SNP Education Cuts in Dundee Reveal Shocking Abandonment of Class Size Reductions in our Primary and Secondary Schools

In the latest round of Education Cuts in Dundee, the SNP Administration are proposing to remove smaller class sizes in Primary One classes where previously introduced in the City Primary Schools. This is an shameful abandonment of their local and national promises to voters to introduce a maximum class size of 18 in Primary 1-3 classes. This will be very disappointing for parents and carers whose children are coming up to P1 in the schools where this had been introduced. 

They are also proposing to abandon the universal provision of smaller class sizes - an average of twenty - for Maths and English in S1 and S2. In a divisive move, they are proposing to remove this from five of the nine secondary schools in Dundee apparently having regard to the Council's Fairness Strategy. This means that Maths and English classes in the five secondary schools can be will be as large as 33 pupils. This would represent a huge increase.

I think many parents will think this will be rough justice if this applies to their children in their Secondary School. I am sure there will be immediate demands in the city by parents, carers and teachers to know which schools this will apply to and what effect it will have on teaching and learning in Maths and English for children in those schools affected.

It seems that so many of Labour's steady improvements to the staffing levels in our schools are being carelessly removed by the SNP's successive cuts in Education in Dundee.

Although we were told in a report to Council earlier this week that, we had to to maintain teacher numbers, as part of the local government settlement between the Scottish Government and Councils, here we are again seeing further cuts in teacher numbers with up to thirty more front line teacher posts disappearing this year.

Welfare Rights and Wrongs for Older People in Dundee

At the Policy and Resources Committee last night we considered a report, "Hospital Fund and the Johnston Bequest",  which recommended that:
"..... a budget of £25,000 be provided from the Hospital Fund and Johnston Bequest to pilot a targeted welfare benefit advice service for older people in Dundee 2013/14."

What could be controversial about such a proposal at a time when, according the Department of Work and Pensions, 1 in 6 pensioners in Dundee are living on a low income? Additionally, that group of older people in our city will be finding their incomes severely squeezed by significant rises in their day to day living costs for essentials such as food and fuel. It is also widely recognised that as the benefit system is turned on its head, some of our older citizens will need help to navigate their way from one set of cash benefits to another and with submitting Internet only applications for government cash benefits. Furthermore, we know that our existing welfare rights advice agencies in the city are already under pressure.

While most Councillors were satisfied with reassurances that the new focus for some of the resources from these funds was legally acceptable, Liberal Democrat Councillor Fraser Macpherson, moved against this proposal with an amendment which read:
"I move as an amendment, that there should be no change to the current arrangements whereby from time to time, when funds allow, all 29 Councillors on the City Council are invited to nominate another deserving pensioner for addition to the list of beneficiaries and that the Chief Executive should be instructed to investigate the possibility of funding a pilot welfare advice service for older people in Dundee ass part of the process for setting the 3013/14 Revenue Budget."

In a nutshell, Councillor Macpherson, supported by Conservative Baillie Scott, wanted to keep the status quo whereby periodically, all 29 City Councillors were asked to nominate a deserving pensioner in their ward for an annual lifetime 'pension' of £70.

I thought that, in the context of the Fairness Strategy for Dundee which the Council had previously adopted, this proposal was a creative and constructive way of using some of the resources from these bequests, to benefit a wider number of older people. Furthermore, this proposal has the prospect of adding a more significant sum to many, not just a few, pensioners' pockets. 

The amendment by Councillor Macpherson (West End), supported by Conservative Baillie Scott (The Ferry) was defeated by 26 votes to 2.

New Youth Worker for Two Broughty Churches

On Sunday evening, I attended St James Parish Church in Fort Street for the Commissioning Service for Youth Worker Gary Torbet. 

In a joint initiative with Broughty Ferry Baptist Church, Gary will be working with the young people in both churches. 

As part of the background work to establish this shared Youth Worker post in Broughty Ferry, members from both congregations met the well established Radiate Youth Leadership Partnership which brings together three local churches in the Cathcart area of Glasgow.

It was really good to catch up with Gary, who is one of my former students at the College of Education where he qualified in youth and community work in the 1990's. 

I was delighted to be present at the beginning of this positive new development  for our young people in The Ferry.

Residents in Beaumont Terrace Want an End to Potholes in Their Road and Pavements

Just one of the many sections of crumbling road
 & pathway surfaces in Beaumont Terrace

Last week, I met residents in Beaumont Terrace in The Ferry who had contacted me to complain about their pavements and road surfaces. Over the years a long standing resident reported that they had noticed a steady decline in the state of these. 

They took me for a walk round their Terrace to point out what they are concerned about and I took the opportunity to take some photos. From my observations and pictures it's clear that general wear and tear and recent bouts of bad weather have damaged sections of the road and pavements. Some previous patches and sections of infilling over section for the road that had been dug up are crumbling as they lose adhesion.

