This page will be updated with any significant developments, or just my latest thoughts.

Alex Gallagher, Councillor,Ward 8

SNP PULLS OUT OF AGREEMENT. click to see full report

27th Oct 2009

Land for Schools (and allotments).

Subsequent to the controversy of the SNP not providing capital for a new Largs Academy, I have raised the question of including plans for such land in the Local Development Plan. The LDP is currently under review in preparation for re-issue, and I have asked North Ayrshire  Council officials to identify land that can be used for a new school. This may mean re-scheduling land from another designation (agricultural, recreational etc.) to be put to use for school building.

I have specifically identified a small parcel of land that I have asked to be redesignated, but we will need a lot more, and the LDP is the place to identify that need and suggested solutions.

I have also asked that land suitable for use as allotments be included in the LDP, as there is also a shortage of that type of land in the North Coast Ward.

26th Oct 2009

Update on Schools Issue… Letter Published in Largs & Millport Weekly News 21st Oct

Sir,

Our SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson (Letters 14^th October), uses 1000 words to explain “Why Garnock school was chosen before Largs”. Unfortunately for him, that’s not the question I asked.  I have no problem with a new Garnock Academy, my question to Mr Gibson was simply this: why no new Largs Academy?

Mr Gibson was elected on a manifesto promise to “match Labour’s school-building programme brick-for-brick”. The last Labour administration built three new secondary schools and three new primary schools in North Ayrshire. The current SNP administration has built none, and will start only one, in the Garnock Valley. This is a failure of SNP policy, and a disappointment, (to put it mildly), for the parents, pupils and teachers of the North Coast. Largs Academy is a good school but its physical condition is such that it will require replacement soon. The decision on its replacement must be taken now, not in 5 years time. Kenny Gibson is our MSP. If he does not understand that, or cannot deliver on his election promises, he should be honest enough to say so.

Bobby Rae seems as complacent as Kenneth Gibson about the needs of his constituents. In Provost Rae’s opinion it would be too difficult to build a new Largs Academy because of space constraints and problems of decanting pupils during construction. But Largs Academy is not unique in that matter: other schools, have similar problems and the local authority still manages to build new schools to replace them. Anyway, in my opinion, it should not be about the problems that Bobby Rae might foresee. It should be about whether teachers and children of Largs and district need better educational facilities, and whether our SNP representatives can be bothered to deliver on their promise to provide them. The clear answer from Kenny Gibson and Bobby Rae is that they cannot.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Alex Gallagher

1st October

Largs Academy again…

What happened to our new school..?

One of the questions asked by Largs Academy pupils when I spoke to them on Monday was “What about a new school for Largs?”. It’s a sensible question. Largs Academy is a very good school, but the building is coming to the end of its useful life and will need replaced soon.

Well, anyway, the SNP promised to match the previous school-building programme “brick-for-brick”. Unfortunately they were not telling the truth. The last Scottish Executive and North Ayrshire Council, working together, built 3 Secondary and 3 Primary schools in North Ayrshire. The SNP Executive has allowed the money for only one Secondary schoool in North Ayrshire, a replacement for Garnock Academy. 

The SNP  has even failed to produce its “Scottish Futures Trust” which was supposed to finance new school building…. So they can only deliver 14 new secondaries in the whole of Scotland!!!! and unfortunately, we don’t get one of them…..

Here is quote from an SNP press release…

“Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop made the announcement today as she visited one of the schools to benefit……. before officially opening the new Armadale Academy. Ms Hyslop described the new building as “an inspirational example of everything a new school can be”.

Armadale High, which the SNP Minister says is such ”an inspirational example of everything a new school can be”, was built using the PPP system that the nationalists hate so much that they refuse to use it. So Fiona Hysop hates PPP, but she rushs to open the school we built using PPP, and she has the cheek to describe it as “inspirational”. Meanwhile she and her party fail miserably to find a replacement for PPP and they fail to address the needs of Scotland for new schools… new schools which, if built, would be just like Armadale High!

If you want to see the difference betwen the parties, consider the fact that Labour built or substantially refurbished 350 schools while in power and the SNP proposes to build 14….it would be funny if it wasn’t sickening.

