A Day in the Life of Your Local Councillor

Tuesday 8 September 2015 was a day full of meetings and activities.

My working day began at about 09:30 at home reading and writing emails and making phone calls on behalf of constituents. On average I receive more than twenty emails a day about constituency and Council matters as well as letters and reports including papers for Council meetings.

At 11:15, I joined residents from Forthill sheltered housing on their annual estate walkabout with staff representatives from Housing, Environment, Roads, Tenant Participation and Communities. As we walked around the area we noted action points based on our observations and the complaints and comments made by residents who we met us at their gates and doors. At 12:25 I left to go to my next meeting which was in Dundee.

I picked up my post from my Council pigeonhole at my City Square Office and then walked over to Dundee House where i was due at 13:00 to join an interview panel for appointing a Head Teacher for St Joseph's Primary School. The vacancy arose following the death of Marion Myles, the very popular and effective Head Teacher. After a series of interviews, the panel selected a 'preferred candidate' who, following formalities such as references, should be confirmed publicly to Parents, Pupils and Staff in due course.

I arrived back home in time to take my dog Milli for a short walk, before going to Broughty Ferry Library for my weekly surgery. Two constituents came in and reported a recurring parking and road safety issue in their street. We discussed possible solutions and agreed actions I would take. This will need some follow up communications with the Transportation Department.

Back home at about 18:20 with time for a mug of tea and collecting my papers for the next meeting. At 19:00 I arrived at Staff Room in Grove Academy for the AGM and termly meeting of the Grove Academy Parent Council. Penny Lewis was re-elected as Chairperson together with other office bearers. The meeting received a detailed report from Head Teacher, Graham Hutton, which included reference to the very positive but provisional 2015 SQA examination results for Grove pupils, the international sporting achievements of pupils, the school trips under consideration for the 2015/16 session as well as changes in staffing.

Home again at 21:30 and time for a late supper with my wife Rowena.

Not every day contains such a full schedule of 'meetings' and everyday is different; that's what I find so interesting and absorbing about the office of City Councillor.

Commenting on the Potential Designation of 20 mph Zones in Broughty Ferry

Earlier this week the Scottish Government published a Good Practice Guide on 20 mph Speed Restrictions. This was written in conjunction with the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS), The guidance aims to provide clarity on the options available to local authorities and thereby aid greater consistency on setting 20 mph speed restrictions throughout Scotland, while encouraging local authorities to introduce them near schools, in residential areas and in other areas of our towns and cities where there is a significant volume of pedestrian or cyclist activity.

Last year, at a Council Meeting, I supported  a motion that would have led to a public consultation on which residential streets in the city might be suitable for designation as 20 mph zones. This was defeated at that occasion but I think it merits reconsideration. 

Over the last month, I have been recovering from a hip replacement and initially I was venturing out around The Ferry with the help of two walking sticks.  That certainly brought home to me the challenge of crossing the road when your speed of walking is restricted and traffic is moving fast.

I have been approached by a number of groups of residents in The Ferry who would support 20 mph zones in their area. For example, the Ferryfields Residents' Association requested this in their estate, in the interests of child safety. They would also point out that the speed bumps are already in place on Strathyre Avenue so that apart from the new 20 mph speed limit signs, there would be minimal cost to the Council to make this change in their area. 

Residents in Camphill Road and Hill Street and connecting streets had a meeting with me last year about road safety concerns, especially on the narrow and twisting section of Camphill Road between Queen Street and Panmure Street which they thought was an accident waiting to happen. Many of those residents thought that a 20 mph speed limit would help. 

Forthill Drive and Forthill Place, which is predominantly sheltered housing with narrow roads is another area where I think a 20 mph zone merits consideration.

To take this forward, I think, this matter should be delegated to the eight Local Community Planning Planning Partnerships to consult with residents in their areas to come up with proposals for 20 mph zones in residential streets.

I hope that now this national guidance has been published, the Director of City Development in Dundee will be more sympathetic to supporting a public consultation about this.

Overhanging Shrubs Obstructing Pavement in Nursery Road

Residents living in the sheltered housing in Forthill Drive complained earlier this week about the shrubs overhanging the Nursery Road pavements which many of them walk along on their way to the shops at Campfield Square. Since the residents' meeting on Monday, I have been out with my camera and sent a photograph to staff at the Environment Department.

It is clearly a seasonal issue as screening shrubs put on growth which extends over boundary walls and fences. On the north side of Nursery Road, I have noticed that many of the properties with overhanging shrubs have their entrances on Morlich Gardens and Lochalsh Street that run in parallel with Nursery Road. In these circumstances the householders may easily miss noticing that their shrubs are obstructing the pavement beyond the boundaries of the properties.

I have reported this to the Environment Department and asked them to contact the householders concerned to ask them to cut back the offending shrubs.

United with Labour Campaigning in The Ferry

United with Labour Campaigning in Forthill Drive

Yesterday, United with Labour was campaigning in The Ferry. 

