Work Begins on Coastal Pathway Improvements

Earlier yesterday members of staff from Tayside Contracts were making a start to the work to upgrade the last unimproved section of the coastal pathway between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrace. I was pleased to see the work beginning, which will focus on strengthening and widening the section of the raised coastal pathway between Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace.

While I have previously expressed my concerns about the process to approve this contract, I am now satisfied that the formalities have been properly undertaken and of course Councillors unanimously approved the contract on Monday 26 November. 

While the building work is being undertaken there will inevitably be some disruption for those who travel along the coastal pathway on foot or bicycle. I have received assurances that every effort will be made to maintain access along the pathway as the building works progress. I can however reassure constituents that, as this is part of my regular dog walk, I shall be paying particular attention as I walk past very day.

Weather permitting, I think we should be able to look forward to a completed coastal pathway by the early Spring.

Council Meetings Monday Evening 23 April 2012

Last night at a series of Council Meetings I made the following contributions:

Education Committee 
Item 1 - Additional Funding to Support the Delivery of Two Hours of Physical Education Monday 23 April 2012
"Convener, I don't think that you will be surprised to know that I have mixed feelings about this report. While this report includes some projects that are to be welcomed, none will lead to the immediate replacement of the 6.9 qualified PE teachers that were withdrawn before the Easter break. For example, installing artificial grass sports pitches at ten more Primary Schools is a worthy improvement to facilities. Of course I welcome the pitches planned for Barnhill and Forthill Primary Schools in my ward.  But new pitches won't make any impact on the supply of qualified PE teachers (removed in the SNP's budget in February this year - Labour had an alternative plan to fund retaining these important posts) to coach the children during the school day on those pitches. And remember that the quality minimum standard your party set was for each pupil to receive 2 hours of quality PE with a qualified specialist teacher."


Social Work Committee
Item 3 3 Social Care (Self-Directed Support)
"Convener the Director of Social Work was quoted in the local press as saying that he was concerned that the budget for this change was insufficient given that the would be potentially high transitional costs for the Council as services users become service commissioners in their own right and as a consequence there may be times when the Council is under an obligation to continue to fund an existing service with lower levels of occupancy or take up.


If the transformation is quicker than anticipated the transitional costs might peak earlier conversely as the Director observes, they may take longer than three years. If the changeover takes longer than three years, can unspent money in the specific change funds (only available for three years) be carried forward?"


I was assured that unused funds to cover the transitional costs for the Council would be carried forward if they were unspent in any year hopefully protecting Council Tax payers from the effects of an overspend.


City Development Committee

Item 3 - Seafield Road Broughty Ferry One Way  Order 2012

"Convener can we be reassured when planning the timescale for the introduction of this one way order, consideration is given to doing so during the summer vacation so that residents are familiar with the new road layout before the start of the new school year in the middle of August?"


The Convener agreed that this should be taken into account.

Item 1 - Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets (CWSS) Projects Commencing 2012-13
I asked that in relation to paragraph 4.3.a on 

Lowered Kerbs/Footway Improvements, new lowered kerbs should avoid creating places where water collects in a pool creating a hazard for pedestrians to avoid rather than take advantage of. I also pointed out that some of the existing dropped kerbs in Broughty Ferry were in poor condition and should be repaired before new ones were created. I agreed to send in a list of those that needed repairs.

I was reassured that consideration in the design of new new dropped kerbs would avoid water pooling.

LEPRA Edinburgh to St Andrews Charity Cycle Ride

As part of Bike Week, I joined the 30th annual cycle ride from Edinburgh to St Andrews organised by, and in aid of, Leprosy in Action (LEPRA). I cycled along with my friend Geoffrey. My younger son Clem and his chums up from Cumbria also took part but were too fast for the veterans! The 67 mile bike ride, not a race, began at Inverleith Park's West Gate in Edinburgh at 08:45. Riders followed a well-posted route to the Forth Road Bridge. Subsequently, we skirted round the west of Dunfermline and then climbed over the Cleish Hills. After a lunch break in Kinross, we travelled through some of the glorious rolling Fife countryside, all the way to St Andrews. It was a really refreshing experience to be cycling alongside about 1500 other riders in this 30th anniversary run. On the way riders were expertly supported by repair vans from Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative if they picked up a puncture or their derailleur gears starting misbehaving on the hills. Apart from the headwind, the weather conditions were ideal all day. I managed to raise £50 for the charity. Next year, I must get more organised at inviting sponsors to sign my form.

Bridging Missing Links in the Cycle Network in Broughty Ferry

On Monday evening at the City Development Committee Meeting councillors considered a report entitled, 'Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets (CWSS) Projects Commencing 2010-2011. (Item two on the Agenda) The report details the allocation of £249,000 to a variety of programmes including a project to enhance accessibility for cyclists by inserting some of the 'missing links' in the cycling network in the city. I asked about the inclusion of a north-south link between Baligillo Road (cycle lane and green circular) and Grove Academy which had been requested by the Grove Academy Parent Council to help facilitate more pupil journeys to school by bike thereby supporting the school's travel plan. The Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Will Dawson, conceded that not all the spend had yet been identified and agreed that my proposal could be considered for inclusion in the scheme by officers managing the CWSS.