Christmas Light Night & Nativity Play
25 November 2011
Councillor Richard McCready writes :
Tonight I joined thousands of others in the centre of Dundee for
Christmas Light Night. The new Christmas Lights in the City Centre
appear to be an improvement on the old lights, which were starting to
show their age.
I do have an issue with celebrating Christmas in November but I
recognise that I'm fighting a bit of a losing battle on that one.
This is a great community celebration with many families present in the
city centre.
The picture here shows the City Square and the vast crowds just after the Christmas Lights were switched on.
It is great that the community can come together in this way and
demonstrates that Christmas is about more than consumerism.
As I said earlier I am pleased that the council has recognised that this
is a celebration of Christmas and not some 'Winter' festival.
I was pleased to see a large crowd gather at the Steeple Church to watch the 'Dundee Nativity'.
This was very well put together and I would like to thank all those who were involved in putting it together
This was a very good production with not one but two donkeys
having a walk-on part. The picture shows the 'nativity' scene.
I am looking forward to the Christmas Lights being switched on in the
West End after the Christmas concert at Dundee West Church next
Thursday. This will be another great community event.
It is far too early but I suppose that the new lights in Reform Street
sum up the message of tonight's festivities:
5 November 2011
Attacks on Firefighters Unacceptable
As a member of Tayside Fire and Rescue Board I totally condemn
attacks on firefighters such as the one which injured a firefighter
from Balmossie Station recently.
It is despicable that firefighters have been attacked. Firefighters
put their lives on the line every day to protect the public and they
should be respected. It is not acceptable that these public servants
are attacked. I hope that those responsible are caught.
Attacks on firefighters could delay firefighters from attending a
fire and as well as possible injury to firefighters these attacks
really do put lives at risk.
There is no excuse for attacks on public servants and I think that
anyone who carries out such an attack should be ashamed of
themselves.
4 November 2011
Community Spirit Action Group Meeting
On Wednesday evening I was pleased to attend a meeting of the Community Spirit Action Group
The meeting was very interesting and there was a presentation on the work of community payback.
There was also a long discussion about bus services in the area.
The on-going problems with the bus services demonstrate the need for greater regulation of the bus industry.
2 November 2011
Balgay Vandalism Digraceful
I've commented on yet more vandalism at Balgay Cemetery.
These further attacks of vandalism are disgraceful.
Whoever did this should be ashamed of themselves.
I hope that anyone with information will contact the police.
We should not have to have security at a cemetery but I will be speaking to the council to see if there is anything more that can be done to protect the cemetery.
These acts of vandalism cause a lot of grief.
The people responsible must be caught.
October 2011
Dundee City Council meetings
31 October 2011
Monday evening saw a lengthy meeting of the City Council and its various meetings
At the Housing Committee there were proposals to develop a sort of intermediate level of housing called amenity housing which would be somewhere between mainstream housing and sheltered housing.
I am really pleased that local people and opposition parties have made their views known and the SNP Administration have decided not to progress plans to scrap sheltered lounges or wardens.
I was also pleased that the council will be promoting home
insulation, finding effective ways of dealing with fuel poverty and
carbon footprints is very important.
The City Development Committee was scheduled to discuss bus services
between the West End and St John's.
This was withdrawn because at long last council officers are taking the concerns of local parents seriously.
I hope that a solution will be forthcoming before too long.
At the Policy and Resources Committee I asked about future plans for
the Community Learning and Development section.
This section has received excellent reports from the HMIe, which are sector-leading.
The council has made a number of changes to this section recently with a number of staff members leaving and the section being moved.
I was delighted that the Chief Executive gave me a reassurance
that the aim is to maintain the high level of service.
There was also a report on the increasing pressures on children's
services.
It is important that the council provides the appropriate services to vulnerable children.
We need to see if there are ways to help finance this but we also
need to note that child safety is priceless and the top priority.
I was pleased to support my colleague Kevin Keenan in calling for
better medical services in Ardler.
Jenny Marra MSP : Bringing the National Football Academy to Dundee >>>
Councillor Kevin Keenan : Unemployment in Dundee up 700 year-on-year >>>
Councillor Richard McCready : Concern at Ninewells Car Parking Charge Increase
Visitors and staff attempting to avoid the charges cause parking
problems in the West End and on the other side of the hospital in
Menzieshill.
Charging for car parking at Ninewells was a mistake and it is no use
focusing on the history of who did what and when but rather we
should be focusing on the way ahead.
The Scottish Government says that car parking should be free at hospitals, they should implement their own policy in Dundee.
I would be happy to work with anyone to achieve the goal of
abolishing car parking charges at Ninewells.
There is no such thing as a free car parking place, costs are
involved.