And Largs gets no new secondary school. What exactly Kenny Gibson, Alan Hill and Bobby Rae think of that I would like to know…..no doubt they’ll keep their heads down, or they will blame somebody else (Westminster?) or they will dream up some other excuse….

p.s. another quote from the “Education” Secretary…

“The Scottish Government, together with COSLA, will now accelerate the process of agreeing the first set of primary schools to benefit from investment, with an announcement expected before the end of the year. Every local authority local authority area across Scotland is expected to benefit from the first phases of the school building programme which sees £800 million of funding from the Scottish Government and £450 million from local councils.”

Revealing the paucity of the SNP’s plans and ambitions for Scotland… 14 Secondary SChools have been announced (see above).. now there will be  a Primary School for all the Council areas that did not get a Secondary….and if you got a Secondary, please don’t ask for a Primary. That’s 32 in all…. 32 new schools from the SNP that promised to match our programme “brick-for-brick”. 

And, BTW, the new schools will not (or are extremely unlikely to be) be delivered before 2011. To spell that out: the SNP is on target to deliver no new schools in its 4 years in power…. what a bunch!    

28 Sep 2009

Largs Academy

I was invited to take a lesson of 3rd year pupils at Largs Academy, the subject being The Public Sector in the UK. It was an interesting experience for me, and I hope the youngsters…..

23 Sep 2009

Largs takes prize in Beautiful SCotland Awards

Largs has been awarded a silver gilt in the Beuatiful Scotland (formerly Scotland in Bloom) Awards in a ceremony in Aberdeen.

More here

10th Sep 2009

Largs Pier Opened

The newly updated and extended Largs pier was formally opened by Princess Ann today. 

The structure will help provide shelter and overnight berthing for CalMac ferries, which run on the Largs to Cumbrae route.

The extended pier will also be used by the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer, The Waverley, on day trips from Glasgow.

Road Closed as Beach House Damaged in Fire

The Skelmorlie road was closed again last night as Beach House was in flames. Fire engines from as far away as Clydebenk attended what was a fierce blaze. the road betwen Largs and Wemyss Bay was cut for the second time in three weeks.

It is of particular concern that the closure again caused traffic disruption and the only available detour is back through Largs, Kilbirnie and Port Glasgow, so I have asked for this matter to be discussed at the next Area Committee.

Fire investigators are at the scene as I write this (Friday afernoon) trying to determine the cause and ensure the safety of the building.

Carbon Capture: True or False?

19 August 2009

An update on the presentation on Carbon Capture.

The civil servants seemed sincere, but there was not a lot of clarity in their presentation. Too much is yet to be decided in terms of the technology and whether it will ever be operational and/or economically viable for any sensible judgements to be made. They think it will work and it will be ready, but details of why or how are very thin on the ground.

At present I’m not persuaded. Let’s await Peel Dong on Sep 11th. to see if they have any more useful information.

17 August 2009

Carbon Capture True or False?

The issue of the SNP’s proposed Coal Fire Power Station at Hunterston is causing a lot of questions and concerns locally. A survey conducted by SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson has found that oposition is very strong, if not overwhelming.

The people of Fairlie in particular are not convinced that the “benefits” of carbon capture are all they are cracked up to be, and they are less convinced that they should pay the price for an experimental power station on their doorstep to prove, or disprove, those benefits.

Today all councillors have been invited to a seminar, the first of two, on Carbon Capture and Storage. The first seminar will be run by civil servants from Holyrood. A second presentation by Peel Dong, the consortium which is in the running to design and build the station, is scheduled for 11th September.

One thing worth emphasising now: your local concillors will have very little say in the planning decisions about this power station. In designating Hunterston as an area of national importance for major projects, the Hlyrood Administration has removed all planning power and responsibility from the local authority. Whatever decisions are taken, they will be taken behind closed doors in Edinburgh by SNP ministers. One quote is that local concillors “may get to decide the colour that the gates are painted”: the really important dedisions are out of our hands.

It will be interesting to see what the project managers have to say about developments so far, and how they answer the many questions which local councillors will have about the viability, indeed  advisability, of this project.

