Archive for Council Group

Ferry’s Role in City’s Tourism Action Plan Welcomed

May 3, 2013 Council Group, The Ferry No comments

Ferry Ward Councillor Kevin Cordell has welcomed a new Tourism Action Plan for Dundee which recognises the unique role that Broughty Ferry plays within the city.

Agreed at a meeting of the Council’s City Development Committee [on Monday 22 April] the plan has been developed to increase Council activity in relation to visitors/tourists and maximise the opportunities which the tourist sector now offers the city as the new season gets under way.

Kevin Cordell said:  “Dundee has some key tourist locations which could be packaged as visitor attractions in their own right – examples of this would include Broughty Ferry – a tourist ‘hot-spot’.

“These are exciting times for the city and I particularly welcome the references to Broughty Ferry’s key role.

“The V&A and waterfront developments will bring a lot more people to our city and Broughty Ferry is almost unique in the range of attractions and services it offers in its own right but which will also complement existing attractions.

“Dundee City Council will continue to work with partners throughout the city and various community groups in Broughty Ferry will be consulted on any strategy that emerges.

“For example, community groups such as Broughty Ferry Community Council, Broughty Ferry Traders Association, Broughty Ferry Development Trust and Broughty in Bloom as just some of those organisations whose insight will be invaluable.

“Broughty Ferry is well served by many local volunteer group whose input is very welcome and I was delighted to hear from Dundee City Council’s Director of Economic Development that their voices would be heard.

I look forward to working alongside these and other community groups as the plan develops.”

Ferry Ward Councillor Welcomes Gardening Leave Initiative

May 3, 2013 Council Group, The Ferry No comments

Ferry Ward Councillor Kevin Cordell has welcomed the news that Dundee City Council is actively assisting the Veteran’s Charity “Gardening Leave” in their attempts to secure a walled garden in order to develop horticultural therapy.

The move, agreed at a recent meeting of the Council’s City Development Committee, will directly benefit a number of veterans in Dundee, already identified by the charity.

Councillor Cordell, who is also Dundee City Council’s Highland Forces & Cadet Association representative, said:

“There are many veterans resident in my own Ferry ward, whether in the veterans’ housing in the Barnhill area or at Rosendael and I know the great value they put on their own gardens and the sense of well being and tranquillity they can bring.

Many of Gardening Leave’s clients may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the privacy and security which walled or enclosed gardens provide is an ideal environment for this type of therapy.”

Gardening Leave require that the site is an enclosed garden which is easily accessible by public transport. The site should be private but with access to more public areas, enabling interaction with the wider community. There is also a need for an indoor area with catering facilities for project participants.

Cllr Cordell continued:

“I believe there may be areas of Broughty Ferry which satisfies many of the criteria that Gardening Leave has stipulated and I have been in discussions with the relevant officers and I hope a solution can be found to assist this most worthy of causes.”

Dundee City Council‘s support for the Armed Forces Community Covenant which was approved in March 2012 commits the Council to promote the take-up of services such as access to leisure facilities and health & social care services, including mental health support, to armed forces personnel and veterans.

For many the transition back to civilian life can be a difficult one and charity initiatives such as this one can be of great benefit.

Unexpected Cash Boost to Dundee Yes Campaign

April 9, 2013 Council Group No comments
Cllr Willie Sawers, Tom Black, Cllr Craig Melville

Cllr Willie Sawers, Tom Black, Cllr Craig Melville

Dundee’s Yes campaign was boosted today by a £505 donation from Dundee man Tom Black.

The unexpected donation by Mr Black, who is not a member of the SNP although a long-time supporter of Independence, was gratefully received by SNP Councillors Willie Sawers and Craig Melville, who will pass it over to the Yes campaign.

Mr Black’s move was prompted by reading in a daily tabloid newspaper of the £501 donation made by Sir Alex Ferguson to the No campaign.

Mr Black, who lives in Lawside Road, said: “I was surprised because Mr Ferguson is a millionaire and I am not, but I thought I can top that! The referendum is just so important and I probably won’t get another chance to make a contribution towards Scotland getting back her independence. If we don’t do it this time, Scotland will be ignored for at least 20 years.”

Accepting the donation, Willie Sawers said: “This was a magnificent gesture by Mr Black. It underlines the determination of ordinary Scots to do their bit towards winning a Yes vote in September 2014.”

Dundee MSPs and Scottish Housing & Welfare Minister at ‘Bedroom Tax’ Advice Event

April 2, 2013 Council Group, Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments
Before the meeting, L-R: Cllr John Alexander, Shona, Margaret Burgess, Joe, Cllr Kevin Cordell (Depute Housing Convenor), front - Ginny Lawson, Money Advice, Brooksbank Centre.