Through our taxes we are all paying for free car parking at hospitals across Scotland, in places such as Perth.
The difference is that people using Ninewells Hospital do not
benefit from free car parking.
Ninewells Hospital does have good public transport links and these
should be encouraged, but public transport does not always suit the
hours of some people working in this vast complex.
For some people who are visiting as patients it may not be
appropriate for them to use public transport.
All I want for the people I represent is equity.
The photograph above shows cars parked in Ninewells Avenue avoiding the charges.
Kevin Keenan :
SNP must pass on extra £67 million for spending to local councils
5 October 2011
Councillor Kevin Keenan , Labour group leader on Dundee City Council ,
has called on the SNP Government to pass on to local councils such as
Dundee the additional £67 million increase in its budget that it will
receive from the UK Government as a result of the council tax freeze in
England.
This would mean an extra spending of around £1.7 million for Dundee.
Kevin Keenan said,
"There was little or no good news from Mr Swinney when he delivered his Budget Statement on behalf of his SNP domineering majority Scottish Government.
" He is expecting a Council Tax freeze, without delivering the funds and at the same time expecting an interest-free loan from Dundee and every other Local Authority by taking away capital allocation for the next two years.
"My only hope is that the Scottish Government will pass the full amount received from Chancellor Osborne directly to Local Government - anything less would be unacceptable.
"If we were to receive anything less, I hope that this City's SNP Administration would send a very strong message to Mr Swinney.
"I think Mr Obsborne's announcement has out-manoeuvred Mr Swinney as this time cuts in services cannot be attributed entirely to Westminster, and the SNP will now have to stand fully accountable for the decisions and the choices they have made.
"I did welcome Mr Swinney's announcement that he would deliver £15m for the V & A.
"However it is quite regrettable that he did not fully fund this project given the amount of public funds being tipped in to a poorly-managed Edinburgh Trams project."
Councillor Keenan also disclosed that he had written to Ken Guild, the Leader of the SNP Administration on Dundee City Council over a week ago and still await his response to these questions.
These were :
Can you confirm the amount of savings that Dundee City Council will have to make over the Spending Review period if it is your intention to deliver a Council Tax freeze?
Can you also advise how the impact of the re-shuffle in capital will affect the City?
How much will we lose in the first two years and what impact this will have on current projects and what level of borrowing will we need to do to meet our costs?
Can you confirm that you will honour your Government's commitment to individuals who earn less that £21,000 as this would bring some considerable comfort to many, many employees?
Councillor Richard McCready : Changes to School Day
Last week the City Council agreed to carry out a consultation on changes to the school day in secondary schools.
This would standardise the school day across all the secondaries in the city.
In principle I don't have a problem with these proposals.
I do, however, think that there are some practical concerns that need to be faced up to before these reforms are implemented.
Issues like how do parents deal with the plan to have the school day finish at different times on different days of the week.
Will bus companies be able to deal with these different times?
The Evening Telegraph carried a report on this and an
editorial on this topic.
Nobody could disagree with the message of the editorial "...it is
right that as our lives and communities change our educational
system should change too so it can provide the best and most
efficient service possible."
The Telegraph said that ".. it is critical that all families
become involved in this consultation process to ensure that their
child's schooling is shaped to their needs more than anyone else's."
The Council should be making a big effort to include as many people
as possible in the consultation which is taking place.
You can read the committee report which was agreed last week
here (pages 3-7), please let the council know your views.The City Council must listen to voices of parents and pupils on this important issue.
September 2011
Save Abertay University
29 August 2011
Councillor Richard McCready writes :
West End Needs Clarity on Residents Parking Scheme
I'm concerned about the on-going delays in implementing a Council decision to consult formally on a residents parking scheme in the West End.
It is essential that people in the West End have clarity about these proposals.
You can read the last report to the council (page 31 onwards)
There are many problems related to car parking in the West End.
I do not think that all of these problems have easy solutions, there are now many cars in streets that just were not designed with car parking in mind.
The City Council agreed to consult on a residents car parking scheme, this has been delayed and delayed and delayed.
I think that people in the West End are less interested in the reasons why the consultation has not been brought forward and more interested in having a clear sense of what the council is doing with regard to the parking issues in the West End.
I am not convinced that the residents parking scheme is the solution to the problems in the West End.
Not least among my concerns would be that the cost would seem to me to be a problem, with an indicative figure of £80 per year mentioned in previous reports.
We need a decision on this, the people of West End should be presented with the full proposal and given the opportunity to have their say.
If the residents parking scheme is what they want then let's move forward; if not let's look at alternatives.
In the meantime little is being done about the very real issues in the West End around car parking.
Clarity and action are required.
I have grave concerns about the impact a residents parking scheme might have on businesses in the West End.
