Poverty and Obesity - Breaking the Link: Workers' Memorial Day Lecture Friday 28 April 2017

International Workers Memorial Day is the day throughout the world on which all those killed, injured or made ill through work are remembered.

As one of the major events in Scotland, Dundee City Council and Workplace Chaplaincy Scotland organise a free lecture in Dundee. This year we are pleased to have Dr Drew Walker, Director of Public Health for NHS Tayside giving a lecture on the topic of ‘Poverty and Obesity-Breaking the Link’.

The lecture will take place in the Steeple Church, Nethergate, Dundee on Friday 28 April 2017 and will start at 12.30 pm followed by a free finger buffet lunch. Please enter by the west door at the tower.

To reserve your place please complete and return the booking form on the back of the flyer or fax (01382) 431557 or email iwml@dundeecity.gov.uk

Help to Protect Ground Nesting Birds at Riverside Nature Park Dundee

Visitors to one of the Dundee's best places to see internationally important birds are being asked to help protect ground nesting species.

Dundee City Council is calling on visitors to Take Pride in Riverside Nature Park by sticking to surfaced paths and making sure dogs are on the lead.

Council officers have been monitoring numbers of such birds since the park was opened six years ago and despite improvements to their habitat, there has been a decline in some species. Lapwings and skylarks in particular are known to be sensitive to disturbance, and don’t breed if people or dogs get too close to the nest site.

Working with the Friends of Riverside Nature Park, comparing work at other local nature sites and following guidance from Scottish Natural Heritage, Dundee City Council is asking all visitors to keep to surfaced paths and keep dogs on the lead throughout most of the park from April to July.

Riverside Nature Park was opened in 2011, created out of the city’s landfill. Habitats have been created including the largest wildflower meadows in Dundee and bird watchers have identified more than 130 species visiting the park and the adjacent estuary.

Find out more about the park at www.dundeecity.gov.uk/environment/riversidenature

Easter Fun Day in Camperdown Park Sunday 16 April 2017

 A great day out for all the family!

Camperdown Country Park

Sunday 16 April 2017

Event: Free - Car Park: £3

12 noon to 4pm

Free Attractions

Wave 102 Road Show

Gleadhraich (local Celtic rock band)

Street Dance from Showcase the Street

Billy Mitchell (Dundee Guitarist / Singer / Songwriter)

Easter Bonnet Competition

Fishing Rod Challenge

Cluck like a Chicken

Easter Egg Eating Competition

Easter Egg Hunt in the Park

Easter Bunny in Costume

Fun on the stage and in the park

Chargeable Attractions

Full funfair

Hot food stalls

Hot beverages

Harbouring Tourist Information on a Touch Screen Display

I was over in Fife for a dog walk in Tentmuir Forest on Wednesday morning. On the way home, I dropped in for a coffee at the Harbour Community Cafe in Tayport.

Apart for the coffee and cakes and the wonderful view over to The Ferry, I noticed that they also host one of the Fife Local Information Points.

As you can see it like a giant iPad on a stand and provides online touchscreen access to information for residents and tourists.

I think this is the standard of dispersed Tourist Information we need across the water in Dundee and Broughty Ferry. For many folk, leaflets just won't cut it in a digital age.

Cycling Consultation by City Council Monday 9 March

Click on image to enlarge

Cyclists from all over Dundee are invited to an engagement meeting with council chiefs. The meeting will take place at 14 City Square on Monday (March 9) at 6.30pm. 

It has been set up to help the creation of a cycling strategy for Dundee and it is hoped it could lead to regular discussions.

The Council is keen to hear from cyclists about the facilities, attitudes and issues surrounding their experiences of using their bikes in Dundee and hope to be able to develop that into a framework for maintaining and improving of all aspects of cycling in the city. 