L-R: Cllr John Alexander, Shona, Margaret Burgess, Joe, Cllr Kevin Cordell (Depute Housing Convenor) front – Ginny Lawson, Money Advice, Brooksbank Centre.

Dundee’s constituency MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick invited the Scottish Government’s Housing & Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess to a discussion event on the bedroom tax with workers and volunteers from the advice and support sector.

The event, which took place today [2nd April], in the Brooksbank Centre, was well-attended by those in the front-line of services in the voluntary sector, the local authority and housing associations in the city.

Before her election as an MSP Ms Burgess was the Manager of a Citizens’ Advice Bureau, and briefed the audience on ongoing discussion with the UK Government on the welfare reforms.

She said the UK Government has promised to review the impact of the bedroom tax after three months and Ms Burgess said that the Scottish Government planned to gather case studies and evidence of the social dislocation it is expected to cause in a further attempt to persuade the UK Government to have the tax scrapped.

An independent Scotland governed by the SNP, she said, would have the full powers needed to create a fairer social welfare system more suited to the needs of a population of 5.5 million. The SNP has already committed to repeal the bedroom tax as part of its welfare policy if elected to govern Scotland after a Yes vote.

Dundee City Council has led the way in protecting tenants from the UK Government’s welfare reforms by approving a policy which specifically rules out eviction for bedroom tax arrears where the tenant has made reasonable efforts to pay their rent despite reductions in housing benefits.

Speaking at the event, Cllr John Alexander, Dundee City Council’s Housing Convenor, promised the Council would listen to suggestions from those affected by the welfare changes and those working with tenants and social landlords to ensure that the Council was doing all it can to help people.

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “We oppose this unfair tax and will work with Dundee City Council and the Scottish Government to do our best to mitigate its effects.”

Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee City East said: “The Scottish Government is working hard to help mitigate the impact of the bedroom tax.

“Estimates by the Scottish Poverty Forum put the total losses to Dundee of the UK Government’s welfare reforms at a staggering £71 million over 2010-2015.

“The total figure for Scotland is around £4.5 billion. That’s money lost to the income of ordinary people in Scotland.”

The city MSPs had organised special one-to-one surgeries for constituents affected by the bedroom tax and these had been heavily over-subscribed so that further bedroom-tax surgeries are planned in the near-future.

PICTURE: Before the meeting, L-R: Cllr John Alexander, Shona, Margaret Burgess, Joe, Cllr Kevin Cordell (Depute Housing Convenor) front – Ginny Lawson, Money Advice, Brooksbank Centre.

Bedroom Tax ‘No April Fool’ Say Dundee MSPs

April 1, 2013 Council Group, Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments

Dundee’s constituency MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick have set-up an advice surgery at the Brooksbank Centre tomorrow [Tuesday 2nd April] to offer advice and support to those affected by the ‘Bedroom Tax’ — and many of the appointments have already been taken up.

 

Earlier in the day, the Scottish Government’s Housing Minister Margaret Burgess will be in Dundee to attend a meeting organised by Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick to brief the city’s advice sector on the impact of the bedroom tax and the UK Government’s welfare reforms.

 

Before her election as an MSP Ms Burgess was the Manager of a CAB, and while in the city, the Minister will also meet with local politicians and councillors.

 

Dundee City Council has led the way in protecting tenants from the UK Government’s welfare reforms by approving a policy which specifically rules out eviction for bedroom tax arrears where the tenant has made reasonable efforts to pay their rent despite reductions in housing benefits.

 

Dundee Labour Councillors voted against the policy and Labour Councils have refused to give any commitment against the use of eviction for bedroom tax arrears. At Westminster, Labour has made it plain they will not scrap the bedroom tax.

 

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “We are still calling on the UK Government to see sense and axe the bedroom tax which may have come into operation on 1st April but will be no April Fool’s joke and will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in our society and penalise many households through no fault of their own.

 

“Those households deemed by the UK Government to have one extra bedroom will have their housing benefit cut by 14% and those with two or more ‘extra’ bedrooms will incur a 25% cut.

 

“When the UK Government’s 1% cap on the annual increase in benefits and rising household bills are both taken into account, it is clear that the Bedroom Tax will cause real hardship for those families affected by it. The risk is that households will be unable to make up their rent payments and will accrue greater and greater rent arrears, and be forced deeper into debt.”