At a time when we should be all we can to promote the Perth Road shops I think that we need to ensure that we are supporting them as much as possible.
If council officers and/or the Administration of the City Council do not support the residents car parking scheme they should make this clear and bring forward alternative proposals.
27 August 2011
Unemployment in Dundee is now the worst in 12 years
Kevin Keenan, Labour Group leader on Dundee City Council, said that "urgent action is needed to create jobs and boost growth" as an analysis of unemployment in Dundee reveals that the latest jobless figures for the city are the worst since 1999.
Councillor Keenan said,
" Economic growth has slowed down, sending unemployment in Dundee sharply upwards to its highest level since 1999, 12 years ago.
"Today it stands at 5,805.
"In 1999 it was 5,816.
"The difference between then and now is that in the period afterwards, from 1999 to 2008, in nine years, unemployment in the city fell by a further 2,600.
Now, since last October, in nine months, unemployment in the city has risen by 1,000."
Councillor Keenan continued,
"The UK Government are cutting spending too deep and too fast, resulting in longer dole queues.
"Reducing people's prospects of work reduces their spending power, the very opposite of what we need."
Councillor Keenan released figures ( from the Office of National Statistics) showing "how widely the recession had penetrated into the jobs market in the city."
Councillor Keenan concluded,
"These figures are also a wake up call to
the SNP Government whose priorities are dotting the i's and crossing the t's of
the wording of the referendum rather than on jobs."
Numbers in Dundee unemployed ( in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance)
These include :
Sales and retail assistants 1,255
Goods handling and storage occupation 365
General Office assistants, clerks 285
Cleaners, domestics 265
Care assistants and home carers 175
Van drivers 205
Information technology - related 60
(IT strategy and planning professionals 5
Software professionals 20
IT operations technicians 20
IT user support technicians 15 )
Engineers ( civil, mechanical,electrical) 20
Hotels and restaurants
Managers 5
Receptionists 30
Chefs, cooks 80
Porters 10
Kitchen and catering staff 200
Education 25
( composed of Higher education teaching professionals 5
Further education teaching professionals 5
Secondary education teaching professionals 10
Primary and nursery education teaching professionals 5 )
Solicitors and lawyers 5
Chartered accountants 10
Architects 5
Nurses 10
Nursery nurses 40
The Arts ( musicians, actors , entertainers ) 25
Graphic designers 25
Sports coaches and fitness instructors 30
Pubs
Managers 5
Bar staff 150
Motor mechanics, auto engineers 40
Hairdressers 30
Security guards 30
Unemployment in the West End rises by 50 in a month
21 August 2011
Unemployment in the West End increased by 50 in July, bringing the monthly total to 577
Detals are given for the individual areas of the West End in the table below.
| unemployed | % rate | increase since last month | |
| Balgay | 114 | 3.6 | +3 |
| Riverside | 55 | 1.5 | +7 |
| Tay Bridges | 233 | 4.3 | +17 |
| Logie | 175 | 5.6 | +23 |
| West End total | 577 | +50 |
Read : Jim McGovern MP calls on Government to do more to tackle unemployment in Dundee >>>
Unemployment in the West End rises in the past year
Unemployment in the West End area has gone up over the past year.
In the period June 2010 -June 2011, the numbers have increased by 53 overall.
Figures for individual West End areas are :
The Tay Bridges area : an increase from 180 to 216
The Riverside area : a decrease from 50 to 48
The Logie area : an increase from 131 to 152
The Balgay area : a decrease from 113 to 111
Speaking on the overall upward trend in Dundee, Councillor Kevin Keenan, Labour group leader on Dundee City Council, has called on Scottish Government Finance Secretary, John Swinney, to act on the increase in joblessness in Dundee.
Councillor Keenan said,
"Unemployment in Dundee, as recorded by those claiming Job Seekers Allowance, has risen by almost 690 in the past year.
"The numbers have risen from 4,858 in June 2010 to 5,547 in June of this year.
"Not only is unemployment in Dundee above the Scottish average ( 5.9 per cent to 5.3 per cent ), but also the majority of areas of Dundee - 17 out of 29 - have unemployment levels that are above the Scottish average as well.
"Having said that, we must never forget that each and every unemployed person in Dundee is 100 per cent unemployed.
“These figures show just how much unemployment is hurting Dundee more than Scotland overall.
“Economic activity in Scotland increased by a meagre 0.1 per cent increase in the first three months of this year, much less than the increase in the UK overall.
“That’s bad news for Scotland, but even worse news for Dundee.
“We need greater public investment in the city to create jobs , increase growth and sustain economic recovery.
“To take one example, we need to help our construction industry in the city , a sector where output has fallen in the same period.
