On Burns’ Nicht, the Scottish Government launched their consultation on an Independence Referendum – which will be the most important question for the people in Scotland for over 300 years.
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On Friday 29th June Joe and Shona will be ‘captured’ by Action for Children at the HMS Unicorn, Dundee, and won’t be released until they raise our ransom fee! Please help them raise £1000 for Action for Children to secure our release and help children and young people across Scotland achieve their full potential.
Action for Children Scotland supports over 8,000 children, young people and their families at 62 projects across the country. The children and young people they support have hopes and dreams for their future but face daily challenges such as disability, deprivation, homelessness and abuse.
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Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie today [12th May] praised Michelin managment for taking steps to protect jobs at the Dundee plant by announcing a three-week production shutdown.
The MP had received a briefing in advance on the move which he described as “the right thing to do in a downturn”.
The production break had been agreed in consultation with the unions and was widely regarded as protecting the future for the 860 staff at the Dundee plant which includes 140 new employees.
Stewart Hosie said: “Michelin have recognised the downturn in Europe and they are doing what they do very well, managng down production without threatening production or jobs.
“That’s the right thing to do in a downturn, managing stock levels while maintaining jobs and investment at the site.
“The actions they are taking are protecting the long-term presence of Michelin in Dundee.”
Dundee’s constituency MSPs and City Council Leader today [12th May] welcomed an announcement of an additional £9 million of funding for the city’s V&A museum and claimed it was a signiicant milestone in the fudnding of the iconic project.
Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee City East, said: “This funding announcement is a significant milestone in efforts to bring the projects to fruition and I beleive that it will help to attract the private investment we need to complete the capital funding package.
Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “This £9.2 million lottery funding has been awarded because of the high-quality of the project and is a recognition of the value of the architectural significance of V&A Dundee.”
“The Scottish Government has already pledged £15 million, a third of the entire capital funding required and Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced an additional £1.75 million in revenue funding when she visited the city in January.”
SNP Council Leader Ken Guild also welcomed the announcement. Dundee City Council is one of the partners in Design Dundee Ltd., which is managing the project.
Ken Guild said: “The V&A at Dundee is an inspiring initiative which, combined withe the ongoing £1 billion transformation of the waterfront, is helping to move Dundee’s cultural renaissance onto the national stage.
“This investment by the Heritage Lottery Fund is very welcome. It is yet another vote of confidence in this transformational which we, along with our partners in Design Dundee are working very hard to see come to fruition.”
The SNP group on Dundee City Council are to nominate veteran Lochee Councillor Bob Duncan for the post of Lord Provost when the new Council meets on 21 May.
The current Lord Provost, John Letford, who represented Lochee until the recent elections when he stepped down, has served the city as Provost for 11 years.
Commenting, Group Leader ken Guild said: “We will be nominating Bob Duncan for the post of Lord Provost. He’s very well-respected and wel-liked by everyone and I’m sure he will do a splendid job for Dundee.
“John Letford has served the city well and I’m sure that Bob will be every bit as good.”
Dundee’s first SNP-majority Council is set to deliver for the city and live up to its promises of ‘moving Dundee forward’.
The SNP campaign saw all of its 16 candidates elected and became one of two Councils in Scotland with an overall SNP majority (alongside SNP Angus).
Ken Guild, SNP Council Leader said the SNP group was looking forward to what can be achieved over the next five years for Dundee.
Following the election results, the 16 strong SNP Group met to consider the future and Mr Guild was re-elected as Group Leader. Veteran Lochee Councillor Bob Duncan is to be proposed for the position of Lord Provost.
Cllr Guild continued: “We intend to continue Dundee’s forward momentum. We’ve made considerable progress in areas like housing, social work and education and over the next five years we want to drive that forward.
“Our main im is to create prosperity by bringing in more investment. Dundee traditionally has a low-wage economy and we want to bring in the type of industry that will alter that.
“The development at the central waterfront and the port area are part of that. We’re building on our success at attracting the V&A and looking to win support for more jobs ibn the nmanufacturing sector too.
“Education is another key area for us. We intend to build five new primary schools in the city and will push ahead with these plans as well as ushering in the Curriculum for Excellence.
“We have much to do and we are looking forward to getting on with the work.”
First Minister Alex Salmond came to Dundee today [5th May] to congratulate SNP Councillors from Dundee and Angus who had won overal majorities on their Councils. The SNP won the largest share of councillors overall in Scotland, with 424 elected members and, in Dundee, the largest share of first preference votes as well as the majority of seats.
The picture shows Alex Salmond with Dundee and Angus Councillors on top of Dundee Law.
[pic courtesy Alan Richardson]
Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie believes that tax breaks for computer games development will have wider benefits for the rest of Scotland.