05 August 2009

Skelmorlie Road Closure

The A78 was closed at Skelmorlie over the weekend due to a burst water main. It seems that the agencies..AMEY, the Police… could not agree on how to handle the diversions required to deal with the closure. The result was chaos as traffic was funnelled through Station Road, a narrow, windy, one-way street. The alternative offered was a 50 mile detour back through Largs, Kilbirnie, Lochwinnoch, Port Glasgow, Greenock and Gourock.

Given that this stretch of road has had similar problems before, it is a serious problem that there is no alternative to such a detour. I have asked Roads Department to investigate and find, if possible, a simpler and more acceptable solution.

17 July 2009

Little Cumbrae Bought by Care Home Magnates

Report here: http://www.s1millport.com/news/getting-new-neighbours-little-cumbrae-island-sold-to-glasgow-magnate.html

26 June 2009

To Clydebank for my first COSLA meeting. Items on the agenda are the continuation of the Concordat and the matter of class size 18 in P1-P3.

 

 

The Convention renewed its support for the Concordat as an agreement between local government and Holyrood, but with no commitment to the specific SNP manifesto pledges contained or implied in much of the surrounding comment.

The SNP’s “promise” to reduce class sizes to 18 in P1-p3 was finally abandoned. A paper was adopted to allow “tripartite” talks  amomg the parties: COSLA, the Holyrood Administration and individual local councils. This means that in effect, any council can say to the Minister “Sorry, Minister, local conditions mean that we cannot deliver”. End of story.

There may have been some merit in reducing class sizes, but it takes more than words to do so. You need huge investments over a long time, proper planning and long-term commitment. None of these things are available or were ever likely to be delivered by the SNP. They made the promise and they had no mans of delivering it. It was a straightforward lie. And now they have been found out. 

20 June 2009

Largs Thistle Civic Reception

To the Willowbank for  a civic reception for Largs Thistle in recognition of the team’s promotion to the top tier of Scottish Junior football for the first time in their history. Provost Robert Rae introduced the event and gave a speech of congratulations to the team. Chair Douglas Bennie and the management team have great plans for the future, so we will look forward to the coming season with great interest.

2o June 2009

St Mary’s Gala Day

The Parent Council of St Mary’s Primary has invited me to attend its annual Gala Day at the school and in the playing field. There are a number of stalls and activities (including a rockface, see below) and everyone seems to be having a good time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Parent Council is ambitious in other ways. They have applied for  grants to build an outdoor recreation area behind the school.  

10 June 2009

Another year passes and once again it’s time for the annual prize-giving of Largs Academy. Once again I am impressed at the quality and range of work achieved by our school. It is amazing to see the academic, sporting and cultural breadth of the school’s activities. It has to be seen as a great credit to the teachers, parents, management and other staff. Also, of course to the Council, which has kept up investment in our schools, including a £100,000 extension to Largs Academy opened this year.

P.S. I see that I’m not posting as much or as often as I used to… I have to say that I am very busy with the detailed work involved with the Viking Festival. Since I took over as chairman I have learnt a lot about the intricacies of managing such an important (it is to the people of Largs anyway!) project. It’s enjoyable, but tiring, and I can only see it getting busier as the Festival nears…

P.P.S. We have a great show this year, with a display by the Eurofighter/Typhoon and a concert by Scottish jazz giant Tommy Smith, both on the opening day of the festival, and lots of other treats in store.

 22 May 2009

Scottish Cooperative Womens Guild

Today I was invited to Vikingar! to give a talk to the annual Conference of the Scottish Coo[pertaive Womens Guild. It was a very grand affair, opened by Depute Provost Ian Clarkson, with Euro Candidate Mary Lockhart, MSP Cathie Jamieson and myself as guest speakers.

It has to be said that the delegates are a feisty lot and they seemed to enjoy themselves. Largs was lovely in the sunshine and those delegates who had come from distant corners ofthe country were very impressed by the town and the scenery.

Needles to say, MPs' expenses dominated the speeches, with Mary Lockhart changing her intended speech to cover the subject in some detail.

