Participatory Budgeting - Workshop in the City Chambers

As part of my 'in-service training' as a Councillor, this morning I attended a briefing event about Participatory Budgeting. 

This half-day event was run by the Improvement Service and is funded through the Convention of Scottish local Authorities, (CoSLA).

This was a very practical session which provided insights into a number of approaches to public involvement in deciding spending priorities. I hope that it will be be possible to trial one of these approaches with The Ferry Local Community Planning Partnership.

Pothole Action on Douglas Terrace

Last week, I reported a series of eight of the most serious potholes on Douglas Terrace. These were identified on the stretch of Douglas Terrace between its junctions with Dundee Road and Home Street. 

While further along the waterfront towards the harbour the carriageway has been resurfaced, this section of the road is still on the waiting list for an upgrade.

During the winter weather sections of the road surface thet has been been previously dug up and infilled has been eroded and become a hazard.

I am pleased to report that the road has been inspected by staff from the Roads' Maintenance Partnership and they have reported that the potholes should be fixed quite soon.

Dogs Must be Microchipped Before Wed 6 April 2016

On the 6 April 2016 the provisions of the The Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016 will come into force. This statutory order from the Scottish Government makes it an offence to keep a dog without an identity microchip.

Of course having your dog microchipped is one of the best ways to increase your pet’s chances of getting home if they should ever be lost or stolen. Unlike dog tags and collars, which can fall off or be removed, microchipping is a more permanent form of identity for your dog. But don’t forget the law says all dogs must also wear a collar and tag, with their owners name, address and telephone number on it.

The Brown Street Kennels in Dundee have trained personnel who are able to microchip your dog. The current cost for this service is £17.30 inc VAT. 
Brown Street Kennels, Brown Street, Dundee DD1 5DT 
Tel: 01382 432100 Fax: 01382 432102
Email brownstreet.kennels@dundeecity.gov.uk

Westbay Residents Demand Some Road Safety Action

Since the new Grove Academy was opened and Eastern Primary School moved to the upgraded old Grove premises, both school have been opening their doors to an increasing number of pupils. This has led to regular parking difficulties for residents of Westbay Court in Albert Road.

Residents of the 17 apartments in Westbay Court have their own off street parking but they find it is very difficult to exit or enter their driveway during the forty minutes or so in the mornings and afternoons when parents and carers are using their road as a very congested drop-off and pick-up zone. Frequently Westbay residents find vehicles parking part way across the entrance to the driveway to their private car parking spaces. Their concerns are not merely about their own inconvenience from getting blocked in. They are very concerned about the risks to life and limb of young children walking and crossing Albert Road because for the restricted sight lines for residents as they exit and enter their driveways in their cars.

Residents first contacted me about this in the Spring last year and on a number of occasions I raised this in writing and at meetings with staff in the City Development Department. Despite a number of reminders from me and the residents, so far the residents think that their reasonable requests have been not been taken seriously enough.

I support the residents' view that this is an accident waiting to happen. I urge the Transportation section of the City Development Department to respond positively to the residents' request. At the same time, I urge parents and carers to drive and park safely and considerately in Albert Road because neither they nor the residents of Westbay Court want to be the cause of a road accident with a young pedestrian.

More Education Cuts in Dundee City Budget 2016-17 - My Contribution tot he Debate at the Budget Meeting

At the Budget Meeting on Thursday 25 February 2016, I made the following contribution to the debate about the SNP's budget proposals.

"Convener, with regard to Education your budget is full of short term cuts with long term damage to education in our city.

In June you are closing a well regarded and very well led high school in Menzieshill which parents and carers fought to retain. This will be happening at a time when the latest national population projections confirm a continuing and significant population growth in our city especially in the 0-15 age group.

In our primary Schools we continue to reduce capacity while there are proposals afoot to increase the nursery education and care entitlement. This would require considerable additional accommodation in our Primary and Nursery school buildings.

On Monday night I pointed out at the Education Committee that having 'Reserved Places' in four out of the soon to be eight secondary schools in the city is an indicator that our secondary schools are filling up and only Braeview, Craigie, St Paul's and Baldragon have some remaining capacity to cope with population growth in our city. 

Combined, Convener, with your fire sale of Council properties and sites, this means that not only will we have pressure on school places in the future but no Council owned  sites on which to build the new primary and secondary schools we will need.