Jim McGovern MP, Cllr Richard McCreadie, Cllr Norma McGovern and I were on the doorsteps in Forthill Drive and Nursery Road. We were delivering Scottish Labour's case for keeping Scotland within the UK.

There was lively interest in the forthcoming referendum and many declarations of support for Scotland not seeking separation from the other UK nations.

Well Attended AGM of Forthill Tenants' Group

Iain Flett City Archivist delivering his talk

Yesterday afternoon Forthill Tenants' Association held their Annual General Meeting at the Sheltered Housing Complex in Forthill Drive. The meeting was well attended by tenants and residents living in the dispersed sheltered housing in the Forthill area. 

They heard and approved the annual report by the Chairperson, Morag Hutchison and the annual accounts from Treasurer Anne MacDonald. It was reported that the tenants' group had had another positive year with numerous improvements negotiated on behalf of the residents. Some, such as the enhanced emergency exit and the upgraded fire alarms in the complex, were evident to all the regular participants in the programme of activities organised at the centre. From my observation attending the monthly committee meetings, the Committee members are highly committed and effective at robustly representing the interests of Forthill tenants and residents.

After the election of the new Committee, Rita Smart was re-elected Secretary and Morag Hutchison, Chairperson for the coming year.

Following the formal part of the meeting, Iain Flett the City Archivist delivered a talk about the history of Forthill and Broughty Ferry. He also emphasised some of the ways that residents might make use of the archives if they wished to take part in the 'Memories' programme of events connected with marking the centenary of Broughty Ferry becoming part of Dundee.

Coffee Morning at Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex 10-12 Saturday 25 May 2013

Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex will opening their doors for a Coffee morning on Saturday 25 May 2013 between 10am and 12 noon.

In addition to coffee, there will Bric a Brac, a raffle, tombola and a cake and candy stall.

Admission £1:50 includes coffee and cakes.

Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex

Forthill Drive

Broughty Ferry DD5 3DY

Forthill Art Group Exhibition Open All Week

Click on image to enlarge

Yesterday, I enjoyed going round the Forthill Art Group's Annual Exhibition at the Forthill Complex. Thus show exhibits art works produced by residents living in the dispersed sheltered housing at Forthill. Their creativity and artistry has been nurtured by their art tutor Phyllis Fenton. She has clearly encouraged participants to use a variety of stimuli and media, which is reflected in paintings with a variety of subjects.

One of the most striking works is the joint piece of sixteen panels making up a painting of Magdalen Green by members of Forthill Art Group - see photo above.

Their exhibition demonstrates most powerfully that it is never too late to learn or engage in a new activity.

You can catch the exhibition throughout the remainder of the coming week. Just drop into the complex in Forthill Drive Monday 13 to Friday 17 May 2013 08:00 to 16:00.

Forthill Drive Walkabout March 2013

Last month, on a bitterly cold afternoon, I took part in the annual walkabout around Forthill Drive and the surrounding streets. 

This was arranged by the Housing Department who had invited representatives from council and other services to walk round the estate with members of the Forthill Tenants' Association.

During the walk we were all able to identify housing and other environmental issues that needed attention.

In Forthill Place for example we identified that the road sign was hanging down and on closer inspection looked as though it had been hit by a reversing car. We also met residents who told us about their frustration with parents and carers who try to drive down Forthill Place to the side gate for Forthill Primary School and then find it difficult to turn or reverse all the way back to Forthill Drive. Forthill Place is the narrowest street on the Estate and has no pavements.

The drooping street sign and the issue of restricting access to Forthill Place has been reported to the Transportation Department. 

Waterlogged Roads and Paths in The Ferry Yesterday

Yesterday afternoon was another period of squally rain in The Ferry. As I went round my Tuesday afternoon surgeries, I noticed lots of examples where drains could not cope with the rainfall. Now this pattern of rainfall seems the norm, rather than the exception, I think our drainage on streets and paths needs improvement.

When I visited the Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex in Forthill Drive for my surgery at 3:30pm, I noticed that the drain in the path up to the Complex entrance was blocked again and so elderly residents were having to paddle through the water to get to and from the front door of the Complex. This is a perennial issue and is just not good enough for folk who are residents in 'sheltered' housing. I have reported this to the Housing Department. I hope the residents can expect a prompt and more thorough work on unblocking the drain this time.

Later in the afternoon, I was driving down Balgillo Road East linking Balgillo Road with the Arbroath Road. Just short of the roundabout water had extended over the pavement and road on the western side of this busy road. This really would be a challenging place to walk or cycle as motorists had no room to evade the water and so prevent soaking a pedestrian or cyclists as they drove past.  I have reported this to the Council and the Roads' Maintenance Partnership.