I spoke in the afternoon, and it seemed to go down well with the delegates. At least there was no booing and they stayed awake throughout!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also did some leafletting in Largs during the lunch break.

The conference lasts two and a half days, so there will be more business tomorrow. I do hope the weather keeps up for the participants. There is no doubt that they will enjoy themselves whatever transpires.

21 May 2009

Kelburn Primary Science Lessons

I attended Kelburn Primary with a team from Hunterstone who are sponsoring science lessons for a number of schools across Scotland.

The Kelburn lesson was on “Forces” and it was delivered to a P1 class. It was fascinating to see how the difficult ideas of Forces, Pull, Push, Gravity, Floating etc. were illustrated and explained to the 5 year olds in Primary 1.

The kids loved it and appeared to take it all in, the teachers loved it and I loved it. A lovely time was had by all.

20th May 2009

New Business Gateway Service on Cumbrae

NAC has linked up with Business Gateway to open a new facility oin Milport. The new srvice will be based at the Garrison and will be provided by Derek Shand who is also responsible for delivering the service on Arran.

Derek believes that the two islands have much in common and much to learn from each other.

The opening was attended by  a number of local business people and it could prove to be a valuable service for the island.

24th April 2009

Save Largs Seafront

In the aftermath of all the controversy about building a car park in Moorburn Gardens, I have written to our Legal and Development staff asking about the possibility of  having more planning protection for Largs seafront. Specifically I have asked about the implementation of Conservation Area Status.

Some parts of Skelmorlie have this status. The bits that do not have Conservation Area status  have been badly affected by unsuitable developments, flats etc. in recent years, and I would hate to have that happen in Largs as well.

I am hopeful that all four local councillors will act as a body in this matter. If we cannot find a quick method of applying for Conservation Area status, the local Development Plan is currently under review and will offer an ideal vehicle for promoting the needs of Largs seafront, and its possible status as a Conservation Area.

15th April

Hunterston Visit – Meet the Minister

Today the Minister for Energy and Enviroment, Ed Milliband, visited Hunterstone B. Council Leader David O’Neill and myself were invited along to view the plant and meet the minister. He was open and approachable and we had a number of exchanges about local matters, including the local view on nuclear energy. 

I was impressed, as always, by the sheer wonder of the engineering involved in such a project.

The SNP is opposed to new nuclear pwer, which seems strange as between them, Hunterson and Torness nuclear power stations produce 35 % of Scotland’s electricity. While being rightly careful of the problems of waste disposal etc., it seems wilfully obstructionist to have a purely idealogical objection to a source of energy that, while not everyone’s cup of tea, is reliable and “clean” in terms of carbon emmissions. 

13th April 2009

Conservative Councillor attacks Viking Festival.

On the 9th April, at the North Coast Area Committee, Elisabethe Marshall opposed the grants which Largs Viking Festival had applied for: grants which have been applied for successfully over many years, and which are vital for the success of the festival. Since myself and Alan Hill are directors of the Viking Festival Committee and were therefore (rightly) barred from voting on our own grant applications,  the committee could not reach a decision and the grants were refused, at least until some solution is found to the impasse. 

You may ask why a local councillor would apparently want the Viking Festival to fail. I have to say it is difficult to see any defensible explanation for Cllr Marshall’s behaviour.

It can’t be political….. at least I can hardly believe that it the policy of North Ayrshire Conservatives for the Largs Viking Festival to be deprived of money and support…… can you?

continued…over the weekend I attempted to find out if Mrs Marshall was following local Conservative Group Policy. I wrote an email to Pat McPhee, the Conservative Group Leader on the Council. She replied that as she  wasn’t at the meeting and knew nothing of the relationships of the people on the Committee or the details of the running of the festival, it would be wrong to comment.

 However, she did say that there is no Conservative policy on the allocation of such grants.

 I replied that I was not clear what point she was making. The relationships of people on the committee should have no bearing: local grants to local festivals should not be political footballs or due to personalities. The question for me is: is Elisabethe Marshall acting with the support of the Conservative Group or not?

