Broughty Ferry Beach is Awarded 2016 Seaside Award by Keep Scotland Beautiful

Broughty Ferry beach has received external recognition for the 13th year in a row!

For the 2016 bathing season, our beach has been awarded the Keep Scotland Beautiful 'Seaside Award' and an “excellent” EU Bathing Waters classification.

It is good news that the bathing water quality there has been designated ‘Excellent’ under the stringent EU Bathing Water Classification.

To qualify for the Seaside Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful, 25 conditions need to be met including: community, access and facilities; information and education; environment management and safety. These criteria cover the provision of facilities, such as toilets, first aid, information boards and parking as well as appropriate safety management, community involvement and excellent standards of cleanliness.

The beach is a huge asset for The Ferry, the wider Dundee area. and of course the visitors from further afield.

Broughty Ferry is a designated, “bathing water” monitored by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) between June and September and is given its EU classification based on four years of data. 

The bathing season at Broughty Ferry runs from now until Sunday September 4.

LEPRA Edinburgh to St Andrews Cycle Ride Today

An early start today to ride the 68 miles from Edinburgh to St Andrews on the 36th annual LEPRA Cycle Ride. 

Each year up to 1,000 cyclists participate in this annual event which takes a lovely route via the Forth Road Bridge, over the Cleish Hills, swoops down to Kinross, skirts Loch Leven and then takes back roads from Falkland to St Andrews.

This year I'm riding with friend and former University colleague Geoffrey Wallace who is over from California for a holiday in the auld country.

LEPRA are a UK registered international charity focusing on leprosy, Their purpose is to enable children, women and men affected by neglected diseases to transform their lives and overcome poverty and prejudice. Working on the ground in India, Bangladesh and Mozambique they treat, educate and rehabilitate, and through this give a voice to people living on the margins of society. 

Temporary Closuse of Fort Street Bridge from Monday 13 June 2016 for up to 5 Working Days

THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1)

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of bridge repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Fort Street (from Brook Street to Queen Street), Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 13 June 2016 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Brook Street / Westfield Road / Queen Street.

For further information contact (01382) 433168.
Mike P Galloway, Executive Director of City Development
Dundee City Council

Braeview Academy Wins Scottish Education Award for Enterprise and Employability Across Learning (Secondary)

Congratulations to Braeview Academy for winning the Scottish Education Award for Enterprise and Employability Across Learning (Secondary). This national award was announced at a ceremony held in Glasgow yesterday. 

The Scottish Education Awards celebrate the hard work and success which takes place in Scottish education. They recognise the achievements of people who dedicate their lives to children and young people and showcase the valuable work and innovation in Scottish classrooms.

The Enterprise and Employability Across Learning award is recognition for Braeview's strategy to develop pupils' employability skills by offering careers education, opportunities for vocational courses and work experience. One of the impressive features of this has been their well developed partnership with Michelin in Dundee.

Braeview's enterprise and employability strategy will be a key part of their school delivering the entitlement for all pupils to be supported in their progression from school to a positive and sustained destination.

Programme Out Now for Broughty Ferry Gala Week 3-10 July 2016

The programme for Broughty Gala Week 2016 has just been published by the Community Gala Committee. 

This year Broughty Ferry Gala Week will run from Sunday 3rd to Sunday 10th July. 

The programme includes many old favourites such as:
Children's Shop Window Guessing Competition Gala Fete on Castle Green, Pavement Artist Competition outside M&S and
Secret Gardens of Broughty Ferry (visits to).

For detailed information about each of the events - more than 50 from my count - consult the free Gala programme. Printed booklets are available to pick up from shops in the Ferry as well as the counter of the Library in Queen Street. 
Read/download 2016 Gala Programme

Possible Coastal Protection Measures between Grassy Beach and Broughty Ferry Castle - Flyover Simulation

Simulated view of possible enhanced sea
defences for Broughty Ferry

If you missed the drop-in consultation on Wednesday 1st June 2016 about the proposed coastal protection measures between the Grassy Beach and Broughty Ferry Castle, you may the video flyover simulation of possible design for the scheme helpful - click on link below. 