 

Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee City East said: “The Scottish Government has announced measures to help mitigate the impact of the UK Government’s damaging welfare reforms, topping up with £9 million the Social fund which will now be administered by Scotland’s local councils.

 

“Estimates by the Scottish Poverty Forum put the total losses to Dundee of the UK Government’s welfare reforms at a staggering £71 million over 2010-2015.

 

“The total figure for Scotland is around £4.5 billion. That’s money lost to the income of ordinary people in Scotland.

 

“At the moment, Scotland’s welfare system is still controlled from London by the Westminster Government.

 

“Next year in the 2014 referendum on independence, the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to choose a different path from Westminster’s relentless cuts agenda and its attacks on the most vulnerable in society.

 

“We will be using the results of our survey to keep up the pressure on the UK Government to axe this discriminatory tax.”

 

 

Cllr John Alexander, Dundee City Council’s Housing Convenor said: “Dundee City Council has estimated that over 3,300 households in the city will be affected with the total cost for tenants alone amounting to £2.1 million a year. 583 of those households will be hit by the larger cut of 25%, which will amount to an annual cost to them of £1,044 per year, or £20.07 per week.

 

“As well as our commitment on non-eviction, the Council has been writing out to tenants who will be affected and visiting them to explain what the Bedroom Tax will mean to them and to ensure that they are aware of the help that is available.

 

“We will make it easier for Council tenants to move to smaller properties, should they wish to do so and where these exist. We have changed our Allocations Policy so that those being penalised by the Bedroom Tax and who want to downsize are given extra points to help improve their prospects.”

An Dundee online survey and doorstep campaign on the issue organised by the SNP have been strongly supported in the city.

‘No Other Council Has Done More To Save Remploy Jobs’

March 26, 2013 Council Group, Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments

Dundee City Council’s cross-party working group which has been battling to find ways to save the city’s Remploy factory has now agreed that it cannot mount a viable bid for the factory.

The factory which employs 43 workers is one of 36 earmarked for closure by the UK Government as ‘not commercially viable’.

Lord Provost Bob Duncan, who chairs the working group, said: “The short timescale since the announcement of closure, the delay in allowing us access to the electronic data room and the limited information made available from Remploy has frustrated us at every turn.

“From the partial information we were able to get it became clear that it is impossible to separate the costs of the Dundee, Stirling and Clydebank factories as individual operations.

“There was simply no way of finding out where costs and income actually lie so that intelligent decisions about the future could be made. Our best estimate is that the factory loses £1 million a year and has been doing so for several years.

“There is simply too much risk of committing the council, or any social enterprise it might support, to unknown liabilities.”

Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “It is hugely disappointing that it has not been possible for the working group to pull together a viable bid to save the Remploy factory as a unit.

“Everyone at the meeting agreed that the most important focus now is on finding employment opportunities for the workforce as quickly as possible.

“The Council has already had positive engagement with social enterprise and private companies and it has been agreed that the Working Group will continue to meet to ensure that our efforts are firmly focussed on achieving the best outcome for the individuals at Remploy who have been badly let-down by the UK Government.

Shona Robison, Dundee City East said: “Dundee City Council have worked very hard indeed to try and help find a viable  future for the Remploy workforce.

“No other council has done more to save jobs at Remploy factories.

“This has been in spite of the process being made very difficult by the UK Government and Remploy senior management. Every avenue has been explored but sadly it is an impossible task to find a sustainable future for the factory in its current form.

“I am confident that Social Enterprises in Dundee can rise to the occasion by coming forward to offer solutions to help many of the Remploy workforce find a new more secure future.

“All members of the Working Group must continue to focus our efforts on doing what we can to secure jobs for the Remploy workers.”

Independence Referendum Date Announced

March 21, 2013 Council Group, Ian Hudghton MEP, Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP, Stewart Hosie MP No comments

18092014lineupSupporters of Yes Scotland were out in Dundee city centre today at 3pm, despite freezing cold and a shower of hail, to celebrate the announcement by the First Minister Alex Salmond of the date of the Referendum, collecting signatures on Yes pledge cards, handing out leaflets and holding up placards with the date of the referendum which is now set for Thursday 18 September 2014.

SNP Council’s “Progressive” Commitment Over ‘Bedroom Tax’

March 14, 2013 Council Group No comments

SNP controlled Dundee City Council is believed to be the first Council in the UK to give a commitment not to use evictions against tenants who have fallen into arrears over the new Under Occupancy Tax – the ‘bedroom tax’ – and their initiative has been praised by campaigners as “progressive”.