 If Liz is politicising the grants, (and even if she isn’t), the Tories risk ridicule and harm in Largs and beyond because of her behaviour. Ridicule and harm to the Conservative cause would normally be no skin off my nose, but I like to seek co-operation if possible and I have always believed that local issues are solved more easily if we can keep party politics out of it.

 I just thought, as Conservative Group Leader, Pat McPhee might like to talk to Liz and at least try to stop her causing a stink in Largs, and making a fool of herself and of the Tories in the bargain, before the whole thing blows up and becomes an issue in the North Coast Ward, at least. . 

 As of Monday evening 13th April, I have had no response to me second email….

More… late on 13th April I got an email from Elisabethe Marshall, although I make the presumption that it was written by  Tom.

 

It said, among other things

 

“Cllr Gallagher fails to make it clear that the Largs Viking Festival (LVF) Grant Applications were continued ( not refused as he states)  to the next meeting as were other grants.”

 

I said, if you read the post, that Liz Marshall opposed the grants at the meeting. She did. The applications were not successful. If they were successful, we would not be having this discussion.

 

“Further information on the operation of LVF has been requested.The grant was delayed last year for other enquiries”

 

Just because the grant was delayed last year doesn’t mean it has to be delayed this year.

 

“To talk of  “failure “of  LVF”

 

No-one has talked of “failure” of the Festival. In any public pronouncement I have been clear that the 2008 Festival was a relative success, and that the new Festival Committee would build on that success. 

 

“The reason  for the delay is that in the last few months according to Companies House  in Edinburgh, 6 Directors of Largs Viking Festival have resigned.”

 

 Liz resigned of her own volition and she knows exactly the circumstances which have seen the improvements in committee membership and attendance.  

 

There are other comments about the LVF committee, but as they are presented without evidence or context, they are IMO unfounded, so I have not reproduced them here.

31st March 2009

The Moorburn Saga ..continued

07th April 2009

For new readers: Moorburn House has been scheduled for closure for about 8 years: the actual decision to close and sell-off was taken in principle during the last administration (about 4 years ago). Elisabethe Marshall has been “campaigning” for it to be kept open for most of that time without actually coming up with any concrete or practical ideas on how it could be kept in public ownership. Last February it was decided to put it on the market. We would have got about £550,000-£600,000 with a quick sale. However Alan Hill and Liz Marshall engineered a delay to the sale and, by the time it was put on sale, the market had collapsed and the only offer was of £325,000. This was accepted by the council, but the buyer declined to procede, and it fell through. The building has been up for sale ever since.

So we have a building on our hands which is surplus to requirements, and for which we have no buyers. It will cost money to keep it open:  janitorial costs, maintenance costs, and the property market has collapsed. Then an offer of £360,000 comes along, with no conditions attached. The day before it is due for consideration by the Executive,  the Largs Initiative puts in an offer of £375,000 but with many conditions attached, including the crucial matters that the money cannot be guaranteed and even if it does turn up, it will be nearer to 3 years before it does so and it requires a suspension of planning guidelines to allow a car park to be built in the garden of Moorburn House.

If I may summarise Provost Rae’s opinion, at least as he has expresssed it in my hearing, Moorburn was built as a family house,  and if it returns to that use, so be it. As for Moorburn House being a “town hall” for Largs, it never was and it’s not suitable anyway. If I have misrepresented Bobby’s position I’m sure he will let me know.

In the past Alan Hill has appeared to agree with Bobby. At least he has been indifferent to the fate of Moorburn as a public building.  But with the Initiative’s latest offer, he seems to have changed his mind and become enthusiastic in campaigning for the building to be kept in public hands, and for a car park to be built in the gardens. This is interesting as he was the leader of the “Save the Seafront” campaign which was set up, as I recall, to stop developments such as car parks on the seafront!  I’m sure Alan will also let me know if this is a mistaken explanation of his position.

I have always been clear: I don’t think that Moorburn is “Largs Town Hall”. It is a converted house, and is not really suitable as a public building, although it has served that purpose for a number of years. The Initiative’s  proposals included an element of public housing. That would have been very desirable to me. I am not particularly enthusiastic about building a car park in the grounds.  The rest of it I could take or leave.