"Dundee's SNP Council and the SNP Government signed an agreement that creating jobs was 'a priority', but have yet to deliver.
"They have let down everyone in the city.
" If they were confident that they could deliver, they would have invested in Education and not cut £4 million pounds from the city council budget.
“Finance Secretary John Swinney needs to state what action his Government will now take in light of these depressing Dundee unemployment figures.
“The SNP Government’s priority is working out the wording of a referendum on independence four to five years in the future.
“Dundee’s priority is jobs now."
Download the unemployment figures for Dundee (PDF)
Unemployment in areas of Dundee (as measured by those claiming Job Seekers Allowance)
|
|
JSA claimants | JSA claimants | percentage |
|
|
june '10 | June '11 | unemployed June '11 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ardler | 140 | 165 | 7.4 |
| Balgay | 113 | 111 | 3.5 |
| Balgillo | 87 | 84 | 2.0 |
| Balgowan | 182 | 247 | 7.1 |
| Barnhill | 53 | 56 | 1.8 |
| Baxter Park | 172 | 206 | 6.3 |
| Bowbridge | 201 | 222 | 7.4 |
| Brackens | 167 | 174 | 4.8 |
| Broughty Ferry | 59 | 78 | 2.5 |
| Camperdown | 250 | 270 | 8.2 |
| Claverhouse | 170 | 172 | 5.4 |
| Craigiebank | 102 | 120 | 5.1 |
| Douglas | 259 | 283 | 8.5 |
| East Port | 261 | 294 | 8.9 |
| Fairmuir | 166 | 202 | 7.2 |
| Hilltown | 220 | 292 | 7.9 |
| Law | 240 | 266 | 7.4 |
| Lochee East | 158 | 176 | 6.5 |
| Lochee West | 205 | 266 | 10.0 |
| Logie | 131 | 152 | 4.9 |
| Longhaugh | 267 | 317 | 8.6 |
| Ninewells | 155 | 174 | 5.3 |
| Pitkerro | 285 | 355 | 10.1 |
| Riverside | 50 | 48 | 1.3 |
| Stobswell | 252 | 284 | 9.4 |
| Strathmartine | 111 | 111 | 3.6 |
| Tay Bridges | 180 | 216 | 4.0 |
| West Ferry | 39 | 38 | 1.3 |
| Whitfield | 183 | 168 | 7.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dundee overall | 4858 | 5547 | 5.9 |
| Scotland overall |
|
|
5.3 |
| Source : Office of National Statistics |
|
|
|
Labour calls for re-investment in St Mary's Primary School
Labour Councillors covering the catchment area of St Mary's Primary School
in Lochee have called for a significant proportion of any capital receipt
realised by the sale of the infants' school to be re-invested in St Mary's
Primary School. Councillor Richard McCready and Councillor Tom Ferguson
support efforts to locate the school on a single site.
They are concerned that issues raised by parents have not been listened to in this process.
Both Councillor McCready and Councillor Ferguson are writing to the
Director of Education suggesting that any capital receipt for the infants'
school should be re-invested in St Mary's Primary.
Councillor Richard McCready said, "A significant number of children in the northern part of my ward attend St Mary's Primary and like my colleague Tom Ferguson I want the very best for them.
"It would clearly have been more satisfactory if the concerns of parents had been taken on board in a brief consultation exercise and working group.
"The Education Department has said that it will write to all parents about this move.
" I urge anyone with concerns to respond to the Director of Education seeking action on these concerns.
"I support Councillor Ferguson's call for some of the money brought in by selling the infants' school should be re-invested in St Mary's Primary School.
"After all this money will only be available to the council as a result of the investment in the nineteenth-century of the pennies of the poor community of Lochee.
"It seems right to me that the present day community of Lochee should benefit from this investment."
Councillor Tom Ferguson said,
"Like everyone else in Lochee I want to see St Mary's located on a single site.
"I want the children at St Mary's to get the best possible education.
"Parents have raised a number of issues about move.
"They don't want to stop the move rather they want to ensure the best possible outcome for their children and future generations of pupils at St Mary's.
"That is why I supported a short-life group or project board to look at the issues.
"This would be rather like the 'informal' consultation now on-going at Law Nursery, without the agreement of the council.
"I think that pupils and parents at St Mary's deserve the very best.
"That's why I think that some of the money that comes in from the sale of the infants' school should be re-invested in St Mary's Primary School."
Several of the news releases below
refer to a period when Marlyn Glen was a Member of the Scottish
Parliament. Ms. Glen was an MSP from May 2003 - March 2011. She is
no longer an MSP.
