Countdown to Christmas Lights Night in Broughty Ferry Thursday 24 November 2016

Free Fireworks Displays in Dundee Tonight - Saturday 5 November 2016 - Lochee Park and Baxter Park

Free Fireworks Displays in Dundee - Saturday 5 November 2016

Lochee Park and Baxter Park Dundee

6.00pm - Tay FM Roadshow

6.15pm - Lighting of The Bonfire

7.00pm - Fireworks Display

7.25pm - End

In the interests of public safety, please DO NOT bring fireworks, sparklers or Chinese lanterns to the displays.

Please note: there is no parking on site at Baxter Park and Lochee Park. Please use public transport or walk.

School Capacity Issues in Dundee Raised in Children & Families Service Estate Review 2016

On Monday night, I spoke at the Children & Families' Service Meeting item 3 'Review of the Service Estatae.'

"Convener, there a number of very positive features in the Children and Families’ Service Estate Review which we are considering tonight.    In particular, I would like to commend the Executive Director for including the section in the Report on the safety of our school buildings and the regular inspection of these by the City Engineers’ Department.   You will recall that this was something that I brought to this Committee’s attention at a previous meeting when I brought forward in a Motion on this specific issue.

It is also positive that many of the schools that are in 'C' condition “showing major defects and/or not operating adequately” are either part of a planned programme for up-grading or new facilities soon to be available.

There are, however, a number of issues which I want to raise tonight and in the spirit of being committed to continuous improvement, I hope the Committee would want to support the matters I raise which are part of my Motion.

Firstly, in relation to school capacity, I think the figures especially for secondary schools in paragraph 5.5 are rather misleading.

As you are aware, Convener, saying that there are spare places in a school because the total number of pupils is less than the total capacity of the school doesn’t take us very far.

I think it would be fair to say that every one of our secondary schools including Harris Academy which in this Report is detailed as running over capacity, all of these schools may have places in S5 and S6.   This is because it is beyond the minimum school leaving age and not everyone of our secondary pupils stays on for S5 and S6. The fact that a place is available in a school in S5 and S6 is no help to the parent or carer that wants to secure a place for their child into S1.

My Motion has requested that this Committee receives a follow up Report which elaborates the year by year S1 to S6 spare capacity in each of our Secondary Schools.   I think that will give us a clearer picture of how much spare capacity we really have to cope with the predicted rise in the City’s population over the next 10 to 20 years.

Secondly, while this Report provides information about the quality of the Council’s nursery school buildings, it does not provide any statistics or any figures about pre-school pupil numbers and the capacity for the Council’s nursery pre school sector.

I think this Committee needs this information bearing in mind the reference in the Report to the commitment of the Scottish Government to almost double the entitlement hours for 3 and 4 year olds in Scotland to pre school education and care.   Clearly it is important to know what capacity we already have for such a major expansion in Education provision in our City.

I think therefore it’s perfectly reasonable to request that future Reports from Children and Families’ Service on the Estate include the additional statistical data on pre-school provision that my Motion calls for.

Convener, I therefore move my Amendment and hope you and colleagues on the Committee would support these two measures which I have proposed."

Commenting on Tree Felling at Criagowan, Corner of Camphill Road and Whinny Brae Broughty Ferry

On Monday morning I was contacted by a constituent who lives in Rowanbank Gardens. He was very concerned about whether the felling of trees in the garden ground of Craigowan adjacent to his home and wanted to know whether this was incordance with the planning permission for the site. 

Following this phone call, I contacted the Council's Duty Planning Officer and urged an immediate site visit. The Council Officer who deals with Tree Preservation Orders and trees in Conservation Areas visited the site on Monday afternoon and spoke directly with the contractors. 