The Executive decided to accept the private offer of £360,000 and to reject the £375,000 offer as being to hedged in with conditions and unlikely to be successfully funded.

I considered signing a “call-in”, so that the decision to accept the £360,000 offer could be taken before the Scrutiny Committee to be reviewed, but after consideration it seemed to me that the Initive’s offer had no chance of being implemented. It also has dangers, in that it entails removing the planning guidance that currently protects Largs seafront from unsymathetic development. By allowing development at Moorburn House, we risk opening the floodgates, and allowing Largs to suffer the fate of other local towns where a deluge of flats has destroyed much of the pleasant aspect of these towns.

The call-in was heard yesterday. Common sense prevailed and the private offer of £360,00 was accepted, although Bobby Rae, for some reason, voted against his previously expressed opinion and for the Initiative’s offer. As he didn’t say anything of note in the meeting, I would presume that he voted on party lines, and not on the arguments as presented, or on his own conclusions as previously expressed in open meetings. If I’m wrong in this I’m sure that Bobby will let me know.

Don’t get me wrong:  I would have been happy if the Initiative’s proposal could have been made to work.  The social housing aspect would have been particularly welcome. But there were too many conditions, the money was not guaranteed and it risked allowing other planning applications on the seafront. In the end it was not a practical proposition, so I reluctantly voted against it. It’s regrettable on an emotional level, but I believe I made the right decision for the right reasons. It’s up to others to judge whether they did the same.

Moorburn Update

My letter to Largs and Millport on the Moorburn decision showing clearly my reasons for opposing the call-in.

To: Letters, Largs and Millport Weekly News

 

Sir,

You rightly report (25^th March) that I voted to against a “call-in” of the decision of the council to accept a private bid for Moorburn House in place of the last-minute bid by Largs Initiative. I did so with some reluctance, and after much thought. Not because I think Moorburn should be kept as a public building. That has never been my position: in my view the building is barely suitable for the purpose it currently serves. What attracted me to the Initiative’s proposals was the element of affordable housing which was a major part of the project and it is a great regret that the possibility, however remote, will now be lost.

However, there are very obvious difficulties with the Largs Initiative offer. It is hedged in with conditions and uncertainties. The proposal is by no means certain to get planning permission for several reasons. Integral to the Initiative’s project is a proposal for a car park in Moorburn Garden. This goes against the planning guidance – guidance which was brought in at the insistence of local councillors to ensure that Largs does not suffer the fate of the unsuitable development which has been allowed to blighted Skelmorlie in the last ten years. It also goes against the sales brief for Moorburn and which was agreed by all four local councillors and which contains a specific prohibition on car-parking. It is also a fact that Moorburn House is a listed building, and the plans may not be upheld by the Heritage bodies.

There are also foreseeable difficulties in financing the project: it is not certain to get the necessary grants and these grants cannot even be applied for until mid-2009. And there are problems with the timing of the project: It will be at least 2 years, perhaps more, before it can even start. There are also problems with the maintenance of Moorburn House in the interim, who would be responsible and how it would be paid for. Any one of these difficulties could derail the project, which would mean a possible lapse of a number of years followed, in the end, by a failure to achieve our objectives.

Another strong factor for me was the fact that an existing arrangement between Labour and the SNP to tie the money from the sale of Moorburn to the proposed new Community Hall in Lade Street, could be jeopardised, and the financing of that project may be delayed or perhaps even nullified. On balance, it seemed illogical to break an agreement, and to support a project with an uncertain outcome, in an attempt to keep open an older building at the expense of the provision of a new Community Hall for the town.

I supported the private offer, on balance, because it was immediate and it met the conditions which all four local councillors had previously agreed. Given that the amounts of the offers are not greatly different, it seemed sensible to me to take the offer that would give an immediate and certain return as opposed to a delayed and uncertain return. It is important to point out that the private offer, if accepted, will result in Moorburn House returning to its use as a family house, it will be privately maintained inside and out, with no visual impact on the seafront.