Individual cyclists, cycling businesses and cycling groups have been invited to the event at 14 City Square to take part in discussions and workshops that will help shape the strategy document. As well as discussing the future strategy, it's hoped to establish a regular cycling forum that will establish and maintain dialogue between cyclists and the council. 

Looking at the 2013 report from Cycling Scotland, summarized in the diagram above, I think there is clearly room for improvement. It's miles better but there are miles to go. 

Hopefully this event and future meetings of the Forum will help Dundee become a city that has made the changes so that cycling in our city becomes a more positive option and more short journeys are made and enjoyed by bike instead of by car.

A new e-mail address - cycling@dundeecity.gov.uk - will allow cyclists to pass on feedback after the meeting.

Find Out about TAYplan Main Issues Report at Drop-In Consultations in Dundee 15 May and 7 June 2014

Everywhere in the country is covered by plans that say how land should be used in the future. Around Dundee and Perth, there are two levels of plans:the Strategic Development Plan – called TAYplan – and
more detailed Local Development Plans.

TAYplan sets the overall planning vision for the next 20 years for the whole of the Dundee and Perth area, including North Fife and parts of Angus and Perth and Kinross. What TAYplan says will affect all our futures – where we live, work and play, where businesses and the public sector invest, and what our towns and countryside will look like in the future.

Click on maps to enlarge

TAYplan is being reviewed and updated. They have produced a Main Issues Report which they are now consulting on. For example two options are proposed for the demand for new housing. Within the boundaries of Dundee City, both options propose 480 new houses each year so not much choice there. 

There are two consultation events in Dundee over the next month. These events provide opportunities for interested parties to find out more about the Main Issues Report (2014) (MIR) consultation and to speak with planning officers.

TAYPlan Main Issues Report Consultation Drop-In Events - Dundee
Thursday May 15th, 2014
Times 3pm till 7pm
Falcon Scott Suite
1st floor Discovery Point
Discovery Quay, Dundee  DD1 4XA

Saturday June 7th, 2014
Times 11:30am till 4:30pm
Marryat Hall, Caird Hall
City Square, Dundee  DD1 3BB

Read/Download Main Issues Report or Summary

Comments have been invited the Main Issues Report between 15th April and 12 noon on 27 June 2014. To comment online go to www.tayplan-sdpa.gov.uk/mir2014. You will need to register and login in order to comment online. 

Dundee Christmas Light Night Friday Evening 15 November 2013

Welcome to Dundee's biggest street party. Christmas Light Night celebrates the start of the city's Christmas festivities and sees the whole of the city centre transformed into a moveable feast, with choirs, music, dance, theatre and art.

The excitement begins with the torchlight procession and this year the lanterns, themed ‘Wings and Things' will mingle. The procession comes from The McManus: Dundee's Museum and Art Gallery then winds it way down Commercial Street, into the High Street then into City Square where the Christmas lights will be switched on.

Stroll around for a couple of hours to see performances drawn from the talent of some of Dundee's community organisations and school groups as they come together to entertain you during the evening.  Amongst the many highlights of this year is the return of One Big Ceilidh in City Square where you are encouraged to join in the dances, The Dundee Nativity which will be performed outside the Steeple Church and the firework finale. 

A first for this year is an ice rink and vintage carousel outside Overgate Shopping Centre and The Christmas Bus. The bus will have presenters from Wave 102 on board to help the event reach out and spread Christmas cheer when it visits the communities of Lochee, Ardler, Douglas and Broughty Ferry.

Why not do a bit of Christmas shopping in the Wellgate Centre and Overgate as well as some of the independent shops, which will be open late especially for this evening?

Get a bite at some of the eateries or visit some of the cultural attractions.

Read or download the programme

Consultation with Parents and Carers on the Future of Early Learning and Childcare in Dundee

Dundee City Council's Education Department is undertaking a consultation with Parents and Carers on the future of early learning and childcare in Dundee. If you have have a child between the ages of 1 and 3, this may be of particular interest to you.