I have written to the Roads' Maintenance Partnership and asked them to inspect Beaumont Terrace and repair the worst of the existing holes. 

But that won't be enough, except for the short term. After successive batches of patch and mend, the residents I met in Beaumont Terrace think their road and pavements needs to be completely resurfaced and that it must be their turn soon. I agree. 

I have also written to the Council to find out where this street is on the waiting list for resurfacing. I shall be urging that Beaumont Terrace is prioritised. 

Bob Servant Emails is Rebroadcast by Radio Scotland Catch it On Air or on iPlayer

The Bob Servant Emails, with Brian Cox, is currently being re-broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland at 1.45pm on Fridays from 11 January 2013. 

It's claimed that Bob is a hero for our troubled times. He takes on internet spammers so we don't have to.

Born and bred in Dundee, Servant sees himself as a people's champion. His extraordinary self-belief stems largely from his dominant position in Dundee's notorious Cheeseburger Wars of the early 1980s ..... He continued his Midas touch in the 1990s by running what he often claims to have been the 'largest window cleaning round in Western Europe'. And now, he's taking on the internet spammers of the world. 

To catch the 1st episode (1 of 6) on iPlayer - Olga, Sasha and the Jamaica Lakers - use the link below - available for 7 days from the broadcast date.
Link to iPlayer for Programme 1

Public Access is Maintained as Work Progresses on Upgrading Coastal Pathway

Earlier in the week, I noticed that work is progressing on the last section of the upgrading of the coastal pathway running between the Stannergate to Douglas Terrace in Broughty Ferry. This major contract has been jointly funded by Dundee City Council and SUSTRANS. This particular section of the pathway runs between Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace.

I think that many of the regular walkers and cyclists who make use of the pathway will be relieved to know that public access will be maintained while the extensive work is undertaken. This should ensure that dog walkers, leisure and commuting cyclists and other users can continue to use the pathway day by day.

Judging by the reduced width of a short section of available pathway, it will require some patience and good sense at busy times when folk coming in opposite directions meet in the 'narrows'. In the long run, I think constituents will accept that our temporary inconvenience will be worthwhile when they can enjoy using the complete upgraded pathway in the Spring.

Bob Servant Independent Preview at the Gardyne Theatre

Panel discussion and q and a

I was delighted to be invited to the the BBC preview of two of the Bob Servant Independent episodes at the Gardyne Theatre. The reality earlier tonight didn't disappoint; in fact it exceeded my expectations. 

Neil Forsyth's comedic creation has been transported from the page and radio to the TV screen by BBC Scotland. This new series focuses on Bob's campaign to be elected as MP for Broughty Ferry in a by-election. 

In the preview of these first two episodes, Bob Servant is 'broughty' to life as he and Broughty Ferry are centre stage. I won't say much more as I don't want to reveal the story line. But on this showing, I think Bob Servant. the Independent candidate, would certainly have livened up our local elections in the Ferry last May and challenged me on canine issues.

The Bob Servant Independent series of six half hour programmes will be coming to our TV screens soon on BBC2 Scotland and BBC Four.

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.

Misconceptions about Welfare Benefits

A TUC sponsored UK poll conducted by You Gov has exposed a significant gap between popular opinion and reality about matters such as the value of unemployment benefits, the proportion of fraud and the percentage of the welfare budget spent on cash benefits for unemployed people.


These differences between popular opinion and reality are about important current issues and what's more the misconceptions are held by a significant proportion of the electorate; us.

For example, this poll revealed that:

• "On average people think that 41 per cent of the entire welfare budget goes on benefits to unemployed people, while the true figure is 3 per cent.
• On average people think that 27 per cent of the welfare budget is claimed fraudulently, while the government's own figure is 0.7 per cent.
• On average people think that almost half the people (48 per cent) who claim Jobseeker's Allowance go on to claim it for more than a year, while the true figure is just under 30 per cent (27.8 per cent).
• On average people think that an unemployed couple with two school-age children would get £147 in Jobseeker's Allowance - more than 30 per cent higher than the £111.45 they would actually receive - a £35 over-calculation.
• Only 21 per cent of people think that this family with two school-age children would be better off if one of the unemployed parents got a 30 hour a week minimum wage job, even though they would actually end up £138 a week better off. Even those who thought they would be better off only thought on average they would gain by £59."

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

"It is not surprising that voters want to get tough on welfare. They think the system is much more generous than it is in reality, is riddled with fraud and is heavily skewed towards helping the unemployed, who they think are far more likely to stay on the dole than is actually the case. Indeed if what the average voter thinks was true, I'd want tough action too.

