Buses in the West End

I have expressed concern about changes to Dundee bus services operated by Stagecoach Strathtay that came into force today and also regarding forthcoming changes to other bus services operated by National Express Dundee (Travel Dundee).

I have been in correspondence with Stagecoach Strathtay regarding today’s service changes, particularly the withdrawal of the 74 service, which I feel is detrimental to many West End residents.

The 74 service was a highly useful link for many constituents, particular those in the Tullideph/Pentland, City Road, Scott Street, Milnbank Road, Brook Street corridor, providing a link for residents to Ninewells Hospital, the City Centre and Broughty Ferry, and its withdrawal will be a real loss to residents in the area. I have had several other residents express concern at the removal of the 13 service – it is replaced only in part by the 73 and 77 services.

On the removal of Service 74, I raised with the bus company the comments of residents that the service had begun to grow in popularity and with appropriate publicity had real potential for the future.

I do think there is potential in Scott Street and surrounding area – it has seen housing growth in recent years and population increase.

Stagecoach Strathtay’s Operations Manager has responded stating, “It has always been our policy …to listen to our customer concerns regarding the service changes. We will review these changes and make any amendments either based on customer feedback - if we feel we can make these work commercially - or to change something that clearly isn't working.”

I am pleased that the bus company was willing to review its changes but think the loss of the 74 service will leave an unfortunate gap in service for a significant part of the West End.

On the Travel Dundee proposed changes that are due to be implemented on 16th August, I appreciate that some of the changes National Express Dundee have announced appeared positive – for example the timing of the 2S St John’s High School bus has been an issue I have raised with the bus company and am pleased that the bus company is prepared to re-time it to make it fit better with the start of the school day.

However, I have raised with the bus company concerns about the further reduction of the 9X service – the 30 minute part of the service is being reduced to hourly – and the 22 service is being reduced in the evenings from 20 to 30 minutes.

The Managing Director of Travel Dundee has indicated a willingness to meet with me to discuss the upcoming service changes and this meeting is taking place this coming Wednesday. I am anxious to make the case on behalf of my constituents about the 9X and 22 evening services in particular.

Friends of Balgay - Summer Meeting

I had the pleasure of attending the Friends of Balgay summer meeting yesterday at which Jim Crumley, undoubtedly Scotland’s foremost creative nature writer, undertook a illustrative talk around Balgay Hill, on the subject of 'Balgay trees and wildlife'.

It was a glorious afternoon and Jim is both informative and entertaining - here's a photo (above right) from the afternoon.

Meeting with Royal Mail

As reported in today's "Courier" (click on headline above to view), yesterday I met with two senior representatives of Royal Mail, including their Dundee West Sorting Office Manager, to discuss the deluge of complaints I have received over the past two months regarding the quality of mail deliveries across the West End of the City and the wider Dundee West area. The talks were positive and I hope that residents will see improvements to mail deliveries.

This meeting gave me the opportunity to raise the many concerns I have received from residents about detrimental aspects of mail deliveries in the past few months and to specifically go over the problem areas with Royal Mail. The complaints have ranged over a number of aspects of Royal Mail service – late deliveries, lack of prompt deliveries, particular problems with packets and parcels, longer delivery rounds resulting in some mail not being delivered on time and difficulties in getting through to the sorting office on the phone.

I do have to say that the Royal Mail staff did recognise that there have been difficulties but assured me that they are working to ensure improvements. They have assured me that where there are problems with amalgamated delivery rounds and complaints continuing to come in, they will be willing to revise them and we set up direct lines of contact should I continue to receive complaints or concerns from constituents.

With regard to the difficulties of contacting the Sorting Office by phone, I was assured that steps were being taken to ensure that staff were available to answer calls and when this was not possible, an answering machine would be available where residents can leave the details of their enquiry. I hope this will resolve the complaint of people just getting the dialling tone when trying to get through to the Sorting Office.

During the meeting, I went through a list of particular issues in specific streets that have been raised by West End constituents to enable Royal Mail to look into these. Royal Mail is anxious that customers report complaints via their customer service local rate number 08457 740 740 as all complaints are logged and passed on to local staff for attention.

I continue to welcome feedback from constituents as I am keeping a close eye on this matter, given the extent of concerns in recent weeks.

Railway station - plans withheld

I am amazed at the SNP City Council administration's unwillingness to share with the people of Dundee the detailed proposals to upgrade Dundee rail station.

"The Courier" tried to obtain the detailed plans through Freedom of Information legislation but has been refused access - the newspaper is rightly appealing against this ruling.

As I indicated to the Courier, I personally don’t see what the problem is with the Council releasing the full details - the public has the right to see what is planned for the station.

The question must be why the Council seems to be stalling in bringing reports forward to committee. There is an ongoing delay and I have written to the Council's Legal Manager and the Director of City Development expressing my concerns.

The Courier's report can be read by clicking on the headline above.

