Broughty Ferry Gala Week Programme From Sunday 4 July 2011

This year's Broughty Ferry Gala week begins on Sunday. The eight day programme of events is available in a colourful booklet, free of charge, from shop counters in the Ferry. Lets hope the good weather today lasts for the weekend.

Well done the Gala Week Committee.

1 in 6 Dundee School Leavers Leave to Unemployment

Yesterday the Scottish Government published statistics on the Destinations of School Leavers last summer. These figures show that one in seven young people (nationally) and one in six in Dundee left school and were immediately unemployed.

  

These statistics underline the need for the SNP government to redouble its efforts to tackle youth unemployment which remains stubbornly high.

Locally, I urge the SNP Education Convener in Dundee to ensure that we drive up standards so our young people can compete for the places in higher or further education and job vacancies as these arise. As well as exam results, we must also focus on enhancing employability and readiness for the world of work. We can't afford another lost generation, like the 1980s, when young people are sentenced to long term unemployment.

Congratulations to Grove Academy Winners of Edinburgh Angus Club Awards

The Edinburgh Angus Club was founded in 1840.  It awards prizes, based on outstanding merit, whether academic or personal, to senior students at the Angus High Schools and Academies, and, in Dundee, The High School of Dundee, and Harris, Morgan and Grove Academies. Congratulations to the recently announced 2011 winners from Grove Academy: Mark Pandrich (higher English); Nicola Lyall (higher French); Katie Thomson (higher Spanish); Liam Walker (higher German) and Angus Stewart (advanced higher English).

Baldragon Academy Summer Concert

Last night I attended a most enjoyable Summer Concert at Baldragon Academy. The programme featured a breadth of performers and variety of musical genres. The excellence of each performance was a testament to the musicality of the pupils and the quality of the Music Department in the school under the leadership of Fiona Anderson as well as the impressive range of visiting music teachers.


Each performance was rewarded by enthusiastic applause from an appreciative audience. The photograph above shows piper and school orchestra performing Amazing Grace. 


Headteacher, Dr John Cavanagh, delivered the vote of thanks and wished pupils, parents and carers and staff an enjoyable summer break.

Derelict Beach Shelter on the Esplanade Demolished

Residents in The Ferry and regular visitors alike will notice that the derelict beach shelter on The Esplanade has been demolished.

Many folk will be surprised to learn that the demolition of such an eyesore needed approval from Historic Scotland, but the flat roofed building is in a conservation area. Now that that permission has been granted, the City Council has awarded a contract to demolish the building. The granting of this contract will be reported to the City Development Committee on Monday 27 June.

I think most Ferry folk will be delighted to see the back of this blot on the landscape and relieved that in time it will be redeveloped as part of the Castle Green Masterplan. In the meanwhile, it will provide more parking spaces at the beach.

Solar Cities Scotland Conference 2011 - Growing the Green Shoots of a Low Carbon Economy

Solar Cities Scotland are holding their 6th Annual Conference in Dundee on Friday 24 June at The Space, Dundee College:

Growing the Green Shoots of a Low Carbon Economy

This conference will explore how different approaches are being used across Scotland and Europe to make sure energy is used effectively and efficiently at different scales of community – from small rural village to large cities and even the regions.
It will also provide an excellent opportunity for networking and information sharing amongst professionals, groups and individuals that are interested in sustainable energy and low carbon living.

Places still available @ £15.

Help Shape the Future of Leisure and Culture in Dundee

Dundee City Council is in the process of establishing a new charitable organisation:
Leisure & Culture Dundee which will manage the following services:

• Library and Information Services
• Arts and Heritage Services
• Halls and Music Development
• Swim and Leisure Centres
• Sports Development
• Golf and Camperdown Wildlife Centre

The City Council is seeking applications from suitable individuals interested in becoming trustees of this exciting new organisation. If you believe that you have the skills, experience and enthusiasm to contribute to the running of the charity and its governance, as one of seven independent, unpaid trustees, please contact Ann Allardice to request an application pack in writing or by e-mailing:

Ann Allardice
Level 3, Central Library
The Wellgate
Dundee DD1 1DB
Email ann.allardice@dundeecity.gov.uk

BERA to Receive Grant From City Council

Yesterday evening the Education, Arts and Communities Committee,at their final meeting, decided to award the Broughty Ferry Education and Recreation Association (BERA) a grant of £2,850 towards the costs of their running adult education classes at Grove Academy. This grant recognises the many hours of unpaid work undertaken by BERA committee members organising a diverse and successful programme of adult education classes for folk in The Ferry. 


The BERA annual accounts indicate that they have already paid over £4,800 to the City Council and Dundee College to rent classrooms, halls and swimming pools for their classes in 2010/11.

