Education Statistics Reveal SNP Broken Promises and Sleight of Hand

The publication yesterday of the Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland 2012 reveal a number of broken promises by the SNP Government and City Council.

The pupil-teacher ratio in Dundee Primary Schools has increased in the past year and is now the highest it has been since 2007. Each year under the SNP this has been inching up from 11.7 in 2007 up to 12.3 in  2012. I think parents and teachers can see which direction this is going and where the cuts are biting.

With regard to the statistics for P1 classes of 18 or under, the progress apparently made in the past year is probably illusory in Dundee. This year these statistics have included in these figures some of the largest classes in the city with up to 36 pupils in one classroom but with two teachers. This arrangement is being used in some of our Primary schools where there have been rising numbers of pre-fives entering P1 classes and this has been the only way of accommodating them. This is hardly the small class that parents imagined. It's worth recalling that the figures for the percentage of pupils in P1-P3 (not just P1) in classes in 18 or less was supposed to be 100 per cent by 2011 - this is one of the SNP's manifesto promises for the May 2007 Holyrood Elections.

Finally the expected information on absences and exclusions from our schools are not included this year. In the small print we find out that these figures will now only be collected and published every two years, thus reducing the information available about trends in pupils not attending school and those that are excluded. This is a backward step which I can only assume is to keep the figures out of the public eye.

Dundee Choral Union Christmas Concert Sunday 16 December 7:30pm Caird Hall Dundee - Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle

Christmas Concert 2012
Caird Hall, City Square, Dundee 
16 December 2012 7:30pm

Programme

Rossini - Petite Messe Solennelle

Rachel Hynes - Soprano
Louise Collett - Mezzo Soprano
Ross McInroy - Bass
Mark Wilde - Tenor
Morley Whitehead - Harmonium
Val Maynes - Piano 1
Derek Clark - Conductor


Tickets from Choral members when available and also 
from the City Square Box Office £15.00
Concessions for Students and Unemployed £5.00. 
Accompanied School Pupils FREE 

Dundee Choral Union 
Further information contact Mrs Kay A S Simpson, telephone 01334 870277

Consultation on Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2013

The Scottish Government has recently published the draft Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2013. This consultation seeks our views on the strategic priorities for the single Fire and Rescue Service for Scotland. On 1st April 2013, this national service will take over responsibility for fire and rescue from the eight current regionally organised services, such as our own Tayside Fire and Rescue.

The documentation includes the following:

The main purpose of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is to work in partnership with communities, and with others in the public, private and third sectors, on prevention, protection and response, to improve the safety and well being of people throughout Scotland.

I wonder if it's only me but I find this statement rather bland and vague. Amazingly the statement misses out what I think most folk believe is the primary purpose of the Fire and Rescue Service; fire fighting! If the name of the service hadn't been included in the statement, I defy folk to guess this is meant to guide the work of this particular emergency service. While I wouldn't argue with the need to also work on fire prevention and operate in partnership, I think what most folk value is the confidence that this emergency service provides that it is on call 24x7 to attend fire and rescue emergencies and protect people and property.

Comments on the consultation need to be submitted by 18 February 2013. Read download the Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2013

Church Street Road Restrictions Drag On and Restrict Residents' Parking

Click on image to enlarge

Some residents in Church Street have approached me to complain about the length of time their road and pavement has been restricted by the building of the infill property in their street. 

Building materials have spilt out over the pavement and into the street. The picture shows that more than half the width of Church Street has been fenced off by the site works. The effect of this is to restrict the number of parking places in a street where residents already compete with shoppers for a parking spot.

I have written to the City Development Department to ask them to get the builders to tidy up their site and minimise their inconvenience to their neighbours in the street.

Sunday Trains Return to Broughty Ferry After More Than a 20 Year Gap

At precisely 10:34 on Sunday 9 December 2012, the Aberdeen to Glasgow train will stop at Broughty Ferry and make a bit of local history. It will be the first Sunday train service in more than twenty years. 

This train service is part of the the new ScotRail timetable which begins on Sunday. The new timetable features four Sunday trains going west via Dundee (one to Glasgow, two to Edinburgh and one to Perth) and three trains going north to Aberdeen on Sundays. On weekdays there will be seven trains going via Dundee towards Glasgow or Edinburgh and eight trains going North to Aberdeen.

Click on this link to read and download the new timetable.

In the early 1990s the then British Rail suspended most of its services stopping at Broughty Ferry. In fact they reduced their service to just a handful of trains a week. 

Over the last couple of years and after sustained local pressure, train services have been gradually increased; not enough but sufficient to stimulate increasing passenger numbers and a hope that we might get The Ferry properly reconnected to the rail network. 