Wednesday's City Council Meetings

Last night's City Council meetings lasted around two and a half hours and there was a substantial amount of important business discussed, including :

* The HMIE inspection report on child protection services in Dundee and the Council's proposed improvement plan was debated, aimed at swiftly improving services to protect children and young people in the city. The HMIE report is of great concern and, having met with the inspectors earlier yesterday along with other council group leaders and spokespersons, it is clear that the City Council must act promptly and comprehensively to address all issues. At the Policy & Resources Committee, I asked questions of council officers about the sharing of good practice from other local authorities and about securing funding. I also asked the Council Leader to confirm earlier agreement to an all-party meeting with the Minister for Children and Early Years to discuss the funding concerns and received a reluctant and fairly non-commital response. Scottish Government is under-funding children's services - that is clear and obvious and the matter must be discussed with Ministers.

I was supportive of the improvement plan but also spoke in favour of a sensible amendment from the Labour Group that would have improved transparency and provided greater detail on the outcomes expected from the 34 point plan. My comments are reported in today's 'Courier' - see http://tinyurl.com/childprotectiondundee. It is unfortunate that the SNP administration voted down the amendment; transparency and maximum information is vital.

* My attempt to cut all Dundee councillor salaries failed at the City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee but may be revisited after a review of the legal position regarding the setting of such salaries. Tonight's "Evening Telegraph" covers the issue - click on the headline above to view.

My motion to committee last night would have cut back 2009/10 councillor salaries to 2008/9 levels, but council officers ruled such a moved out of order, believing that the Council could not alter the basic salary of a councillor and the of the Council Leader and Lord Provost.

The principle behind my attempt to freeze salaries for all councillors at last year’s levels was simple – that the City Council faces significant financial challenges and I and my colleague Cllr Helen Dick feel that councillors should be taking a lead by freezing the amount spent on councillor salaries at 2008/9 levels and forgoing any rise for the new financial year. This would have led to a budget underspend of over £16 000, which would be returned to General Fund Balances to assist with expenditure on services.

Council officials said at committee last night that it was not within the power of the council to alter certain salaries. I have since spoken with two senior council officers regarding this ruling. It is my understanding that whilst the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC) has set salaries in its guidance, the document from SLARC is only that – guidance – and I remain unconvinced that it is not within the power of local authorities to set their own salary levels. At a time of very significant economic difficulties, this was exactly the sort of time when councils should be cutting back on councillor salary levels.

I have been given an assurance by officers that contact will be made with Scottish Government to secure clarity of the legal position on the setting of councillor salaries. It would indeed be a ridiculous position if local authorities could not choose to lower all its councillor salary levels.

* I attempted to have the City Council's response to the Scottish parliamentary boundary review to oppose the renaming of Dundee West and Dundee East to "Dundee City West" and "Dundee City East" - a pointless complication - unfortunately a pointless complication supported by the Tories and SNP - I lost the vote 17-9. The winner was bureaucracy.

* I sought assurances for community councils with regard to the new scheme for community councils - helpful responses from the council officers.

* Air quality - my question regarding my concerns about progress on this matter in Dundee were answered by e-mail this morning, although I have sent some follow up questions about NO2 assessments in Dundee.

* Allotments - I welcomed a consultation document on allotments in Dundee but raised with the Director of Leisure & Communities the issue of security fencing - an issue I have discussed with many allotment holders.

* Planning Local Review Body - I end this update on a positive note. I moved an amendment to the officers' report on the new planning appeals system to ensure that local ward councillors did not determine appeals in their own wards, to ensure neutrality and fairness in the process. I am pleased that the Council Leader seconded my amendment and this was unanimously approved. This will assist the new Planning Local Review Body to determine appeals that are seen as fair and acceptable to the wider community.

West End Surgeries

With the school year ending on Thursday afternoon of this week, my weekly surgeries are now ended until the commencement of the new school term. This starts on Wednesday 19th August and therefore my surgeries recommence on Thursday 20th at Blackness Primary School at 6.15pm prompt.

Meantime, I am available via my e-surgery at any time - esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk - or call me at home - 01382 459378 - many thanks!

Congratulations to St Joseph's Primary School

After a long day including a meeting in Dalkeith (day job), followed by surgeries and the City Council's Development Quality Committee tonight, I have been going through my mail and, having received a copy of the St Joseph's Primary School Follow-Through Inspection Report from the Director of Education, it is very heartening indeed to read such a positive report.

All at the school deserve congratulations for such an excellent report and I have sent mine to Marion, the Head Teacher. Well done to all at St Joseph's!

Mail deliveries in the West End

I have arranged to meet Royal Mail representatives later this week to discuss the many complaints I have receieved from constituents about mail deliveries in recent weeks - particularly about the extensive delay in items constituents know have been posted to them actually being delivered.

I have received numerous complaints from constituents from different parts of the West End and am aware that the complaints are also coming from other parts of the city too. There have also been a lot of concerns about real difficulty getting through to the Dundee West Sorting Office by phone.