On the basis of his brefings to me, there are three trees to be retained at Craigowan: 1 lime, 1 beech and 1 holly tree. As part of the planning conditions, twelve trees will be planted on the bank close to the boundary with the properties in Rowanbank Gardens. It was therefore clarified that the trees that were being cut down on Monday were neither protected by tree preservation orders nor planning conditions. For the avoidance of doubt, I have asked Council Officer to provide the consitituent concerned and me with a plan that clearly indicates the location of the three trees that are to be retained.

While this was not the outcome that my constituent wanted, at least his intervention has helped to clarify the number of trees protected by planning decisions on this development. 

I hope that the envirnomnental works in the gardens will be swiftly followed up with work on this iconic property. I know many residents in the area have been concerned that it has lain empty and neglected for many years.

One Day Closure of Brook Street at Junction with Church Street Sun 6 November 2016 for Scottish Water Repairs

PUBLIC NOTICE

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 Scottish Water manhole repair works being

carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Brook Street (at its junction with Church Street), Broughty Ferry.

This notice comes into effect on Sunday 6 November 2016 for 1 day.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Westfield Road / King Street / Brown Street.

For further information contact (01382) 433082.
Mike P Galloway Executive Director of City Development Dundee City Council

Car Crash in Dundee Road Demolishes Street Light and Damages Parked Vehicle

Early yesterday evening, while I was attending a series of Council meetings, the tranquility of the neighbourhood was disturbed by a road traffic accident in Dundee Road.

My wife Rowena reported to me that the vehicle involved demolished a street light and extensively damaged a red Golf saloon car parked beside the road. The car that crashed appeared to have been written off. 

Emergency services attended and there was a short power cut. Power was restored after the damaged street light was disconected and removed. Luckily no one was injured in the accident. Thanks to Rowena for the photographs.

Screening of I Daniel Blake at DCA Cinema This Week - Free Entry for Unwaged Wednesday 2 November 2016

I Daniel Blake. Winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival is screening all this week and most of next at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA). 

Veteran director Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake proves that he has lost none of his touch. This is an important, relevant, moving film about the way ordinary people are being treated by the bureaucracy of our modern welfare state. The film script was partly based on interviews with claimants in Dundee who had been on the end of sanctions.

On Wed 2 November 2016 all screenings of I, Daniel Blake will be free for unwaged customers at DCA - please bring a form of jobseeker or Employment & Support Allowance documentation to claim your free ticket. Their regular discount for unwaged visitors applies to the rest of the film's run until Thursday 10 November.

http://www.dca.org.uk/whats-on/event/i-daniel-blake

Implications of Recommendations of Independent Inquiry into the Death of Cults Academy Pupil Bailey Gwynne

The Report of the Independent Inquiry into the death of the senior pupil of Cults Academy in Aberdeen City, Bailey Gwynne, was launched on 11 October. The report made 21 recommendations.

Unfortunately, after the publication of the report, one recommendation dominated the news, "The Scottish Government should improve the resilience of schools to the threat posed by weapons and give consideration to amending the law in relation to searching pupils." I was contacted by the press about whether I was in favour of this or not.

Having read about this tragic case, I am convinced that the real challenge for our schools and pupils is how we develop pupil - teacher relationships that enable pupils to reveal to teachers that a pupil at school is carrying an offensive weapon. In the case of the pupil who stabbed and killed Bailey Gwynne, the Inquiry learned that he was known by several pupils to have had a knife on his person at school on numerous occasions, including the day of his altercation with Bailey Gwynne. This, I recognise, means overcoming pupil fears about being labelled as 'clypes'.

This is a copy of my response to the press:

"Labour's Education Spokesperson in Dundee said:

I am sure that our Executive Director of Family and Children's Service, Michael Wood, will be coming forward with a report to Committee. I should expect that this will provide a comprehensive response to the recommendations from Andrew Lowe's report which map how best we can respond in Dundee to try to prevent such a fatality in our schools. The inquiry report's recommendation about enhancing the right of senior teachers to search a pupil is clearly marked for the attention of the Scottish Government and is for the future.