But you should not conduct policy, particularly when it hits some of the most vulnerable people in society, on the basis of prejudice and ignorance. And it is plainly immoral to spread such prejudice purely for party gain, as ministers and their advisers are doing, by deliberately misleading people about the value of benefits and who gets them.that the could more easily gain acceptance of cuts in social security benefits if they made the public wary of supporting what were referred to in the 19th century as the 'undeserving poor'."

Link to Survey Results

More Cuts to Bus Services on Their Way

Earlier today The Herald reported that commuters face more cuts to local bus services following the Scottish Government’s under funding of the concessionary travel scheme.

It will be the Scottish Government’s fault that bus passengers face paying higher fares, but getting less of a service in return in 2013.

Buses are a real lifeline for many communities and residents in our city, particularly for those on low incomes and those people who do not have access to their own transport. For many elderly folk, their bus pass and access to a regular bus service is the difference between being cooped up at home or getting out.

If the SNP led Holyrood Government require bus operators to provide the same concessionary travel scheme with less money, on top of the cut to the bus operators' grant, then the consequences are clear - more fare hikes, more service cuts and more job losses.

It seems the Edinburgh government's intention is to make these cuts and to try to blame the bus companies, while at the same time refusing to support greater regulation of the bus industry. This approach means bus workers and those who rely most on bus services, usually those on lower incomes, will unfortunately pay the price.

More Dog Bins Requested in Ferryfields

Just before new year, in a blog posting and the associated press coverage, I highlighted concerns about the repeated shortage of the Council's free dog poop bags at collection points in Broughty Ferry.

In response, I have been contacted by some constituents in Ferryfields who wanted me to recognise that in their area the most pressing shortage was a lack of dog poo bins.

More specifically, they pointed out that currently Ferryfields (north of the Arbroath Road) only has two dog bins for the entire estate and really requires at least another two particularly on the access road as some dog owners simply drop bags when used. 

Furthermore, they observe that the access road side walks do not appear to be looked after by anyone and they think this should be a Council responsibility. 

They also drew a comparison between their new housing estate and the Sandy Park Children's play area on the opposite side of Abroath Road in East Balgillo. In the vicinity of the Sandy Park, they observed five or six dog bins alone. More than reasonably therefore, they conclude that there is a shortage of dog bins in Ferryfields. They think they have a good case for obtaining more bins for their development and I agree.

I have raised this shortage of dog bins in Ferryfields with the Environment Department.

Pedestrians Want Their Pavement Back

In late September 2012, I reported to the Council that an resident had tripped on a hole in the pavement on the southern end of Claypotts Road in The Ferry. 

Furthermore, her trip had led to a nasty fall from which she sustained two black eyes and a crushed pair of glasses.

 
After a two month interval, work started on resurfacing this section of pavement. 

That was in early December.

Five weeks in on and work seems to have been suspended. 

The path is fenced off by safety barriers and traffic signs indicate that pedestrians should use the pavement on the other side of Claypotts Road.

What residents want to know is when work on this stretch of pavement will be resumed and then completed. 

I have written to the Transportation section of the City Development Department and posed these questions so that I can find some answers for my constituents.

Taxi Cab Parked Irresponsibly on Approach to Central Broughty Ferry

Residents have complained to me about the irresponsible long term parking of a black taxi cab right up to the junction of Dundee Road and West Queen Street in Broughty Ferry. 

They are concerned about the obstruction to sight lines for folk driving east from Dundee into The Ferry. As they turn off the main road over the railway bridge, towards Brook Street and central Broughty Ferry, their view of the road is obstructed.

Driving from the Ferry over the railway bridge towards the junction, the Cab appears to be turning the corner ahead rather than being parked.

Another source of complaint is that the cab is parked in a row of vehicles which might appear to be all parked in this prominent position to display their advertisements. As these advertisement on wheels are apparently 'mobile', they apparently evade the controls which apply to advertisements that might appear on a fixed site such as a billboard. But these advertisements on wheels are, for many folk, an unwelcome intrusion.

I have passed on my constituents' concerns to the Licensing Department of the City Council and asked them to use their powers and influence to get the vehicle shifted from its current location. I have also asked the City Development Department to sparingly insert double yellow lines to make it easier to keep this corner clear in future.

Broughty Ferry Dook New Year's Day January 2013

An enthusiastic crowd turned out to witness the 2012 Broughty Ferry Dook yesterday. The spectators lined the harbour and any nearby vantage point such as the ramp running up to the Castle. Luckily for them and the dookers, the wind had almost dropped and the sun was shining. 
At 2:30 pm what looked like another record turnout of brave or foolish folk (depending on your viewpoint) bravely took to the water, if only briefly. Organised by Ye Amphibious Ancients' Bathing Association (the Phibbies), who have been in existence nearly 130 years, this is the largest New Year's Day dook on the East Coast of Scotland. 
Well done Joyce McIntosh, President of Ye Amphibious Ancients' Bathing Association, the organising committee and the sponsors. 

Happy New Year!

Click on image to enlarge