Did you know? The Scottish Government has promised to increase the number of hours for 3 and 4 year old children to early learning and childcare from 475 hours per year to 600 hours per year from August 2014. 

Dundee City Council wants to know what you think about this about how it should be delivered.

A survey is available online at:
http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/content/future-early-learning-and-childcare-dundee

Or you can go to your nearest City Council Early Years Establishment to complete a paper questionnaire.

The consultation will be open until Monday 14 October 2013 for you to give your views.

Record Low in House Building in Scotland Is Bad News

Statistics published last week by the Scottish Government reinforce what we can see with our own eyes that housing building in Scotland is at an extremely low ebb.

The figures published in Housing Statistics for Scotland 2013: Key Trends, show that:

New housing supply:

New housing supply (new build, refurbishment and conversions) decreased by 14% between 2011-12 and 2012-13, from 16,922 to 14,629 units. This was mainly driven by a drop in both private and housing association house building. Local authority completions also fell slightly from the previous year from 1,114 to 965.

New house building

In 2012-13, there were 13,803 completions in Scotland, a decrease of 13% on the previous year, when 15,940 had been completed. At the same time starts decreased by 9% from 13,791 in 2011-12 to 12,596 in 2012-13.

Affordable Housing

In 2012-13 there were 6,009 units completed through all Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) activity - this figure is 13% down on the previous year and represents the 3rd consecutive decrease since the peak in 2009-10.

Public sector housing stock: At 31 March 2013, there were 318,160 local authority dwellings in Scotland, a decrease of 1,224 from the previous year.

Sales of local authority dwellings: Sales of local authority dwellings fell by 9% in 2012-13, from 1,125 to 1,020. This continues the declining trend in sales observed over recent years, following the introduction of the modernised Right to Buy, which came into effect on 30 September 2002.

By 2025, it is estimated that 465,000 new homes will be required in Scotland. This is to meet demand generated by projected household formation. By this measure, the current rates of construction will see a substantial shortfall of as many as 160,000 houses by 2025. This may be good news for those selling their homes, as shortages fuel price rises. It is not good news however for first time buyers as rising prices may mean that they are priced out of becoming owner occupiers.

Not only is this bad news for those on a housing waiting list with the Council or Housing Associations or folk renting and trying to save a deposit, but also it bad news for the numerous unemployed building workers.

The SNP government in Edinburgh should hurry up introducing their equivalent to the help for first time buyers available in England. When this was announced, equivalent additional money was granted to the Scottish Government. They seemed to have dragged their feet and taken their time. While the property market in England is showing signs of recovery, unfortunately this is not the case in Scotland.

 

Dundee Makes the Shortlist for UK City of Culture 2017

Earlier today, Culture Minister, Ed Vaizey MP announced that Dundee, had made the shortlist to become UK City Of Culture 2017. Dundee is joined by Hull, Leicester and Swansea Bay on that shortlist. 

This is brilliant news.

Dundee as one of the shortlisted cities will now be invited to submit a final bid by the end of September. The selection panel for the award will then meet again to decide a winner which will be announced in November.

It was good to hear the positive feedback from from Phil Redmond, Chair of the independent advisory panel. He said:
"The panel thought the four short listed cities offered plans that were ambitious, realistic and would not only deliver for their communities, but would also maintain the momentum created around the success of Derry-Londonderry (UK City of Culture 2013)."

Now for the sustained collaborative working to bring together a compelling final bid to take the crown, UK City of Culture 2017!

A Dundee Statistic to Celebrate - Increase in Percentage of Graduates Working in the City

Click on table to enlarge

Recently published government figures, show that the percentage of people with degree level qualifications has steadily increased. 

For example, in Dundee the proportion of folk with degree level qualifications who are in work and aged 25-64 has increased from 20.4% in 2004 to 34.1% in 2012. This is a statistic to celebrate.

