarrassed are those who are talking down the school at present; those responsible for the failure of the capping strategy; and those who are seeking to exploit the current situation for their own narrow political ends.
I think Graeme will know who I am talking about.
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