Number of nursing and midwifery staff in NHS Tayside falls to a 4-year low
26 February 2011
The number of nursing and midwifery staff in NHS Tayside has slumped to its lowest level in almost 4 years, according to new figures released by Marlyn Glen.
Since last September, the number of staff has fallen by 37, to 4,956 last month.
This puts staffing levels lower than they were in each of the past three years and lower than they were in 2007.
Ms. Glen said,
" Despite Scottish Government claims of sparing the NHS from cuts, the number of nursing staff in NHS Tayside has been falling since 2009.
"More over-stretched as well as fewer nursing staff is unwelcome news.
"This results from even greater demands from the Scottish Government on health boards which are already struggling to find ‘efficiency savings’."
Staffing numbers
Number of nursing and midwifery staff in NHS Tayside at January 2011 4,956
Number of nursing and midwifery staff in NHS Tayside at September 2010 4,993
Annual Number of nursing and midwifery staff in NHS Tayside
2006 4,912
2007 4,995
2008 5,029
2009 5,079
2010 4,993
Jan 2011 4,956 – the lowest figure in almost 4 years
Source : (ISD Scotland data for September of each year and NHS Tayside)
Gender Pay Gap " set to widen again"
25 February 2011
The gender pay gap is set to widen again, Marlyn Glen said today, commenting on figures she has received in response to a Parliamentary Question on the differences in pay between men and women.
She said,
"Unfortunately, the narrowing of the gender pay gap is set to widen again.
"This is because of the expected very heavy job losses in the public sector over the next few years.
"The public sector employs significantly more women than men.
"In addition there will be a public sector pay freeze.
"The optimistic view that the private sector can generate replacement jobs isn’t borne out by experience.
"In the last three years in Dundee there has been a net reduction of over 1,000 full-time jobs in the private sector.
"The pay gap between women in the public sector and in the private sector indicates that the sectors are, generally speaking, composed of different types of jobs and sometimes different conditions."
Median Gross Weekly Pay (£) for Full-Time Employee Jobs in Scotland by Gender and Public/Private Sector Classification
| Gender | Sector | Year | |||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |||
| Male | Public |
548.10 |
565.60 |
579.60 |
|
| Private |
485.20 |
480.00 |
495.10 |
||
| Female | Public |
488.10 |
514.40 |
536.90 |
|
| Private |
343.00 |
345.00 |
350.00 |
||
| All | All |
462.60 |
472.80 |
488.20 |
|
Dundee gender pay gap : Women face a "double disadvantage" on pay 09/02/2011
Jim McGovern condemns the impact of VAT rise on fuel prices 09/02/2011
Domestic Abuse : Marlyn Glen praises women in Dundee for coming forward 08/02/2011
Unemployment in the West End area in December of last year increased across all areas compared with the previous November.
Figures for West End areas are :
The Tay Bridges area : an increase to 170 to from 163
The Riverside area : an increase to 55 from 50
The Logie area : an increase to 166 from 153
The Balgay area : an increase to 121 from 110
For further details of levels of unemployment in Dundee, click on >>>
Marlyn Glen MSP : Estimated cost of alcohol abuse to NHS in Tayside is a minimum of £15.1 million a year
January 2011
Graffiti Removal
Councillor Richard McCready's West End Graffiti Removal form
If you wish the council to remove graffiti from private property in the West End
Slight drop in unemployment in the West End area
Unemployment in the West End area dropped slightly November last year compared with the previous May, according to official Scottish Government figures given to Marlyn Glen MSP.
Figures for West End areas are :
The Tay Bridges area : a drop to 163 from 172
The Riverside area : a drop to 50 from 58
The Logie area : an increase to 153 from 128
The Balgay area : a drop to 110 from 116
Ms. Glen commented,
"Unemployment is a deeply personal tragedy for those it strikes.
"It is set to rise sharply this year in the city as both Coalition and Scottish Governments’ cuts fall on the public sector in Scotland.
"The hope of the Coalition that public sector jobs lost will be picked up by a ‘resurgent’ private sector has little supporting evidence from Dundee.
"In the past three years the city has lost 1,100 net full-time jobs in the private sector according to official figures.
" What the city needs are measures that will equip its young people with this century’s job skills and measures which will protect those jobs we do have through economic growth."
December 2010
Councillor Kevin Keenan, Labour group leader on Dundee City Council -
The SNP must reveal their spending cuts plan for Dundee immediately
When will the SNP Administration share their budget figures with the public, the workforce and the opposition Councillors in our City?
I note in the press that Angus Council is to be commended for its honesty as they have now advised their citizens that the cuts they have to impose will see 500 valued employees lose their jobs.
Whilst I often hear from Senior Officers of this Council that we must engage better with our Communities, there seems to be very little of this put into practice by the SNP Administration.
