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

Step Out - It's National Walk to Work Week 9-13 May

Next week, 

from 9-13 May, 
is 

National Walk to Work Week 

- the ideal time to give walking a go. 

An easy form of exercise requiring no special equipment, walking can be fitted in on your way to or from work, at lunchtime or throughout the day.

Walking will:

• tone you up
• trim you down
• help keep your heart healthy
• save on petrol or bus fares
• help the environment

More information on Walk to Work Week 

BERA 30th Annual General Meeting

Last night I attended the Annual General Meeting of the Broughty Ferry Educational and Recreation Association (BERA). 

The Chairperson of BERA, Ron Moodie, reported on the programme of evening classes in the Ferry which the association has run over the past year. BERA have in fact been running a evening classes in the Ferry for 30 years. Their longevity as a organisation indicates both enduring community support for their classes as well as the determination and persistence of a relatively small group of volunteers to keep their organisation going. Their close association with Grove Academy, where they run most of their classes, was emphasised last night when their AGM was held in the staff room, and Head Teacher, John Hunter, attended to say his farewells as he is retiring at the end of the Summer Term.

Looking forward, BERA anticipates making use of the sports hall at the old Grove which will be available for community use from the Autumn as part of the 'new' Eastern Primary School. They are also reviewing their approach to enrolment.

Well done BERA.

Future Organisiation of Policing in Scotland - Response from Tayside Joint Police Board

At the continued meeting of the Tayside Police Board on Monday, the SNP group of Councillors had promised to flesh out their arguments for opting for four police boards instead of the current eight. This was an integral part of their proposed response  to the Scottish Government's 'A Consultation on The Future Organisation of Policing in Scotland'. 

Unfortunately, their sketchy proposal attracted most votes. As a consequence the board's response to the Scottish Government will feature a viewpoint that is neither fish nor fowl. This is because a reduction of eight forces to four police forces in Scotland will neither produce the back office savings required to save front line policing nor will its stretched geographical boundaries be capable of keeping the police close to communities and elected members. It was also unfortunate that these Councillors were so lacking in argument and evidence in putting forward their motion. Perhaps this was why they wanted the press and public excluded from the meeting.

Constituents in Dundee should be reassured that the Dundee Labour Councillors on the Joint Police Board will be vigilant in the months ahead when the next Scottish Government legislates for the reorganization of policing in Scotland. We will continue to advocate for a single police force in Scotland in the belief that this will deliver administrative and management savings which will ensure that current levels of front line policing can be left unscathed despite cuts in policing budgets. Furthermore, we believe that local accountability can enhanced by the development of local authority wide so called 'blue light' committees to cover police and fire services.

SNP Report Card - 5 Major Broken Promises from their 2007 Manifesto

Five headline promises broken by the SNP in government 2007-11

• cutting class sizes to 18 for P1-P3 pupils
  - no progress made in Broughty Ferry primary schools
• replacing council tax with a local income tax
  - dropped but making a come back in their 2011 manifesto
• writing off student debt
  - no help for students who had already completed their degrees
• providing a £3000 grant for first time buyers
  - quietly dropped
• matching Labour's PPP school building brick for brick
  - SNP led Holyrood government did not fund a single brick to be laid at any new schools in Dundee and then claimed credit for schools built with local government funding