Consultation in Broughty Ferry on Monday 3 December About the Proposed Council Rent Increases 2013/14

Click on Poster to enlarge

Tenants in The Ferry can have their say about about their future rent levels and service charges at a local consultation meeting that is taking place on Monday afternoon 3 December 2012 at Forthil Sheltered Housing Lounge on Forthill Drive. The consultation will begin at 2:30pm.

Now is the time to take the opportunity to respond to the consultation on the proposed increases in rent and service charges from April 2013.

Every year the Housing Department looks at the rent and other charges that they need to collect so that they can continue to deliver the services that tenants have told them they want. They have looked at their budgets from 1st April 2013 to 31st March 2014 and have developed three different options for rent and service charge increases which they want to gather opinions and feedback on. The three rent options range from an increase in 5% to 5.5%.

More details on the options for rent increases and what you would get for your money.

More details on the options for increases in service charges especially for tenants in sheltered housing. 

If you can't make the meeting on Monday afternoon, there are lots of ways to give your views and feedback on the Council's proposals. All they ask is that you tell them by Monday 31st December 2012

How to give the Council your opinions and feedback. 

Commenting on Two Pupils at Forthill Primary School Hit By Car at Crossing with Patroller

It has been reported in The Courier that earlier this week two young pupils were hit by a car as they crossed Nursery Road on their way to Forthill Primary School. They were apparently crossing with the help and protection of a School Crossing Patroller:

The children's father was reported in the Courier saying: ''It was horrifying — I just watched as it happened. I feared the worst.''
The Courier Reporter added: "Forthill Primary pupils Jodi (8) and sister Charli Ewing (5) were lucky to escape serious injury in the accident with a black Fiat Panda as they walked hand-in-hand across Nursery Road .... Happily, both girls escaped serious harm and did not require hospital treatment. They were recovering at home in Broughty Ferry and are already looking forward to returning to school. The accident is under police investigation."

I am very relieved to learn that the two young pupils who were hit by a car, were not badly injured and will soon be back at school. 

I am member of the School Parking and Pupil Safety Working Group established by The Council in response to a range of concerns raised by parents and Councillors like me about pupil safety in and around our schools. As part of the work of that group, I have visited a number of Primary Schools including Forthill, to see the drop offs in the morning or the pick ups in the evening.

In meeting with parents at school gates, I have heard many stories about car drivers ignoring School Crossing Patrollers with their distinctive 'lollipops' and by so doing putting young lives and the lives of the patrollers at risk. 

I appeal to drivers to take particular care in the vicinity of our schools and slow down when they see the flashing road signs warning of schools ahead and obey the School Crossing Patrollers when they hold up the traffic for our children to cross. No driver wants to have to live with the guilt of maiming or killing a child on their conscience for the rest of their lives.

Forthill Tenants' Group Grant Approved by Housing Committee

At the Housing Committee last night (Monday 20 August 2012) a grant of £255 was approved for the Forthill Tenants' Association. This was awarded towards the administrative costs of running the group. 

The group meet every month on a Monday evening in the Communal Lounge at the Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex 3a Forthill Drive. They are a very active and effective group focusing particularly on the housing and environment in Forthill Drive and Place, Anton Drive, Forthill Road, Nursery Road and Archer Street.

Further details about meeting times from Rita Smart, Secretary, Forthill Tenants' Association c/o the Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex.

Inspiring Exhibition at Forthill Sheltered Housing Lounge

Yesterday morning I spent a most enjoyable hour at the Art Exhibition at Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex in Forthill Drive. The annual exhibition features paintings produced by members of the Art Class that runs at the lounge once a week. In the photo you can see Joe Murray one of the artists standing in front of several of his paintings. 
I particularly appreciated the autumnal woodland scene painted by Julie Duncan. She told me her inspiration came from a visit to the Enchanted Forest near Dunkeld last Autumn. I only held back from snapping it up by the lack of vacant wall space at home to hang more paintings.

I think the most significant thing about the class is that here are a group of senior citizens actively involved in developing or rediscovering their creativity. This is the kind of older age I think we would all aspire to.
It's clear to me that many older people need much more than caring services; given the opportunity, like these residents, they will readily engage in challenging learning and development pursuits and activities.

Walkabout Inspection with Forthill Tenants' Group

On Wednesday morning, I accompanied members of the Forthill Tenants' Group and Council staff from the Housing and Roads Departments on a walkabout around the Forthill area. This provided an opportunity to locate any issues that needed attention and to track what had happened to previously reported matters The Forthill Drive flats (see picture) are 'four in a block' with the distinctive black iron railings and gates. The general condition of the external public and private environment is very good. I noticed many very well tended gardens as we walked round. Some of the concerns expressed by residents, such as parked cars on pavements, are partly because the narrow estate roads are having to cope with a volume of car ownership not envisaged when the estate was built.

Having a regular walkabout seems like a good idea which I think should be tried in other parts of Broughty Ferry. I will raise this at the next meeting of the Broughty Ferry Local Community Planning Partnership.