I therefore approached the Dundee West Sorting Office Manager who has agreed to a face-to-face meeting to discuss the complaints on Friday of this week.

I am hoping to be given assurances that Royal Mail is tackling the delivery problems and prepared to give clear timescales as to when my constituents who have experienced mail delivery problems can expect to see matters improve.

Crieff

Janet & I have had a great weekend away - it wasn't very far away - Crieff Hydro - and the weather wasn't up to expectations - but it was good to chill out and the company was excellent.

Many thanks to Helen & Murray for looking after Bunty (our puppy; we've not been away from her before but she has had a great time - tired puppy ... zzzzzzz!)

Of course, the drawback of being away is the large list of phone and e-mails messages to follow up on return!

Anyway, here's a couple on photos taken on my phone from our room at the Hydro ...

Michael Jackson : Rock With You

In all the sadness of the death of Michael Jackson, there's been loads and loads about the best of his hits. The consensus is that the "Thriller" album was ultimate Jackson, but for me,"Off the Wall" in 1979 was Michael Jackson at his best, and best of all - 'Rock With You'

Scottish Liberal Democrats on Twitter!

For those of you into Twitter, as today is #followfriday I urge you to follow the brand new @scotlibdems

TV issues - surgeries well attended yesterday

The meetings with Digital UK that I chaired at some of the sheltered housing complexes in the West End yesterday, to allow constituents to raise complaints and concerns about TV reception - and on the issue of the digital switchover - proved extremely successful with over 120 residents attending. Actually 123 residents and a lovely, well-behaved dog! See pictures below.

I am indebted to Alan Cowie, the former Grampian TV presenter - who spoke at the meetings. Alan is assisting Digital UK’s effort to liaise with people to ensure that their TV and digital questions are addressed and answered. He is excellent at covering the issues and engaging with the audience. Many elderly people in particular had questions about how they ensure they continue to receive television reception after the switchover and it was appropriate to hold these meetings at sheltered housing lounges in the area.

Digital UK are the experts regarding the digital switch-over and what I found particularly useful for the explanation of the Digital Help Scheme which aims to help those aged 75 and over and persons with disabilities get digital equipment and installation at little or no cost, a scheme being led by the BBC. It seems like a very good scheme for elderly and disabled people and it is important that residents are given full information about it in advance of the switch-off of the old analogue television signals in summer 2010.

As a result of the meetings today, I have taken up some individuals’ TV reception complaints and am - as always - pleased to assist any other West End residents with them.

Above : Alan speaking to Pennycook Court residentsAbove : Morven Terrace Sheltered Housing meetingAbove : The meeting at Blackness CourtAbove : The doggie audience!

Significant concerns over child protection report

The HMIE report on child protection services in Dundee, published yesterday, made very concerning reading. As reported in last night's 'Evening Telegraph' and today's 'Courier', I made the following comments:

Dundee City Council Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, today said that he was very concerned by the conclusions of the HMIE report on child protection services in Dundee.

Cllr Macpherson said, “The report’s conclusions are of significant concern, highlighting ‘major weaknesses in the identification of children who needed protection.’ Eight indicators showing that child protection services are weak and one unsatisfactory indicator is without any shadow of a doubt requires immediate improvement.

“A cross-party meeting of councillors to meet with the inspectors has already been agreed. The inspectors’ report is to be considered by a Council Committee on 1st July. It is vital that immediate action is taken to improve services and an action plan agreed to allow this to be achieved as soon as possible.

“The Council Leader has already been asked by opposition councillors to arrange a meeting of City Council Group Leaders with Adam Ingram, the Children and Early Years Minister. I agree with the Minister that the findings of the inspection show child protection services in Dundee are ‘simply not good enough’ but we urgently need to hear from Mr Ingram how Scottish Government is to help in real and practical terms.

“Scottish Government has a role to play here, particularly in providing additional resources. Service improvements will undoubtedly require increased resources over and above the additional £1.3 million the City Council has earmarked for 2009/10 and we need assurances from government that it will fund any additional services and resources needed to ensure that the action plan the City Council will hopefully swiftly approve can be fully implemented.”

Road works in the West End next week

The City Council has advised me of the following road closures next week, from Monday 29th June for a maximum of 5 working days:

• Cleghorn Street (between Benvie Road and Lochee Road) - due to Scottish Water maintenance works


• Seafield Road (from Number 54 to the Roseangle junction) - due to electricity cable laying works

I am advised that pedestrian access will be maintained throughout.

Further details can be provided by the City Council - phone 433168.

New Commons Speaker Tory MP John Bercow

Rather pleased at the result, if only to see the glum looks amongst Tory MPs! Don't quite understand why Bercow was ever selected as a Tory candidate, but there you go ...

I'd have voted for Ann Widdecombe - don't normally agree with a word she says, but she is forthright and honest and genuinely connects with the public.

Anyway, the good news - Michael Martin has gone!