For these reasons I agreed to reject the call-in. I know it is a complicated and, for some people, an emotional matter. Some may believe that I got my decision wrong, but I took it after much thought, and on the risks and facts as I saw them.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Alex Gallagher

Councillor, Ward 8

Moorburn update again

16th April

At a special meeting of the council to discuss the sale of Moorburn the issue was finally rejected by the council. As the matter had been decided by the council less than 6 months ago, it was necessary to suspend standing orders so that the issue could be discussed again, but the necessary two-thirds majority was not reached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The issue has divided the local councillors, the council itself and the SNP, but it should now be now dead. 

 

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28th March 2009

The new Viking Festival Committee met with supporters and the Swords of Dalriada re-enactment group for a celebratory photo.

27th March 2009

I attended the opening of the new Heritage Centre at St. Columba’s church. It is a lovely display and will give visitors something to look at and think about on a grey day.

I took the opportunity to talk to Graham Lyle and Benny Gallagher who were also at the opening. Daniella Nardini was also there, but she left before I could get a chance for a wee word!

27th March 2009

Check out my new link to Braveheart’s Blog http://braveheart-braveheartsblog.blogspot.com/ 

and discuss Scottish Politics in an adult and moderate fashion. 

23 March 2009

MOORBURN HOUSE

To Irvine for the “call-in” of the decision to sell Moorburn House. There are two offers for the building , one from a private individual and one from Largs Initiative. I voted against the call-in (i.e.effectively against the Initiative’s offer) with some reluctance. The affordable housing element of the proposal by Largs Initiative would have been welcome, but the sad truth is that the project is not tenable, at least IMO. It has too many ifs, buts and maybes, and they all have to come together smoothly for any chance of success. In the cold light of day it is highly unlikely that it can be taken to a successful conclusion.

It is notable that the call-in was signed Alan Hill and Liz Marshall but not by the Provost.  The third signatory wasthe Conservative Councillor for Garnock Valley, Robert Barr. I would be interested to know Mr Barr’s reason for calling in the sale, and his level of understanding of the issues involved since it is quite a complicated matter and he has shown no interest in it ’til now.

The matter will now be discussed in full at the Scrutiny Committee on the 6th April.

16th March 2009

North Ayrshire Development Plan

 Today saw the start of the process of creating a new Development Plan for the Council area. The Develpment Plan Committee (essentially all Councillors and a number of officers)kicked off the process at an inaugural meeting.

For me the crtical elements are Housing, particularly affordable housing, for the North Coast area, general development on Cumbrae and the necessity to keep the focus on those unique areas of concern to us in Ward 8, i.e. Tourism, the physical environment, town centre development. The recent decision by SNP Ministers to allow a windfarm at Kelburn raises fears that the Kaim Hill farm will also be allowed if it goes to Holyrood appeal.

Euro Elections

On Saturday I accompanied Catherine Stihler MEP, on a walk round and leaflet drop in Saltcoats. It was freezing cold with a cutting wind. We got  a good reception from the locals, who seemed to me to be particularly polite and amenable bunch!

15th March 2009

Labour Leads in Latest Poll

YouGov latest poll shows that the Scottish Nationalists have made a mistake by ploughing forward in pursuit of independence.  The poll shows a clear majority of Scots believe that Alex Salmond has misjudged the mood of Scots by planning a vote on separatism at the height of a recession.

The report in the Sunday Times reports that Alex Salmond’s determination to press ahead with the referendum, and his failure to push through manifesto commitments, have led to a slump in support for his government.

The poll of 1,380 adults last week put the SNP on 35% in the constituency vote, with Labour on 34%, but on the regional vote Labour is on 32% and the SNP 30%.

It would give Labour 49 seats (+3), the SNP 44 (-3), the Tories 18 (+1), Lib Dems 15 (-1) and Greens three (+1).

04 March 2009

Largs Bloming Lovely

Ken Welch and the Initiative have decided to resurrect the Largs Blooming Lovely Campaign. At a meeting in Moorburn last night, a new committee was formed, and it was agreed that an application be put forward for the 2009 award. This is excellent news for the town. The kudos and publicity gained from the previous “in bloom” awards was a great filip and spread the word far and wide. Let’s hope that we can have similar success in the future.