It should boost the city’s self-confidence to know that on this measure in 2012 our Dundee score of 34.1% is above the average for Scotland which stands at 31.1%. It is also above the level for the neighbouring council areas, Fife 30.3%, Angus 25.7% and Perth and Kinross 31.4%.

This should make Dundee very attractive to prospective inward investors. It also demonstrates the potential of education to play a major role in promoting the city’s economic fortunes.

Review of Scottish Planning Policy - Opportunities for Consultation Online and in Dundee

The Main Issues Report for the third National Planning Framework (NPF3) and Draft Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) have been launched for consultation on Wednesday 1st May.

A single web page allows you to proceed to either National Planning Framework 3 or Scottish Planning Policy consultation documents and associated assessments. 
Link to web page documentation

Further supporting information will be placed online including a resource pack to support communities who wish to engage. 

Wednesday 1st May marks the beginning of the main public consultation stage in the preparation of NPF3 and the Scottish Government is seeking views on the emerging strategy and what should be included in the Proposed National Planning Framework when it is laid before the Scottish Parliament.  Similarly this is the main public consultation stage for Scottish Planning Policy, prior to its finalisation.

One element of the engagement strategy is a number of 'drop in' events across Scotland. 
The date and arrangements for the Dundee 'drop in' is as follows:
Dundee Overgate Centre - 9 am – 6 pm on Tuesday 28 May 2013

Commenting on Housing Affordability in Dundee

Click on image to enlarge

On Tuesday the Bank of Scotland published the results of its survey on housing affordability in Scotland.

The table shows that Dundee is the third most affordable city in Scotland with a house price to earnings ratio of 4.67. This compares with the lowest ratio in Stirling at 3.81 and Inverness, the highest in Scotland at 5.71.

Dundee's favourable ratio is based on the comparatively lower average house prices in the city. This is an advantageous for first time buyers who can stump up a deposit, but it is not so positive for those owner occupiers selling up and leaving the city, especially if they were moving to Inverness where their money wouldn't go nearly so far.

Last week Zoopla published a survey which I also reported. That survey showed that renting in our city was 2% more affordable than house purchase.

The downside of both these reports is what the indicate about the local economy in Dundee.  It seems likely that demand for housing by new residents moving into the city has been depressed by a reduction of jobs in the private and public sectors.

Dundee to Aberdeen - Great British Railway Journeys

It's a great week for Dundee and North East Scotland on BBC TV.

Bob Servant Independent starts tonight and yesterday on BBC2 we had Michael Portillo on Great British Railway Journey's - Dundee to Aberdeen.

Verdant Works, Arbroath Smokies, the Bell Rock, Auchmithie, Montrose Basin and the Caledonian preservation Railway from Brechin to Montrose all feature.

If you missed this programme catch it on iPlayer

Disappointing News for Dundee and Broughty Ferry from Network Rail

Network Rail has just published its UK business plan for 2014 to 2019 which it has sent to to Rail Regulator for approval. 

The plan proposes to invest £4 billion over the five year period in Scotland on improving the rail infrastructure  such as track, bridges and new stations.

Priorities in Scotland, set by the Scottish Government, include electrifying the line between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and completing the Borders rail link.

Unfortunately this means that the extension of the electrification of the East Coast mainline from Edinburgh to Aberdeen does not appear as a priority in the plans for 2014-19. 

It is positive that the future of through trains has been secured on the London Kings Cross to Aberdeen East Coast mainline route by the ordering of replacement 'bi-mode trains' with underfloor diesel engines to operate on non-electrified routes.  But the lack of ambition in the electrification programme on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen route is a disappointment. 

The future of rail services is an important practical issue for Dundee rail passengers. It is also a strategic issue for the City as we anticipate a significant  growth in tourists when the VandA opens in Dundee.

Sunday Trains Return to Broughty Ferry After More Than a 20 Year Gap

At precisely 10:34 on Sunday 9 December 2012, the Aberdeen to Glasgow train will stop at Broughty Ferry and make a bit of local history. It will be the first Sunday train service in more than twenty years. 