Don't worry that you have missed out on the opportunity to respond to the Council. According to senior Council staff present at the drop-in event, this was an initial consultation which will be followed by the formal consultation. I'll try to keep constituents updated when we reach that point.

Link to video flyover simulation of possible changes to coastal defences Grassy Beach to Broughty Ferry Castle June 2016

Dundee Councillors Raise Sponsorship Donations for DofE Diamond Challenge

On Saturday morning I took part in a sponsored event with a cross party group of City Councillors as part of the Diamond Challenge to help extend the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. 

Together we raised over £1300 to support the development of the award with children in our city. 

It was good to be involved in this fundraising event and, in a minor way,  put something back into the Award. I have been mindful that two of my four children gained DofE awards through Grove Academy. I would like many more young people in Dundee to be able to take the DofE  challenge and work towards their Awards.

I hear you saying, "If only all their (Councillors) meetings were so productive!"

Not on the Electoral register? You must register by 7 June if you want to vote in the EU referendum on 23 June

You need to be on the electoral register to vote in elections and referendums.

If you aren’t already on the electoral register, you must register by 7 June 2016 if you want to vote in the EU referendum on 23 June.

You don’t need to register again in order to vote in the EU referendum if you live in the UK and both of the following apply:
You were registered to vote in the May 2016 elections to the Scottish Parliament or the 2015 General Election.

Use this service to apply to register to vote or to:

• update your name, address or other details on the electoral register
• change your voting preferences, eg to vote in person or by post
• change whether you’re on the open register

It usually takes just 5 minutes.
You may need the following, if you have them:
your National Insurance number
your passport if you’re a British citizen living abroad

Link to UK Government Voter Registration Website

Just One Month to Go Before Broughty Gala Week 2016

Boundary Commissioners Report on The Ferry Ward Ignores Public Opinion - Onus Now on Scottish Government Ministers

Click on map to enlarge

Last week the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland published their report on changes to the number of Councillors and revised boundaries to the local government wards in Dundee.

I am very disappointed that the Commission has ignored the considerable weight of public opinion and written objections they received from residents in The Ferry during their consultation. This is particularly hard to palate since the Commission received more almost a thousand written objections from Broughty Ferry electors than from the whole of the remainder of Scotland combined. 

Even more disappointing are the comments that the Commissioners made in their report:
"we do not feel residents concern about the impact of changes to ward boundaries were supported by the evidence."
This is particularly galling since the commission have a duty to take into consideration, 'local ties'.

Furthermore, their point that the lack of objections to the changes to the boundaries of Ward 8 The Ferry from residents living in other parts of the city where ward boundaries remained largely unaltered provided some kind of evidence of support for the Council's proposals is clearly nonsense. I think folk in the West End were just relieved that the focus of the proposed local changes was at the other side of the city.

This matter, however, is not closed because the Boundary Commissioner's report is a merely a set of recommendations to Scottish Government Ministers.  One of these Ministers is the Dundee East MSP Shona Robison.

I now call upon on her to show her support for her constituents and reject the proposals for Dundee and support the status quo in relation to the number of Councillors and the existing ward boundaries in the City.

I also urge my constituents affected by this proposal to Shona Robison MSP to pass on their viewpoints.

Read or download the Report form the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland about their proposals for Dundee City including Ward 8 The Ferry 

A Fair Way to Go: Report of the Dundee Fairness Commission Published May 2016

The Dundee Fairness Commission's report "A Fair Way To Go" was launched on the 20th May 2016. 

It brings together the work of the Fairness Commission during the past year and sets out a series of 56 recommendations to help tackle poverty and deprivation across Dundee.

I think that the Fairness Commission has helped to uncover and highlight uncovered the extent to which the experience of day to day life in Dundee
is profoundly unfair for too many of our citizens. 

The challenge ahead, as the Council and other partner orgnisations repond to our report, will be to carry on the conversations with individuals with personal experiences of struggling with inequalities. Not only will this ensure that our recommendations are not just shelved but also that, we can respect the principle of “nothing about us
without us”. I believe, these processes should help to turn the Commission’s recommendations into meaningful changes in policy and practice that will genuinely help to enhance fairness in our city.