While I acknowledge the recent improvements to the rail timetable, I shall continue to make the case for an increased hourly service from Broughty Ferry and the introduction of fair ticketing prices from Broughty Ferry. I hope the Scottish government will build these reasonable requirements into the conditions of the new franchise for rail services in Scotland due to come into effect in 2014.

Licensing Committee Meeting Thursday 5 December 2012

Yesterday morning I  attended a  meeting of the Licensing Committee. This Committee deals with licenses granted by the Council including those for taxi drivers, taxi operators, window cleaners, tattooists, street traders and houses in multiple occupation; in fact just about every sort of license apart from licences for the sale of alcohol and licensed premises which are dealt with by the separate Licensing Board.

The Licensing Committee meets on a Thursday morning in the City Chambers for its regular monthly meeting at which its proceedings are considered quasi judicial. The first part of the business on the agenda is open to the press and public and deals with licenses applied for such as grant of a licence for a house in multiple occupation. In arriving at a decision, committee members, hear reports from the Council Officer who deals with the inspection of these properties to ensure they meet stringent government standards and hear any objections raised by members of the public in adjoining properties. Committee members can also question the applicant or their agent when their application comes up for decision.

The second part of the agenda includes items such as an application for a taxi driver's licence where Tayside Police have a made observations that an applicant may not be a fit and proper person to be a taxi driver. This part of the agenda is taken in private and in many instances the applicant is legally represented or has a colleague, trade union representative or family member to support them.

I find this a particularly interesting Committee to serve on.

For further information and application forms about Licensing matters please contact
Support Services Department
General Services Section
20 City Square
Dundee DD1 3BY
Tel: 434468
Email: licensing.board@dundeecity.gov.uk

City of Dundee Educational Trust Quarterly Meeting

Yesterday morning I attended the quarterly meeting of the City of Dundee Educational Trust. In my capacity as a City Councillor I am one of the Trustees. 

The trust awards one off grants, usually up to £300, to applicants from the charitable funds available. The awards go to students in further or higher education who have a strong connection with Dundee. 

Application forms and further details are available from:

Jeffrey Hope, Solicitor, Miller Hendry, 13 Ward Road, Dundee, DD1 1LU
Telephone: 01382 200000 Email jeffhope@millerhendry.co.uk

Broughty Community Council December Meeting

Last night I attended the regular monthly meeting of Broughty Ferry Community Council. Each month there is an opportunity for elected members to report to the Community Council. Here is a summary of my report which covers October and November as there was no time for these reports at the November meeting.

Permanent Repair to Sewage Pipe Under the Beach
In early November I had a meeting with Scottish Water and Violia about their making a permanent repair to the  leaking sewage pipe under the beach now that their temporary repair appears to be effective. They have committed to a comprehensive repair following an options appraisal and gaining the necessary permissions. The likely timescale for the permanent repair is 6-8 months.

Coastal Flood Risk and Protection
In November Councillors have had a briefing from staff from the City Development Department, SEPA and consultants who had undertaken a study on rising sea levels and coastal flooding. This will be going to Committee in February or March. Over the next few year there will be a process of selecting priority works to enhance coastal protection with some potential funding from the Scottish Government.

Coastal Walkway
On Monday, preparations on site have begun on the contract to upgrade the last section of the raised walkway between Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace.

Biomass Plant

The Environment Department have recently confirmed that they are having a meeting later this month with Forth Energy (Scottish Power and Forth Ports Partnership) to hear an update about the air quality assessment in connection with the Biomass Planning Application. This assessment is be published by the section of the Scottish Government dealing with the assessment of the proposed biomass power plants in due course.

Anton Drive Retaining Wall

On Monday the contract for the building of the replacement retaining wall in Anton Drive is coming up for approval at a cost just exceeding £94,144. The proposed new wall will be built beside the current wall using modular timber crib blocks by PHI Group. 

Broughty Ferry Community Council meet in the Library on Queen Street on the first Tuesday of each month except August. Its meetings begin at 7pm and conclude by 8:45pm. As Tuesday 1st January is a public holiday, the next meeting of the Community Council will be held on Tuesday 5 February 2013.

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.

Broughty Ferry Train Times from 9th December 2012

BFerryTrainTimes_leaflet9.12.2012

Click on right hand icon above to view timetable in full screen

Why I Was Justified in Questioning Council's Lapse in Contract Procedures

Last Monday night (26 November 2012) I tried to assist Dundee City Council by questioning why the works that were starting at Douglas Terrace Walkway had not been properly authorised. This could have led to the situation where a £887,579 contract was begun with no prospect of the bill being paid. This would have been bad for Dundee City Council, bad for Tayside Contracts and bad for the people of Dundee. I think my actions have saved the City Council from possible censure from Audit Scotland and from possible legal action.