This train service is part of the the new ScotRail timetable which begins on Sunday. The new timetable features four Sunday trains going west via Dundee (one to Glasgow, two to Edinburgh and one to Perth) and three trains going north to Aberdeen on Sundays. On weekdays there will be seven trains going via Dundee towards Glasgow or Edinburgh and eight trains going North to Aberdeen.

Click on this link to read and download the new timetable.

In the early 1990s the then British Rail suspended most of its services stopping at Broughty Ferry. In fact they reduced their service to just a handful of trains a week. 

Over the last couple of years and after sustained local pressure, train services have been gradually increased; not enough but sufficient to stimulate increasing passenger numbers and a hope that we might get The Ferry properly reconnected to the rail network. 

While I acknowledge the recent improvements to the rail timetable, I shall continue to make the case for an increased hourly service from Broughty Ferry and the introduction of fair ticketing prices from Broughty Ferry. I hope the Scottish government will build these reasonable requirements into the conditions of the new franchise for rail services in Scotland due to come into effect in 2014.

Unemployment in The Ferry - October 2012 Update

In October 2012, there were 210 unemployed men and women in Broughty Ferry according to statistics released from the Office of National Statistics.

These figures are based on the claimant count; the number of people claiming Job Seekers' Allowance. These figures therefore exclude those individuals who are unemployed and seeking work but do not qualify for Job Seekers' Allowance. The official figures also exclude those individuals that are underemployed currently seeking more hours of paid work.

Unemployment in Broughty Ferry broken down into individual areas:
Broughty Ferry central  63
Balgillo                       73
Barnhill                       43
West Ferry                  31
                                         +

Total The Ferry  210

These figures are a stark reminder that unemployment hits areas such as The Ferry with the same force for the individuals affected and their families as it does elsewhere. As one Labour politician commented in the 1960's, 'for the unemployed person, unemployment is 100%'.

The unemployment figures for The Ferry do not sit in isolation. Alongside them are the figures for Dundee that show that the unemployment rate in the city continues to be higher than it is in Glasgow.

These high rates of unemployment result from the policies of a complacent UK Government. They urgently need to adopt Labour’s 5 point plan for jobs which includes a tax on bankers’ bonuses. Also responsible is an out of touch Scottish Government now permanently focused on its referendum for a separate Scotland that needs to re-order its priorities.

Dundee City of Cycling?

In the last fortnight, three events have made me think about the possibility of our city being declared:

Dundee City of Cycling.

1. Firstly, on Tuesday 30 October there was a Civic Reception for the folk who had raised money for charity while cycling the roads and paths round Dundee in the Annual Dundee Cyclathon back in early September;
2. The Proposed Dundee Local Development Plan (October 2012) was issued for consultation and
3. Bradley Wiggins was hospitalised after being knocked off his bike while out on a training ride near his home town of Chorley.

On Sunday 9 September, I took part in the annual Cyclathon organised by Claverhouse Rotary Club. I enjoyed the experience of cycling round the 26 miles of Dundee's Green Circular route and raising over £320 for my nominated charity Tushinde Children's Trust. Looking back, the ride was particularly enjoyable because a good proportion of the route is off road and of course I was cycling in the company of many others with the added reassurance of members of the Claverhouse Rotary Club acting as marshals at points where we crossed the road. I think these are important observations for our planners who are working to promote more sustainable transportation.

Survey's about Cycling identify that most households have a bike or two in the garage but all too rarely we take them them out on the road. One of the key reasons folk mention for not getting out on their bikes is the perceived sense of vulnerability on a bike on our roads. So when our Olympic Gold medalist and Tour de France winner, Bradley Wiggins, gets knocked off his bike, it confirms our concerns while perhaps emphasising that something should be done about this to make cycling safer.