The Council agreed to a motion moved by SNP Councillor Jimmy Black – which was passed despite the opposition of 10 Labour councillors, the Conservative, the Lib Dem and an Independent Councillor.

The full motion was moved at the Housing Committee meeting on Monday 11th March and reiterates the SNP Council’s view that the bedroom tax is “regressive, retrograde and inhumane” and “recognises and applauds the efforts of the Scottish Government to protect people from the worst excesses of the Westminster Government.”

Jimmy Black’s motion, seconded by Councillor Kevin Cordell, also reiterated the Council’s call for control of the Welfare system to be devolved to Scotland and for the UK Government not to introduce the new tax, which the SNP believes will lead to increased rent arrears.

Councillor Black said: “Dundee City Council has already given extra priority for housing transfers to tenants who are “under occupying” and has introduced a scheme to help tenants with the costs associated with moving house.

“The Council’s commitment is for a transitional period of one year, where the Director of Housing is satisfied that tenants who are subject to the under occupancy charges are doing all they can to avoid falling into arrears, it will use all legitimate means to collect rent due, except eviction.”

Commenting on the Council’s position, Mike Dailly of Govan Law Centre, who has campaigned actively against the new tax, said; “the bottom line here is a council that is making a commitment which no-one can deny is progressive, and a big step in the right direction.”

Stop Loan Sharks Campaign Launched in Dundee

March 7, 2013 Council Group, Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

loan shark campaignDundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today attended the launch of a COSLA campaign to encourage Scots to report loan sharks operating in their local communities.

 

The STOP LOAN SHARKS campaign was launched by COSLA’s Consumer Protection Task Force and supported by John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth who attended the event.

 

Dundee City Council which has been prominent in action against loan sharks and payday loans companies was well represented, with Cllr Jimmy Black, a member of the COSLA Consumer Protection Task Force, Council Leader Ken Guild, Cllr Craig Melville, Convenor of the Environment Department which includes trading standards, and Lord Provost Bob Duncan and the event was held in the Dundee premises of Discovery Credit Union.

 

Commenting, Joe said: “Loan sharks can cause havoc to individuals who become victims drowning in a sea of debt. What they do is illegal and some use violence or force their ‘clients’ to grow or traffic drugs to pay off their debt.

 

“It is important that we get information about loan sharks and the best placed people are the victims, friends and families to ensure that illegal money lenders can be stopped.

 

“With changes being made to welfare benefits, more and more people may be tempted to turn to these illegal money lenders. It would be much better if they contacted their local credit unions or other avenues where money advice is available to help them with their budget or debt issues.

 

The number to report a loan shark in confidence, call: 0800 074 0878 or text: 60003.”

 

Welcoming the campaign, John Swinney, said: “Loan sharks blight lives and communities and this campaign makes it clear that their activities have no place in Scotland.

 

“We need people to pass on the information that can help get these illegal money lenders shut down. It is important that people know that they can do this in confidence. I would urge anyone facing financial difficulty to get advice from money advisers before they take on credit.”

 

Ken Guild, Leader of Dundee City Council said: “The financial difficulties many people are experiencing are having a major impact and we need to prevent others from feeling pushed into these illegal loans. That’s why reporting existing illegal loan sharks is so important.

 

“As part of this preventative approach we are pleased to be working with COSLA and Education Scotland to pilot a drama-based financial education lesson plan across Dundee. This will teach children the basics of money management and the dangers of illegal money lending and there are plans to roll it out across Scotland.”

Have Your Say on Whitfield PO Consultation, Say Local Politicians

March 6, 2013 Council Group, North East, Stewart Hosie MP No comments

Stewart&WillieDundee East MP Stewart Hosie and Whitfield Cllr Willie Sawers have responded to the announcement by Post Office Ltd that they are proposing to move the Post Office branch in Whitfield Drive to a new location at The Hawthorns by calling on local residents to let their voices be held on the proposed move.

 

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie said: “The proposal is at present only out for consultation and is subject to the appointment of the new operator, but it is important that local residents and users of post office facilities take part in the consultation.

 

“The public have until 19 April to make their voices heard. If the Post Office get the go-ahead they are planning to make the change within weeks, in May.”

 

Whitfield Councillor Wilie Sawers said: “As local councillor, I am keen that as many local post office users take part in the consultation. Posters and leaflets about it are available in the present PO branch and you can send in your comments and views by posting a response using freepost.”

Picture shows Cllr Sawers and Stewart Hosie in Whitfield in 2010 during building work for Ballumbie PS.

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