Commenting on Tayside Police Diversity Training reported on in Mail on Sunday

As an elected member of Dundee City Council, I am pleased to hear that Tayside Police is undertaking diversity training for its staff. Unlike the reporter from the Mail on Sunday, I think it can be useful to use images and snippets from television in such training to make it relevant to the lives of the course participants. Of the examples, cited, I vividly remember the moment that Susan Boyle first performed on Britain's got Talent in 2009. It's important to take seriously equal opportunities and its too easy to superficially criticize. I'll leave it to my colleagues on the Police Board to look into this and make a judgement about the effectiveness rather than the form of the training.

Deafening Silence from Director of Social Work, Social Work Convener and Older People's Champion in the City on Southern Cross Care Home Crisis

On Wednesday Southern Cross Healthcare Group, who run four care homes in Dundee, announced 3000 compulsory redundancies to be spread throughout their UK operations. On Thursday there was speculation that some of these care homes may shut down or be taken over by other private care home companies. As the crisis in the Southern Cross Healthcare Group deepens, many families will be worried about the future of their loved ones who are residents at the four care homes Southern Cross run in Dundee.

I have already been approached by one of my constituents who is concerned about the adequacy of care at the Pitkerro Road Care Centre, because it is hard not to believe that staff redundancies will mean there are fewer staff and therefore reduced levels of care. Not only will all these homes be coping with fewer staff, but doubts about a potential change of ownership and loss of employment may also undermine staff morale. 

The residents of these homes are some of the most vulnerable in the city and it's because they need care and protection they are in such establishments. In the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, Labour's Jackie Baillie called for the appointment of an national champion for older people to promote the rights of older people and to help sort out this mess. She also called for the SNP's cut to be reversed in the budgets of the new organisations that inspect care home establishments. But here is Dundee we already have an Older People's Champion for the City - Councillor Ken Lynn, and a Convener of Social Work - Councillor Jim Barrie and a Director of Social Work. Why has there been a deafening silence from them? I think it is time they publicly acknowledged this potential crisis in care and let us know their contingency plans if the Southern Cross Healthcare Group collapses.

V &A Exhibition of Cecil Beaton Royal Portraits at McManus Galleries from 30 September

This autumn visitors to the McManus Galleries will be able to enjoy a unique preview of an exhibition of photographic portraits, many previously unpublished, of the Queen by Cecil Beaton. This exhibition, curated by the V&A as part of the celebrations to mark the Monarch's Diamond Jubilee, will run from September 30 to January 8 in Dundee before transferring to the V&A in London. This is the first in a series of partnership projects between the McManus and the V&A as part of the run-up to the establishment of the V&A in Dundee.

Footpath Upgrading in Broughty Ferry

I am delighted that the Council's programme of adopting footpaths is continuing this year and that the following pavements in The Ferry will be upgraded:

Belsize Road

Albany Road - North footway between Fairfield Road and Grove Road

Deepdale Place

Ferndale Drive

Invermark Terrace

Navarre Street

I have been informed by the City Development Department of the Council that,

'it is expected that the work will commence on these schemes on a phased basis starting approximately one month from now once the actual programming of the works has been discussed and agreed with Tayside Contracts as part of the Roads Maintenance Partnership.'

I know that the residents in these streets will be particularly pleased when their pavements are brought up to standard. This will not only improve the underfoot conditions on the pavements concerned but also mean pedestrians are not tempted to walk in the road when the pavements are like a quagmire.

Councillor Expenses Published

Earlier today, Dundee City Council published details of all Councillors' salaries and expenses during financial year April 2010 - March 2011. You can look at the table of expenses and salary costs here.

You will see that I have taken the basic nationally agreed salary for Councillors of £16,233.96. In addition the council has paid £150.39 for my mobile phone and £10 per month towards the cost of my home land line and internet. I have also been reimbursed £173.60 mileage costs in connection with attending several training events put on by the local government Improvement Service. I do not claim travel expenses for attending any community or council meetings in Dundee. My mobile phone bill has increased this year because Councillors are now provided with smart phones which have higher costs.

If you have any questions about my expenses please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

New Road Temporary Closure for Gas Supply Works 23 - 25 May

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of new gas supply works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in New Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 23 May 2011 for 3 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Access for residents will be maintained where possible.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Brook Street/St Vincent Street/King Street.

For further information contact (01382) 433168.

Mike P Galloway
Director of City Development
Dundee City Council

Dundee Road East Bound (from Ralston Road to Ellieslea Road)Temporary Closure for Resurfacing - From Tuesday 10 May

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of carriageway surface dressing works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in an eastbound direction in Dundee Road (from Ralston Road to Ellieslea Road), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Tuesday 10 May 2011 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Craigie Place/Craigie Drive/Strathern Road/Ellieslea Road.

For further information contact (01382) 433168.

Mike P Galloway
Director of City Development
Dundee City Council