The Dundee MP has hailed the Chancellor’s decision to grant tax relief to software companies as boost to the economy.
Stewart Hosie said: My colleagues and I have been pressing for years, along with games body TIGA, for tax relief for games developers and we are certain that this new measure will help to create jobs and promote investment.
“TIGA has played a vital role in making the case over the ast four years.
“The quality of TIGA’s research and its tenacious campaigning have enabled MPs including myself to make the case for a tax relief for the video games industry in Parliament.
“I now hope this new measure will help to create jobs and promote investment in the high-technology Scottish Games Industry.
“TIGA claims that the industry supports in the region of 2000 jobs with around 700 of these in games development and Scotland-wide generates around £30 million in tax revenue. Dundee is a key location for the industry with dozens of companies and we hope this new measure will cobntribute to further success for the sector.”
The First Minister stops to chat to young people in the city centre
The First Minister came to Dundee today on the Council Elections campaign trail and chatted to voters enjoying the sunny ambience of the German market in the city centre.
It is the second visit by the First Minister to Dundee in two weeks as the SNP hope to gain outright control of the Council in Scotland’s fourth city.
Council Leader Ken Guild and other Council candidates and activists were out in force as Mr Salmond shook hands, posed for photographs and kissed babies.
Commenting, Councillor Guild said: “Our campaign is going well in Dundee and our candidates are working hard in every ward across the city to ensure the re-election of an SNP Council so that we can move Dundee forward.
“It is always nice to see the First Minister in Dundee and it indicates how important Dundee is to the SNP that he has visited twice in a fortnight.”
Dundee’s constituency MSPs have today [26th] welcomed the news that Dundee University beat Loughborough, Sheffield, Oxford and Cambridge to the top spot in the Times Higher Education (THE) survey on the quality of the student experience after having come fifth in the UK overall last year.
Joe FitzPatrick, who has tabled a motion at the Scottish Parliament, said: “I welcome the success of Dundee University in the survey, which is really a huge vote of confidence in the institution, the campus and the city too as all these aspects come into the survey.
“Not only do both our universities have world-wide reputations for excellence, students are voting with their feet in coming here.
“They recognise that the Dundee campus offers them the best facilities and the best quality of student life in the UK.”
Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison said: “Both of our universities in Dundee continue to attract students from all over the world which reflects on the standing and the reputation they enjoy in the academic world.
“Both institutions have invested in improving the student facilities and the quality of life which Dundee offers is simply the best in the UK.
As a city we have a high proportion of students, with campus facilities at three leading institutions and therefore student life in Dundee is an exciting, stimulating and vibrant part of the educational experience.
“Our congratulations go to the Principal and staff of the university on winning top spot in this survey.”
Joe FitzPatrick has tabled a motion at the Scottish Parliament (text below).
MOTION
Date of Lodging: 26th April 2012
Short Title: Top Award for University of Dundee
S4M-02711 Joe FitzPatrick (Scottish National Party):
That the parliament congratulates the University of Dundee on being rated as the best in the UK for student experience as surveyed by The Times Higher Education; is pleased that the University of Dundee has been recognised for its commitment to students both academically and in all other areas of student life; further believes that these results are a testament to the redevelopment of much of the University’s main campus over the past 5 years, a result of the Scottish Governments sustained level of funding for Scotland’s institutes of Higher Education; is optimistic that the result in this survey will benefit the University in attracting new students to the city; continues to support the institute in future endeavours to consolidate its reputation not just across the UK, but across the world as an excellent place in which to study; further considers that as Dundee seeks to promote itself as a modern forward looking city, this news is a welcome boost to the whole city.
JIm, Liz, Ken and Andy
Three senior SNP members of Dundee City Council, Liz Fordyce, Jim Barrie and Andy Dawson attended their final Council meeting on Tuesday evening as they are stepping down before May’s election.
Prior to the meeting, the SNP Group held a presentation for the trio with speeches and tributes paid for their endeavours over the years, each being presented with gifts and cards.
Group Leader Ken Guild and colleagues praised the outstanding work of all three who had helped to build the SNP into a strong Administration team to move Dundee forward.
Liz Fordyce, ward member for Maryfield and presently Education Convenor of Dundee City Council, first joined SNP in 1965 on her 21st birthday was elected in 1999 and was appointed Education Convenor in March 2009 when the SNP became the Administration of Dundee City Council.
Speaking of her decision, she said: “I am standing down as a Councillor because I feel the time is right and I am leaving on a positive note.
“I would like to thank the constituents of Baxter Park and Maryfield Wards for allowing me the privilege of serving them, all the Council Officers and in particular those in the Education Department, all the teachers for the sterling work they do, the Schools Music Theatre for brilliant entertainment over the years and my fellow Councillors.