I note that the inquiry reported that the death of schoolboy Bailey Gwynne might have been avoided if those who knew his killer carried weapons had reported it to school staff. This suggests to me that we shall need to consider how effectively our schools are promoting an ethos of openness to communication between pupils and teachers to support such disclosures."

More recently, the Director of Children and Families' Service, Michael Wood, has confirmed that after liaison with staff and trade unions, he will indeed be reporting to the Children and Families' Service Committee with recommendations about how we should respond to this tragedy in our schools here in Dundee.

Putting Bus Passengers First

This past week marked 30 years since the Thatcher government deregulated the bus industry.

Passenger numbers are now at a record low and the SNP won’t do what it takes to halt the decline and put passengers first.

It is too easy for bus companies to walk away from communities with little or no consultation, as we have seen in Glasgow, Fife and many other parts of the country. Lothian Buses, one of the few remaining publicly-owned bus operators, bucks the trend because it puts passengers before profit.

In an article for STV News, Neil Bibby MSP sets out the arguments for bus regulation, shifting the balance from the owners of the big bus companies to passengers and giving communities more public control over buses in their area.

Scottish Labour's campaign for meaningful regulation of bus services is gathering momentum and you can be a part of it. Sign and share our online petition, calling for bus regulation, here and together let’s put passengers first.

Read Neil Bibby's Detailed Report- Profits before passengers: How the SNP missed the bus on public transport

Dundee Fireworks Displays and Bonfires Saturday 5 November 2016 Baxter Park and Lochee Park

Free Fireworks Displays in Dundee - Saturday 5 November 2016

Lochee Park and Baxter Park, Dundee

6.00pm - Tay FM Roadshow

6.15pm - Lighting of The Bonfire

7.00pm - Fireworks Display

7.25pm - End

In the interests of public safety, please DO NOT bring fireworks, sparklers or Chinese lanterns to the displays.

Please note: there is no parking on site at Baxter Park and Lochee Park. Please use public transport or walk.

What's your Favourite Scottish Place?

Share your favourite Scottish places on the MyScottishPlace social media wall over the next few weeks – it’s a key part of the 2016 Festival of Architcture’s community engagement programme and can be accessed both via www.myscottishplace.com and via the homepage on www.foa2016.com

They’re keen for as many people as possible to tell them about their very own Scottish Place – it could be your home, your street, town or city – in essence your favourite places and spaces. Architecture is all around us, so everything counts! To share you need to use the hashtags below to get picked up onto the social media wall:

#MyFavouriteScottishPlaces – for your favourite local places
#LostScottishPlaces – abandoned areas of potential
#HiddenScottishPlaces – hidden and exciting places off the beaten track that only a local would know
#FutureScottishPlaces – how to improve your future environment

You can post via twitter, youtube, instagram as often as you like between now and the Festival finale on 18th November 2016, and you can share your thoughts, drawings, photos or videos!

Forthcoming Temporary Road Closure of Whinnybrae Broughty Ferry from Monday 31 October 2016

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 carriageway resurfacing works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Whinnybrae (from Monifieth Road  to Rowanbank Gardens),Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 31st October 2016 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Monifieth Road/Rowanbank Gardens and reverse.

For further information contact (01382) 433168.

Mike P Galloway
Director of City Development
Dundee City Council

Dundee Bus Users Consultation Meeting Monday 31 October 2016

A meeting has been arranged on Monday 31st October at 12.30pm in the Ashton Hall (Caird Hall) City Square, Dundee to discuss bus users views on the recent changes to bus timetables and routes in the city. 

The meeting will be chaired by the Bus Users Scotland Network and attended by Elsie Turbine (Director) of National Express Dundee/ Explore and Andrew Jarvis (Director) of Stagecoach. John Berry, Transport Officer with Dundee City Council and elected members will also be in attendance.  

Changes are affecting a lot of people, especially older people across Dundee. While the most affected areas appear to be Woodside, Clepington Road, Coldside and Mill O Mains I know there are also issues for bus users in The Ferry.