The kind of openness that we have seen from Angus Council has yet to be seen from Dundee City Council's SNP Administration as they have continued to hold secret meetings behind closed doors.
Even Freedom of Information Requests have not, as yet, been able to uncover their policies for Dundee's future that will see us through these difficult times.
Our SNP Administration, along with the Scottish Government, will not be able to hide cuts and job losses forever - people have the right to know.
If we just compare the amounts to be saved in Angus and in Dundee over the next four years, Dundee has almost twice the amount of cuts to make.
It is very regrettable that this Administration still look to keep things hidden from the very public they have been elected to represent.
It is equally regrettable that they continue to leave our valued workforce and their families with an enormous amount of uncertainty as to their futures.
Not just Angus, but other Councils up and down the country have laid down their intentions as to what their budget implications are to be, way in advance of any budget-setting date and I believe that this lack of information being provided in Dundee is a deliberate ploy of this SNP Administration not to allow the opposition Councillors the time to properly assess the impact on services and the needs of the people who require these very vital services.
We should also have time to consider the City's wider economy in anything brought before Council.
The Administration has set a date of 10 February 2011 when they intend to announce their budget.
They should share their intentions with the public way before this date to allow public scrutiny and not just rail-road their budget through as they have done previously.
November 2010
Latest Scottish Labour video
Labour's Living Wage : Fair Pay for All
single click on the video to view it
view the enlarged version of the video >>>
Scottish Labour conference Oban 2010
Speech By Richard McCready, Scottish Labour and Co-operative prospective candidate for Dundee City West
Conference, I am delighted to stand here as the Scottish Labour and Co-operative candidate for Dundee City West.
In Dundee we will be fighting for every vote to win Dundee City West for Labour.
We are discussing a creative and outward-looking Scotland and that is exactly what Dundee is, creative and outward looking.
Over the past couple of decades Dundee has changed.
We need to do more but the city has changed. We have renewed our city.
Labour's vision in Dundee created Dundee Contemporary Arts opened by Donald Dewar.
Labour's vision in Dundee refurbished the McManus Galleries, named after a great Labour Lord Provost.
I am proud to have played a small part in that refurbishment project as the former Convener of Leisure, Arts and Communities.
The McManus has been re-opened since February and has already had over 150,000 visitors.
I want to be a strong voice for Dundee in the Scottish Parliament.
I will be a strong voice advocating bringing the V & A to Dundee.
This would be a major boost to the Dundee economy.
Bringing jobs and prosperity to Dundee is my top priority.
It would be great to bring part of this British institution to Dundee.
This would build on Dundee's reputation for excellence in design and in culture.
That reputation for design is enhanced by the video games industry.
That’s why it was a major blow when the ConDems withdrew our policy of tax breaks for this industry.
In response the SNP engaged in a cross-border dispute, my interest would be in jobs for the people of Dundee.
I’m glad that we see culture as a good in itself but we should also remember that a project like the V & A will bring jobs to Dundee.
I am delighted that our policy document says that Scottish Labour supports the V & A in Dundee.
I also want to improve all our communities.
I will be a strong voice for the communities in Dundee.
We need to support safe and welcoming public spaces, and good local amenities.
I think that in the current climate co-operatives and mutuals can help us do much of this.
They can also empower local communities to make sure that their voices are heard and their needs are met.
I support empowering local communities and giving them more say in how services are delivered.
I particularly support the policy to bring the V & A to Dundee and look forward to helping Labour deliver this promise in the Scottish Parliament.
Speech by Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party >>>
Scottish Labour video
Iain Gray : Because Scotland Deserves Better
single click on image above to view the video
click on the image above to sign the petition in support of Scottish Labour's campaign for Fair Pay for All
Richard McCready selected as prospective Labour candidate for Dundee City West
Dr. Richard McCready has been selected by local Labour Party members to be the prospective Scottish Labour and Co-operative Party candidate for Dundee City West at next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.
more >>>
Over 150 elderly people in the West End have been emergency admissions after falls over the past three years
Marlyn Glen MSP has received information from the Scottish Government showing that a total of over 150 elderly people in the West End have been emergency hospital admissions as a result of a fall over the latest three years.( 2007-2010)
The combined figure is for the areas of West End, Logie and Blackness, Perth Road, Balgay
Ms. Glen said,
"NHS Tayside’s Falls Prevention and Bone Strategy helps to reintegrate back into the community those elderly people who have fallen and to minimise the occurence of further falls through exercise and improvements in bone health.
"Falls at home, resulting from conditions such as poorer vision, lesser mobility as well as osteoporosis, can contribute to injuries that might have been prevented.
"Elderly people can suffer consequences that are both physical such as fractures and hypothermia, and psychological , such as loss of dignity and independence."