“Since 1999, I have seen many changes in Baxter Park Ward including restoration of Baxter Park and regeneration of Stobswell area – 2001 the Morgan Fire – 2004 highlight was re-opening of Morgan Academy.
“As Education Convener, I have visited every primary and secondary school in Dundee and I have met thousands of very nice pupils: hundreds of inspiring dedicated teachers and support staff.
“I have enjoyed the work and I am confident that I am leaving behind a school estate that is one of the best in Scotland. It does have areas that are poor but this is being addressed with new builds at West End, Whitfield and Balgarthno Road.
“We also have one of the best teacher to pupil ratios in Scotland and since taking over as Convener, I have witnessed attainment improving in our Schools.”
Liz, married for 48 years to Doug, a football referee, has three sons Philip, Christopher and Joseph and a daughter Lisa, also an SNP activist and five grandchildren. Prior to her election, she had been “a weaver, a bookie and a College lecturer.”
Jim Barrie, Convenor of the SNP Group on Dundee City Council and presently serving as Social Work and Health Convenor, was first elected for Logie Ward in a by-election in August 2000 when he ousted Labour. He represented the West End since 2007 and was selected as parliamentary candidate for Dundee West in the General Election of 2010.
Commenting on his decision, Jim said: “As Convenor of the SNP Group and Convenor of Social Work and Health I have enjoyed my 12 years as a Councillor for firstly Logie then the enlarged West End ward, and am sure the City will continue to benefit from an SNP run Council.
“Over the years there have been many successes but in particular I would like to say one of the highlights for me was the opening of Riverside Nature Reserve, something I had strived for over the years and I was delighted that it was during an SNP administration that it finally opened.
“Also, as a former pupil of Harris Academy, the long overdue commitment to rebuild the school, on the Perth Road site, has been accomplished by the SNP, working with our MSP’s and the Scottish Government.
“Harris will be the most modern and state of the art school in the city, along with the nearly finished West End Primary and Nursery School in Blackness Road to replace the outdated Park Place and St.Joseph’s.
“I believe that the SNP has the vision and enthusiasm to continue to move Dundee forward and although I am sad to be leaving, I will continue to be active in my local community and look forward to the West End being represented by Bill Campbell and Vari McDonald.”
Andy Dawson, an SNP veteran and SNP Group Whip who has been involved since the 1970s, is standing down as member for North East Ward.
Andy was first elected in 1999 after taking early retirement from Michelin, he had first become involved in the SNP in the campaigns to elect Gordon Wilson as MP for Dundee East.
Andy, who is married to Helen, has two sons, Will who is SNP Councillor for East End ward and presently Convenor of City Development and Andy (jnr).
Andy said: “I am honoured to have represent the constituents of the North East Ward for 13 years and to take an active part in a number of community organisations in the area.
“I will be sad to step down, which is mainly on doctor’s advice, but I am delighted with the improvements and direction that the Council is taking with the SNP running the Administration.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank all my colleagues and my constituents for their support and for putting their faith in me during the past 13 years.”
The Finance Convenor of Dundee City Council, SNP Councillor Willie Sawers, has welcomed an agreement between the Scottish Government and COSLA that will protect over 20,000 council tax payers in Dundee from the UK Government’s ending of Council Tax Benefit.
News of the agreement follows anxiety that the UK Government’s abolition of Council Tax Benefit in April 2013 and 10% cuts to the successor budget will cause hardship for vulnerable and lower-paid people.
The Scottish Government and COSLA have now agreed to cover the £40 million cost of the cuts in 2013-14, with the Scottish Government providing £23 million and COSLA providing £17 million.
Welcoming the agreement, Councillor Sawers said: “Over 20,000 people in Dundee on the lowest incomes currently receive council tax benefit.
This includes the unemployed, pensioners, those who cannot work because of disability, carers and people who receive tax credits.
“It is great news that the Scottish Government and COSLA have agreed to step in and defend vulnerable people from Tory & Lib Dem Coalition cuts.
“Dundee City Council and the Scottish Government will work together to protect people from the cuts implemented in the UK Government’s Welfare Reform Act and establish a national schedule of reductions to council tax, so that anyone currently receiving council tax benefit will not have to pay more council tax in the next financial year.
“The Scottish Government is looking after household budgets, with a council tax freeze planned till 2016, free prescriptions, concessionary travel, and our abolition of road tolls and tuition fees.
“It is right that we should continue to take action to protect the thousands of pensioners and families who would have been affected by the UK Government’s actions. Only through this decisive action by the Scottish Government and COSLA can vulnerable people in Scottish society be protected.”