Link to "A Fair Way to Go: Report of the Dundee Fairness Commission" May 2016

Link to my posting about my appointment to the Dundee Fairness Commission in May 2015 

New 33 Period Week Timetable for Dundee Secondary Schools Beginning Tuesday 31 May 2016

Parents, carers and pupils are reminded that the new 33 period weekly timetable begins with effect from Tuesday 31 May 2016 in the following Dundee Secondary Schools:St John's RC High School, Baldragon Academy, Morgan Academy, Braeview Academy, Craigie High School and Grove Academy. 

I am informed that Menzieshill High School and Harris Academy will not be running a 33 period week until August and that St Paul's Academy will be running with one or two small modifications to the new timetable (see above) between now and August for transport purposes.

If in doubt, I recommend that parents and carers check with these schools for the details of the specific arrangements that will apply.

The new School Day for the six secondary schools making the change immediately begins Monday to Friday at 08:45. 

School ends at 15:40 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

On Thursday and Friday school ends at 14:50

Lunch times are also staggered.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday lunch will run 13:10-14:00. 
On Thursday and Friday the lunch break will be 12:20-13:10.

Consultation on Stannergate to Broughty Ferry Harbour Coastal Protection Measures Wed 1st June 10:00 - 20:00

Click on map to enlarge

A drop-in consultation about the proposed coastal protection measures between the Stannergate and Broughty Ferry harbour has been scheduled between 10am and 8pm on Wednesday 1st June 2016 at Broughty Castle Bowling Club, 439 King Street, Broughty Ferry DD5 2HA 

You and your friends and neighbours may want to take advantage of the opportunity to see the proposals at the drop-in exhibition and make up your minds how you wish to respond to the Council's enhanced sea defences.

The need for raised coastal defences follow the publication by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) of  enhanced definition maps of flood risks in Scotland.

These maps show that both banks of the Tay estuary are rated as 'high risk' for potential coastal flooding as is the Dighty as it flows through the Ferry Ward.

Residents who live in Fisher Street and Beach Crescent have already had water lapping almost to the top of the rows of sandbags last year. The residents of Balmossie Mill in Panmurefield know to their cost the threat that the Dighty in spate can pose to their homes.

Click on this link to go to the online flood maps.

Council Recommends 44% Cut in the Places and £370,000 Savings in Support to Young People Disengaged from Full-Time Secondary School

Castlepark Centre in Dundee
Identified for Closure

On Monday the council published their report following their consultation on the proposed merger and downsizing of the Balerno, Connect Five and Castle Park Education Centres in Dundee. 

These three centres work with S1-4 pupils with complex 'social, emotional and behavioural' needs who have disengaged from full-time mainstream education. One of the main aims of the service is to provide support to maintain these young people within the city.

This report concludes that the Council should merge these three centres into one and places reduced by 44%. £510,000 savings should be taken from the work of these pupils and only £140,000 of the 'savings' reinvested in our secondary schools.

I have never been against the idea of finding better premises for these Education Centres two of which are based in buildings previously identified for closure. It is also clearly constructive to review how support for these troubled young people might be improved. Despite all the warm words in the Council's Report, it is difficult to believe that support for these pupils and their schools will be improved if overall resources are so drastically reduced. Most of the saving is coming from reductions in the highly skilled staff who currently work in these three Education Centres. Putting the job of working with these pupils back with our secondary schools is hardly a recipe for success. I am worried that if the resources of our existing secondary school staff are reprioritised for those disengaged from school, other secondary pupils will miss out on their entitlement to support for learning and guidance.

While the Executive Director of Children and Families' Service has provided more elaboration of how he thinks this will work, there are still many questions to be answered.

The Education Convener, Councillor Stewart Hunter, needs to tell us why he supports the reduction in cash for some of the most vulnerable young people in our city?

This is another example of how services for children's services in Dundee are being reduced by cuts passed on by the Holyrood Government; another short term cut which will cause long term damage.

Read or Download the Consultation Report

Education | Kezia Dugdale

Ahead of the elections to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 5 May, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Kezia Dugdale, responds to the question: 

"What would you do to improve education?". 

In 30 seconds Kezia provides an overview of Scottish Labour's priorities for education and the public funding to support these.

Read Scottish Labour's Manifesto for Education 2016