This made the launch of the Proposed Dundee Local Development Plan (October 2012) of particular interest, especially as it's out for consultation. How will that plan help develop cycling in Dundee when even streak of lightning Wiggo can't avoid a crash and crushed ribs? How will the plan help us to encourage the tenfold increase in cycling for journeys of under two miles that would meet the target set by the Scottish Government? The aspiration of developing more sustainable transport is mentioned clearly in the plan and a number of measures are proposed for major new developments. Whilst that is positive, is it enough? I hope cycling and environmental interest groups will examine the Proposed Dundee Local Development Plan and respond during the consultation period.
Let's hope that for the sake of our environment, our waistlines, and safer cycling, we might soon be able to celebrate Dundee City of Cycling.

Kemback Street Closure Pushed Through by SNP Councillors

At the Social Work Committee on Monday 29 October, SNP Councillors used their majority to push through their proposal to close down two key services for adults with learning disabilities; the Kemback Street Resource Centre and the Out and About Service.

Despite well reasoned opposition by the service users represented by three deputations, despite a tabled petition with more than 4000 signatures in support of retaining the Kemback Street Centre, despite the warnings from the combined Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent Councillors, the SNP Councillors ganged up together to close down these services.

This was my contribution to the debate:
"Convener, we have heard on behalf of a significant number of service users tonight that they are not happy with the outcome of this review; they are not happy with the individualised care programmes that the review recommends and the outcome that Kemback Street Centre and Out and About will close and any remaining group activities will be accommodated at an alternative centre and with alternative agencies. I also note that these alternative agencies and services are not directly mentioned, nor described, nor assessed in the committee report.

So this is a strange distortion of personalisation, a kind of Alice in Wonderland back to front world, where personalisation leads to unhappy service users who don't get what they want. The prescription is this report is perversely justified in terms of what is claimed to be best practice in terms of social work theory for people and what emerging fashion in social work claims is best. 

Now if all the service users wanted to go with the flow, then elected members would have little to quarrel about. But it is clear from the report, the deputations and the petition that many vulnerable service users are not happy, nor well served, by these changes.

Additionally, the equality impact assessment referred to in the Committee report was not available in advance of the meeting. In fact I was informed in an email from the Council's Chief Legal Officer at 4pm that it was to be put on the Council's website later this afternoon (Monday). This is unacceptable. Furthermore, the Chief Legal Officer told me that the new Equality Impact Assessment was exactly the same as the previous Equality Impact Assessment which had been written to accompany the Committee Report in March before any of the assessment of needs had been carried out with with service users. It is unacceptable that there is apparently no analysis offered in the light of decisions on the planned new services for the service users. Checks should have been run to see whether the collective effect of individual assessment of service users' needs is prejudicial under the Equality legislation. 

It is clear from the briefing that elected members received a short while ago from the Council's Equality Officer that we should have before us data that would allow us to be assured that inequalities in outcome are not prejudicial to a specific  age, race, gender, disability or geographical group. From the lack of information and analysis provided in the Committee Report and the absence of the Equality Impact Assessment in advance of the Social Work Committee, I find it is impossible, to give 'due regard' to the potential equality issues as we are required so to do under the legislation.

Accordingly I support the amendment calling for the retention of Kemback Street Centre and the Out and About service."

I hope the Carers and Parents of the Service users will find ways to continue to assert their preferences for services and to continue their fight for what they  know to be best for their loved ones. 

Open Studios in Dundee 3/4 November 2012

Around 40 Artists based at the refurbished Meadow Mill Studios in Dundee will be opening their doors to the public over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th November between 11am and 5pm.

This is an opportunity to meet artists and talk to them directly about their work.

Click here for details of the participating artists.


The main objectives of the weekend are to:

• Invite the public into artists spaces to see the tools of their working trade.
• Create opportunities for artists to show their work directly to the public.
• Give artists the opportunity to receive direct feedback about their work.
• Create sales and commissioning opportunities for artist tenants.