This meeting follows a successful meeting two weeks ago, where 80 members of the public, most of whom were elderly, attended to have their say. 

Please attend the meeting on Monday 31st October to put your views across on what the changes in service routes and timetables mean for you.

Commenting on Future Targeted Cash for Dundee Schools

 

Last week there were reports attributed to the Scottish Government that extra cash generated by an increase in the Council Tax for householders with properties in the top three council tax bands would be distributed directly to schools. This would be awarded per pupil of parents or carers on low incomes. This is my press response:

"I am cautious about giving this proposed extra cash for schools an unqualified welcome. Whoever made this announcement is getting ahead of themselves. Before any of this extra cash can be distributed to schools, it has to collected in the Council Tax for the next financial year beginning in April 2017. The details of the scheme are also very sketchy. For example, what is the per pupil premium amount? £300, £750? Over how many years might this extra cash be available for schools to spend? 

While extra cash from one Scottish Government hand is welcome, it may be more than wiped out by another reduction in the Council's block grant from another hand of the Scottish Government. This latter funding will not be revealed until December and might not be agreed in the Scottish Parliament until January 2017 and it is this cash that will continue to fund the greatest share of the expenditure in our schools. 

I think most parents and carers want reassurance from the SNP Administration of the Council that the overall cash for their children's education in our city schools will not be cut again in 2016-17."

Crude: An Exploration of Oil -Performances in Dundee until Sunday 23 October 2016

Crude: An Exploration Of Oil

Performances in Dundee 

Sat 8 October - Sun 23 October 2016

A new play from Scotland’s site-specific theatre specialists Grid Iron which investigates the most controversial industry in Scotland – oil. 

Focusing on the lives of offshore workers and the choices they make to work on the industrial islands of the North Sea, Crude also travels to the Niger Delta and the Arctic Circle to look at the global impact of oil production and its human and ecological cost. 

Crude traces not only the history of oil but also our huge, addicted reliance on the by-products of black gold:  our cars, our aeroplanes, our plastics that surround and almost literally wrap everything we do. 

Crude:  an exploration of oil.  Rooted in the local.  Encompassing the global.



"Grid Iron is not just a Scottish national treasure but one of the companies that has shaped British theatre over the last 20 years.”

The Guardian 

“We are fortunate in Scotland to have one of the best exponents of the site-specific genre in the world in Grid Iron.” 
The Scotsman

“Grid Iron are surely now one of the most sophisticated site-specific theatre makers in Europe”. 
The Times  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 

There is no pedestrian or individual vehicle access to Port of Dundee. A bus will collect you in the city centre from the Greenmarket carpark (beside Dundee Science Centre/Dundee Contemporary Arts - DD1 4QB).
The bus will depart at 7.40pm (6.30pm on Sundays).
You will be returned to the car park by approx 10pm (8.50pm Sundays).
The car park is approx an 8 minute walk from the train station. Parking is free after 6pm.

DISABLED ACCESS INFORMATION: contact the box office for details. 

THE SHED WILL BE COLD. PLEASE WRAP UP WARM! 

NO PERSONS UNDER AGE 16 ARE PERMITTED WITHIN THE PORT

ALL  AUDIENCE MEMBERS  MUST  BRING  PHOTOGRAPHIC  ID  TO  GAIN  ENTRY  TO  THE  PORT  (PASSPORT  OR  DRIVING LICENCE) 

AT CHECKOUT YOU WILL BE ASKED FOR FULL NAMES OF EVERYONE IN YOUR PARTY. PORT SECURITY WILL NOT ALLOW ACCESS TO ANYBODY WHO HAS NOT REGISTERED


TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION IN ADVANCE FROM DUNDEE REP BOX OFFICE OR ON THE NIGHT FROM THE BUS DEPARTURE POINT (from 15 mins before departure).