In relation to the supply teacher budget, you have cuts back on this and gamble that there will be no no increase in demand such as a flu epidemic or an increase in staff on maternity and paternity leave that will increase demand for supply teachers in the next year. You are in my mind misleading people in Dundee when you claim this will make no difference. In the current year schools have been unable to spend this budget because of the lack of supply staff caused largely by the national shortage of teachers. If, as the Holyrood government tell us that they have at long last sorted out the lack of training places for teachers, we might have the potential supply teachers to employ next year but not the budget in our schools to pay for this. 

Short term cuts and long term damage Convener.

We can also see that the direction of travel will be to accommodate the rising number of pupils by allowing classes in our schools to get larger. Apparently you are happy for Dundee to be mid-table at everything  and not really ambitious to be outstanding. 

Convener, some of your colleagues have congratulated you on your creative approach to finding your budget cuts. But our constituents and our staff know that there are many dangers in your 'creative accounting'.

So Convener, I cannot support your budget today because you do not have the best interests of our city at heart. Your short term cuts will inflict long term damage to our children in our schools in the City. 

Not so much Getting it Right for Every Child, but Getting it Cheap for Every Child."

After the meeting I said:

It was very disappointing that the Finance Convener, Councillor Willie Sawers would not even allow a discussion of the Labour motion at the budget meeting. He just arbitrarily ruled it out of order, even though it had previously been agreed by the Council's Chief Legal Officer as a competent motion.. Councils must, by law, fix their budget for by mid March, so there was still time to put these savage budget cuts on hold and try, with a united political front, to negotiate a better deal for the city from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney. I don't think any Councillor should dismiss an opportunity to try to negotiate a better deal for our city. 

Dundee deserves better

Dundee is One of the Bright Sparks

Yes it's official, Dundee is one of the UK Bright Sparks, as defined by Sunday Times Journalist, Oliver Bennett.

In his feature article published today, he reviews "hi-tech hotspots where innovation is set to ignite the local property market."

Dundee is the sole location identified in Scotland. In the short entry about Dundee, Bennet writes:
"For a while, Scotland had a Silicon Glen: .... But it is Dundee - once known for 'jute, jam and journalism' - that may prove most interesting, particularly as it has become a centre for Computer Gaming.

It's a pity that the article has no mention of the V&A at Dundee or the recent UNESCO City of Design designation nor any references to residential and commercial property developments in the city. Nevertheless, it's good to see our city featuring positively in national media.

Scottish Water Urged to Sort Out Pumping Issues at Douglas Terrace

Before Christmas, contractors resorted to putting up safety barriers once again at the pumping facility at the end of Douglas Terrace. 

Above ground, behind these fences, there are two manhole covers propped open by a heavy duty hose connecting the two pumps that are seated well below ground level. 

I am advised that this is necessary because these pumps, that help to propel sewage and waste water towards the Hatton treatment plant, are not working properly. 

This is not the first time that this has been the case in recent years. The fencing and industrial pipes are a bit of an eyesore, but every day they are in use is an indicator that all is not well with this pumping facility below.This facility is maintained by Scottish Water's operators, Veolia. I think Scottish Water owe it to their water and sewage rate payers to pursue their operator to sort out this issue to get this facility working effectively.

Best Wishes for Christmas 2015

Broughty Ferry Dook 2016 - Friday 1st January 10:30 - Time to Get Your Entry In

Links
Further Details about Ye Amphibious Ancients' Bathing Association (AABA)
Dook Entry Online 
Dook Entry Form to Print Out 

Pupils at Kingspark School Entertain with Christmas Show

Earlier this afternoon, I enjoyed an enthusiastic performance of 'Snowy Chums', the Christmas Show performed by the talented pupils of Kingspark School.

I can't remember any previous school show where the Head Teacher had confidently asserted that every pupil in the school had been involved, one way or another, in the staging of the show and the performance. This was an outstanding example of pupils working together: designing the tickets, preparing the hand written invitations, singing and dancing, taking part in the video about the school, serving refreshments, as well as the enterprise group making and selling Christmas gifts and decorations. 

The performers on stage are to be congratulated for singing their hearts out and mastering and delivering their lines and dance moves.

Head Teacher, Laura Smith, and her staff deserve recognition too for having clearly embedded the 'Getting it Right for Every Child' in their practice. 

Commenting on Continuing High Levels of Pupil Absence in Dundee Schools

Being at the bottom of a national league table for pupil absence is not where we want to be in our schools and our city. Days lost through absence from school are days lost from learning.