Ms. Glen added that the British Geriatric Society had indicated that falls affect almost one in three of those aged over 65 and half of those aged over 80, and that they are a major reason for hospital attendance and admission amongst the elderly.
Falls and fragility fractures are both linked with illness and mortality, she said, and the estimated cost of the care of fragility care to health and social services is over £2billion in the UK.
The figures for all areas of Dundee are at
>>>
Ed Miliband and Iain Gray : United in Our Values
single click on the video to watch it
click on the image above to join the Labour Party
September 2010 news
Ed Miliband's speech to the Labour Party conference as Labour Party leader
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Download text version of his speech >>>
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Ed Miliband's acceptance speech as Labour Party leader
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Scottish Government failing schools, parents and teachers in the West End
13 September 2010
Only 1 class out of 18 classes in West End primary schools in P1-P3 has 18 or less pupils in it, as promised by Alex Salmond for this school year.
All other P1-P3 classes in West End Primary schools remain above the 18 maximum class size set initially by the Scottish Government for this session, according to Dundee City Council figures released by Marlyn Glen MSP.
Ms. Glen said,
" These figures show how the SNP Government, with its empty, now-abandoned promise of smaller class sizes for all in P1 - P3, has failed schools, parents and teachers right across Dundee.
" Since 2007, Dundee City Council has never received sufficient extra money from the Scottish Government to implement this policy thoroughly and properly.
"That’s why only 15 out 29 primary probationer teachers were offered a permanent post with the council for the new session.
"Instead of nurturing the promise of primary education, the council has had to contend with broken promises for primary education by the Scottish Government."
Figures for West End primary schools
| Primary School | Number of pupils in class for 2010-2011 school session | |
| Ancrum Road | Primary 1 two classes, each of 24 pupils | |
| Primary 2 two classes, each of 24 pupils | ||
| Primary 3 two classes, one of 22 , one of 26 | ||
| Blackness | Primary 1 two classes, one of 26, one of 23 | |
| Primary 2 two classes, one of 20, one of 16 | ||
| Primary 3 two classes, both of 25 | ||
| St. Joseph’s | Primary 1 two classes one of 22, one of 21 | |
| Primary 2 two classes , one of 23, one of 22 | ||
| Primary 3 two classes , one of 24, one of 23 |
| Park Place | Primary 1 one class, 23 pupils | |
| Primary 2 one class, 19 pupils | ||
| Primary 3 one class, 20 pupils |
Cost of unemployment in Dundee estimated at £40 million a year.
10 September 2010
Present levels of unemployment in Dundee could be costing around £40 million a year, according to Marlyn Glen MSP.
An answer to her recent Parliamentary Question indicates that in July last month there were 5,094 people in the city claiming unemployment-related benefits.
Academic research suggests that the cost of unemployment per person is roughly between £8,000 and £9,000 a year. read more >>>
Latest numbers of those unemployed in areas within the West End
Balgay 125
Logie 151
Tay Bridges 198
Riverside 60
Labour calls for Action on anti-social-behaviour in Dundee
Almost 2,000 complaints in the past year, but only 12 ASBOs
click on the video above to watch Labour's James Kelly speaking in Dundee
click on the video above to watch Labour's Richard Baker speaking in Dundee
Scottish Labour has highlighted its concerns about anti-social behaviour
in Dundee after it revealed new figures that showed that despite nearly
2,000 complaints of anti-social behaviour in the city last year only 12
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) have been implemented.
Scottish Labour
spokespersons have been highlighting the problem in Dundee and talking
to communities affected by anti-social behaviour.
Labour have been pressing for a change in the law that would allow
organisations such as community councils and tenants and residents
groups to be able to push for anti-social behaviour orders through the
courts if local people thought it would help.
Contact us with your
experience of anti-social behaviour and what you think should be done to
tackle it by filling in our questionnaire
>>>
Click on the image on the right to view an enlarged version of it.
It shows Councillor Richard McCready (right) with MSPs James Kelly, Richard Baker and Marlyn Glen who participated in the meeting in Dundee to discuss how to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Marlyn Glen MSP - "Never-Ending Council Tax Freeze faces crisis of credibility"
16 August 2010
Responding to the announcement that the SNP are ordering over £20 million on cuts in Dundee City’s budget for the next financial year, Marlyn Glen said,
"The SNP are imposing a cut of over £20 million in Dundee City Council’s
budget to freeze the council tax next year.
"However, in 2008-09, the SNP Government gave out over £26 million in bonuses to
senior staff right across the public sector from the NHS to government.
"One reason why Dundee City Council faces a severe squeeze on jobs and services
is that the SNP’s "Never- Ending Council Tax Freeze" re-election ploy now faces
its own crisis of credibility when it means the loss of hundreds of jobs and big
reductiona in services for the public.