Of course I wholeheartedly welcome this major improvement of the coastal pathway at Douglas Terrace. I made this clear on Monday night and in August when the planning permission for this work was granted. But it's important that contractual procedures are carefully followed or the Council might end up with a local version of the West Coast Mainline Trains fiasco on its hands.

At the City Development Committee meeting on Monday night, I questioned why it was that a contract worth more than £850,000 for rebuilding a section of the coastal pathway had been publicly advertised to begin on the morning on Monday 26 November, before it was brought to Committee that night. While I received a full apology for this oversight, it is still not clear who would have noticed this if I had not raised it on Thursday and Friday last week by telephone and email?  

I was very disappointed that not every Councillor saw this as an important issue and some sought to close down my questions. I presume that they would rather that the Council acted illegally than have proper scrutiny of the Council's spending of public money.

Consultation in Broughty Ferry on Monday 3 December About the Proposed Council Rent Increases 2013/14

Click on Poster to enlarge

Tenants in The Ferry can have their say about about their future rent levels and service charges at a local consultation meeting that is taking place on Monday afternoon 3 December 2012 at Forthil Sheltered Housing Lounge on Forthill Drive. The consultation will begin at 2:30pm.

Now is the time to take the opportunity to respond to the consultation on the proposed increases in rent and service charges from April 2013.

Every year the Housing Department looks at the rent and other charges that they need to collect so that they can continue to deliver the services that tenants have told them they want. They have looked at their budgets from 1st April 2013 to 31st March 2014 and have developed three different options for rent and service charge increases which they want to gather opinions and feedback on. The three rent options range from an increase in 5% to 5.5%.

More details on the options for rent increases and what you would get for your money.

More details on the options for increases in service charges especially for tenants in sheltered housing. 

If you can't make the meeting on Monday afternoon, there are lots of ways to give your views and feedback on the Council's proposals. All they ask is that you tell them by Monday 31st December 2012

How to give the Council your opinions and feedback. 

Broughty Ferry Lifeboat Annual Carol Service Monday 17 December Beginning at 7:30pm in St James's Parish Church

The annual Lifeboat Carol Concert, featuring Forthill Primary School Choir, will be held in St James's Parish Church (the Lifeboat Church) on Monday 17 December beginning at 7:30pm.
This is a wonderful opportunity to join in the carol singing, remember the work of our brave and dedicated volunteer lifeboat crews and donate to support their continuing work in the offertory. 
Refreshments in the hall afterwards.

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

World AIDS Day 1 December 2012

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988.

In an email letter, Dr. Patricia Nkansah-Asamoah at the Tema Clinic in Ghana has written:

"I used to feel helpless when I told my patients in Ghana that they had HIV. There was very little we could do for them. We had no drugs for treating HIV. Many didn’t make it to the next week. It was a period of hopelessness and despair.

When we finally got access to medicine because of money from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and other partners, I felt so empowered. I knew my patients would finally live to see the next day, and 10 years down the line most of them are still living. 

It’s time to make sure every mother, every child, every person gets a chance to see tomorrow.To mark World Aids Day today, please join me in signing ONE’s petition with just one click."

The petition reads:
Dear World Leaders,
Step up your fight against AIDS. Scale up your commitments to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and help make the beginning of the end of AIDS a reality by 2015.
Right now we are at a critical moment in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The world has made incredible progress in its efforts to understand, prevent and treat this disease. But we need to do more. If enough of us take action we can ensure we bring about the beginning of the end of AIDS.
Please sign the petition

"We have all the tools. Now we need the passion to fight for what’s right.
It starts with you.

Thank you,

Dr. Patricia Nkansah-Asamoah
Tema Clinic, Ghana and ONE member"

Two Constructive Meetings

On Friday morning, I attended two meetings which both had constructive outcomes. 

At 09:30, I attended the quarterly meeting of the Education Review Group in one of the Council's Committee Rooms off City Square. This group has a diverse and inclusive membership including Head Teachers, Parents/Carers and Pupils representing their their respective city wide Councils, Education Directorate, Trade Union Representatives and Councillors and is chaired by The Chief Executive, David Dorward. We explored a number of  current issues in our Schools, especially the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence. I can't write anymore about this as I am bound by a restriction on publicising the content of the meeting.

At 12 noon I caught up with a meeting at the Castle Green Leisure Centre in The Ferry which had started at 11:00. This was the first meeting of a group interested in being involved in planning a series of events to mark the centenary of Broughty Ferry becoming part of Dundee in October 1913. This meeting had been convened by Carole Jenkins our Communities Officer. This group identified a long list of possible activities which might be brought together into a year long programme. It sounds as though we might have a diverse range of activities to look forward to in 2013. The only restriction seems to be that we can't call this a celebration as opinion is apparently divided about the wisdom of the Ferry throwing in its lot with Dundee. Further information about this group from:
carole.jenkins@dundeecity.gov.uk