Of course it is important to recognise that average attendances mask the fact that a majority of our pupils have excellent attendance at school. On the other hand, a relatively small proportion of pupils may have a very poor record of attendance which depresses the average attendance in a specific school and across the city. However we interpret them however, there is a job to be done to raise the average citywide attendance.

When we look for solutions, I have misgivings about putting too much reliance on short term projects employing temporary staff. When their project is over, after two or three years, the initiatives they have begun may well be unsustainable by the remaining core staff in a school. 

The reduction in the number of Guidance staff in Secondary Schools and the number of Depute Head Teachers in our Primary Schools will not have helped our schools focus on tackling non attendance. These cuts have reduced the senior staff who would directly follow up these issues with pupils and their teachers as well as parents and carers.

Just now the Council is consulting on a plan to reduce by a third the number of places for pupils in our three small scale Education Centres which offer an alternative to secondary pupils who are disengaged from their secondary schools who often have multiple additional support for learning needs. Currently many of the pupils who transfer to one of these centres experience a dramatic improvement to their attendance and participation in learning. I am concerned that the vague alternative and much cheaper services the Council are discussing will make matters worse not better for these pupils and less effective in promoting their attendance and participation by these pupils.

If we are going to tackle a low average attendance in our schools, relative to other Councils in Scotland, I think we need to stick with what currently works and promote initiatives that have the backing of staff and parents and carers, rather than impose more short term initiatives from the centre.

Widespread Disapproval by Ferry Residents to Proposals from Local Government Boundary Commission

Last week it was reported that close to 1000 residents from The Ferry had submitted written objections to the Boundary Commission for Local Government in Scotland (LGBCS). 

Their representations have focused on opposing the proposal for removing that part of West Ferry that lies to the west of Victoria Road and Claypotts Road from Ward 8 The Ferry for elections to the Dundee City Council.

By any measure. this level of public response is a magnificent display of community solidarity, an overwhelming demonstration of disapproval with these proposals and a clear vote for West Ferry staying an integral part of The Ferry ward for city council elections.

We now await the deliberations of the Boundary Commission for Local Government in Scotland. Apparently, any changes they finally recommend to the Scottish Government would be planned to come into force for the next local Government elections in May 2017.

Link to my representation to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland

Ferry Christmas Carol Service 7pm Monday 14 December 2015 St James's Parish Church

The annual Lifeboat Carol Concert will be held in St James Parish Church (the Lifeboat Church) on Monday 14 December 2015 beginning at 7pm

This is a wonderful opportunity to join in carol singing, remember the work of our brave and dedicated volunteer lifeboat crews and donate to the Lifeboat via the offertory.

St James’ Parish Church, Fort Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, DD5 2AD

Commenting on Increasing Class Sizes in Dundee Primary Schools

I know parents and carers in Dundee will be concerned by the news that class sizes in Dundee are continuing to increase and the number of teachers we employ has declined significantly. They know that the quality of the education their children receive depends on the expertise and number of teachers in local schools.

The SNP's record of running Education in Dundee is imposing one cut after another in the number of teachers in our schools. In the census in September 2010 there were 1511 teachers in post and in September 2015 this was down to 1409. This loss of over 100 posts represents the equivalent of more than two teachers in each of the primary and secondary school in the city. We can't go on like this cutting the schools' budget year after year and not expect that this will undermine the attainment and achievement of our children.

Strangely when the City Council was provided with the opportunity to bid for extra millions of pounds to help close the attainment gap in our city, they have apparently declined the opportunity to employ more teachers to reduce class sizes, especially in the early years.

For the second year running, the Education Convener, Councillor Stewart Hunter is presiding over the worst record in Scotland for the proportion of pupils who are taught in class sizes of 18 or fewer in P1-3 classes in our Primary Schools.

The plain fact is that the cash the city has received from Scottish Government has been reduced year after year and the Council Tax has been frozen. While George Osborne and the UK Government has imposed significant cuts in the value of their annual block grant to the Scottish Government, the SNP government in Holyrood must also accept responsibility for imposing cuts in our schools by avoiding using the powers they possessed to increase the rate of income tax and failing to bring in a new system of local government funding to replace the Council Tax.

Special Events for Children and Shoppers in Broughty Ferry Sunday 13 December 2015 12 noon - 4 pm