" Another reason has been the double talk from the SNP Government claiming that
they had given councils all of the money that they needed to run their services.
"The council's priorities right now are taking tough and responsible decisions,
and not constantly looking for others to blame instead."
Councillor Richard McCready writes :
City Council to make its views known on Games Industry
8 August 2010
Dundee City Council is to make a submission to the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee inquiry into the Games Industry.
This comes in response to my request, I am
pleased that Chief Executive, David Dorward, has agreed to my request
and I hope that the council will be able to speak with one voice on this
important issue.
I am really pleased that a report will be brought before the council
allowing us to submit evidence to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee
inquiry into the Games Industry.
The Games Industry has the potential to become a major part of Dundee's future, and the University of Abertay Dundee is a key player in this important industry.
The council needs to do all that it can to protect jobs and encourage new jobs and this is even more important in these difficult economic times.
I look forward to the council receiving a report on this important industry.
I hope that the council will speak with one
voice and highlight how important this industry is and will make our
views clear on the need for a tax break for the Games Industry.
Titian at the McManus
Titian's famous painting Diana and Actaeon goes on display in the McManus from 6th. August till 5th.September.
Below is a video clip featuring Marlyn Glen and Councillor Richard McCready promoting the exhibition.
single click on the video to view it
Single click on the video to view it
Support Bus Petition, says Councillor Richard McCready
24 July 2007
Richard McCready writes,
"On Friday I showed my support for a petition to review recent bus changes especially as they impact on people in the Ancrum, Tullideph and Pentland areas of the West End.
"Along with ward colleague Councillor Fraser Macpherson and members of the Community Spirit Action Group I was at Ninewells Hospital to express my concerns.
"I support the petition organised by Community Spirit - well done to them for doing this.
"The area around Pentland, Ancrum and Tullideph is missing out due to the changes to the bus service which happened recently.
"We were at Ninewells Hospital to illustrate that people living in these areas have real difficulties in getting to Ninewells Hospital.
"I hope that Community Spirit is successful in its campaign and I will continue to raise their concerns with National Express Dundee.
"You can show your support by signing the
petition on-line."I am happy to raise concerns about the bus service with the bus company please get in touch to outline any concerns you have. "
6 July 2010
Marlyn Glen video : NHS Tayside 500 job cuts
Latest unemployment figures for West End areas
1 July 2010
Numbers claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance in the West End ward in May 2010 by council ward areas.
| Claimant Count | Claimant Count Rate (%) | |
| Balgay | 116 | 3.9 |
| Logie | 128 | 4.2 |
| Riverside | 58 | 1.6 |
| Tay Bridges | 172 | 3.2 |
| Dundee overall | 4,871 | 5.4 |
The full details for Dundee can be viewed here
Councillor Richard McCready's update on Harris Academy refurbishment
29 June 2010
"Monday evening's Education Committee heard an update on the refurbishment of Harris Academy. (Agenda >>>)
"As a local councillor I want to deliver an improved building for Harris Academy as quickly as possible.
"Like my colleague Councillor Bidwell I am happy to work with the Administration to ensure that this happens sooner rather than later.
"A number of people have raised their concerns about a start date of 2013 with me.
"At first I was under the impression that this was a typographical error.
"The Harris Parent Council recently visited the Rockwell site to look at the accommodation they expected to use from August 2011.
"This council has recently agreed significant investment in the Rockwell site which was in the expectation that Harris Academy would be located there.
"This begs the question in these tough financial times are we wise to invest in Rockwell at this moment.
"Harris Academy needs a new building; I want to help the Administration deliver a new building for Harris Academy.
"I think that the timescales should be quicker than this and I would be happy to help the Administration make that happen."
Harris Academy refurbishment delayed for £1.4 million "East Central Territory Hub"
29 June 2010
Marlyn Glen has been informed by Scottish Education Minister, Keith Brown, that the Scottish Government still intend that "the replacement of Harris Academy will be progressed through the East Central Territory Hub."
Ms. Glen had written to Education Secretary Mike Russell last month asking why the establishment of the £1.4 million East Central Territory Hub had been given priority over the refurbishment of Harris Academy .
The Hub is not yet completely established, but the Scottish Government insists that the Harris Academy refurbishment must be carried out through it.
Ms. Glen said that would mean that work on the West End academy would now begin "well after the Scottish Parliament elections next year".
She commented,
" The Minister gives no educational explanation why the Hub must take precedence over Harris Academy.
" While the announcement earlier this month of funding for the Harris refurbishment was just another re-announcement of the project, the timetable for the refurbishment stretches further into the future."
