Monday 14 February 2011

Monday

Following the tragic accident on Riverside Drive on Sunday in which Philip Fleming of Step Row died, I have been in touch with Tayside Police and the City Council about the circumstances.  My thoughts are with Philip's family at this very difficult time for them.

Today's Courier covered my concerns about the proposed Crichton Street Collection Office closure by Royal Mail.   Astonishingly, having been advised by Royal Mail on Friday :

“We do not have a relocation date as yet but once a date is confirmed we will write to yourself, all opinion formers and business customers. Posters will go up in the branch and a customer letter or leaflet will be sent to all residential customers.”

The City Council (landlords of the collection office) advised me today :

“Councillor Macpherson,

I refer to your recent e-mail to the Chief Executive regarding the Crichton Street Collection Office.

I write to advise that the Royal Mail has served notice to terminate its lease of the subjects effective from 14th April, 2011.

This department will shortly be advertising the subjects for lease.”

The only conclusion I can draw is that Royal Mail knew perfectly well when they e-mailed me on Friday that they knew the closure date.   I have e-mailed them seeking an assurance that they will postpone the closure decision pending a proper public consultation on the future of the Crichton Street facility.

At the City Council tonight :

* I mentioned assurances I had received that a new sound system in the Caird Hall will not cause problems with acoustics in the hall.   The Caird Hall Manager has sent me a very detailed and helpful response on issues I had raised with constituents.

* I expressed concern at the freezing of Dundee Citizens' Advice Bureau's funding and the effect on its reserves.

* I mentioned the need to ensure IT expenditure is justified - I had also raised capital spend on IT at last week's budget meeting.   I am grateful to the Head of Information Technology for the response he has given to my questions on this matter.

* In one of the council's low points of late, the SNP Council Leader pressed ahead with a highly partisan motion on fuel prices that some members of the City Council could not possibly support.    It was very obvious that all councillors strongly support the Courier's excellent campaign "The Fight for Fairer Fuel" and a motion supporting the campaign could have been unanimously passed.  

However, the SNP wanted to make petty political points, so a division took place.   As I said, and the Depute Lord Provost agreed, the City Council is at its best when it is united.    The SNP is more interested in petty party politics.   An opportunity lost.   Anyone might think Joe FitzPatrick and Shona Robison are losing an election ...