26th Feb 2009

Elisabethe Marshall has resigned as Director of the Viking Festival. At our AGM only three Committee members turned up, and the other directors were presumed to have resigned.

It is now imperative that we recruit some more directors to share the load. They will have to be competent and  dedicated and have ideas about the future direction of the Festival.

This task begins in two weeks, when we will have invited nominees to a special meeting. It would be good if we could finalise the Committee, and get a focus on this year’s Festival.

12th Feb 2009

Budget passes

The Council today passed the 2009/2010 budget. There was surprisingly little drama and quite a lot of consensus as the main elements of the budget were accepted by the SNP and Tory opposition with only minor amendments.

Viking Festival

For my sins I have been nominated as interim chair of the Viking Festival Committee. There will be an AGM in a few weeks at which a full complement of directors will be elected and, with a bit of luck, we can sort out the committee and get the festival on track to deliver this year and for the future. 

25th January 2009

Town Twinning between Largs and Aldernos-les-Bains

A hectic weekend with the delegation from Largs twinned town, Andernos-les-bains. The French group including Mayor Phillipe Perusat appeared to have a great time, from the official reception at Cunninghame House, a meal at Nardinis, through a civic reception at Moorburn and an official signing ceremony at Clarke Memorial Church Hall.

The weekend was rounded off at a Burns Supper in Brisbane House Hotel. The delegation proved to be a lively bunch and much fun was had by all.

Great credit and thanks is due to the town twinning committee under the guidance of the chair, Richard Wilkinson.

 

 

 

 

 

16th January 2009

A visit to St Mary’s Primary in Largs to see the work done by the Energy Agency through the schools.

The Energy Association runs an annual project to get school children to paint on an environmental or energy saving theme.   The best paintings are judged and issued as a calender.

15th January 2009

After the SNP decided, belatedly, to take some part in the Service Review Groups, we were promised, and to some extent got, a more adult and cooperative response from them.  For a time.

However, at yesterday’s full council meeting, the barrack-room lawyers of the SNP returned to waste the time and effort of the council meeting and to even weaken the Council’s representation on the Community Planning partnership. All for pleasure of playing a few party political games.

First we had Councillor Gurney asking a number of questions. First, why had officers, in his opinion, offered incomplete and misleading information? When it was pointed out that he had raised this question before, and that, when he was invited to give specifics to the officers concerned and to the Leader of the Council, he had failed to do so. So seven months later, having provided no such detail and done nothing to clarify what he meant by his accusations, he brought it back to Council. To get the same answer and the same request: please furnish the details of your complaint.

He then gave some quotes from the Ombudsman’s report into the issue of Wardens at sheltered housing complexes. To be fair, he was on more sold ground here. The Ombudsman did make valid criticisms of the consultation and communication process, but the decision to replace the Wardens with a more comprehensive elderly care service was not criticised, nor did the Ombudsman recommend that it be rescinded.  

Then he asked about Labour MSP Andy Kerr’s quote that “NAC is one of the Councils in financial meltdown”. It was pointed out that Any Kerr had said no such thing.

The, most astonishingly of all, in the discussion on the Community Planning Partnership, on which the Council has two representatives, Allan Hill insisted on replacing an existing delegate with himself. The proposal was put that we could ask to have three Council reps, but the SNP/Tory coalition decided that the possibility of increasing NAC’s influence on the CPP was not acceptable to them. It was more important to play party politics than to consider improving the Council’s strength on the committee.

Most disappointingly, Councillor Elizabeth McLardy supported the Tory/SNP group on this prime example of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

So. Where are the interests of the people of North Ayrshire  the or North Ayrshire Council in all of this? Pretty well down the list of SNP/Tory priorities it would seem. There’s a very tight budget round in progress. Difficult decisions will have to be made. If we have mature and responsible behaviour from the various parties there is a possibility that we will reach better decisions… better for the people of North Ayrshire and better for the good governance of the Council.

But if the SNP and their Tory partners are intent on being disruptive and negative, then the way ahead looks bleak for the possibility of ever reaching sensible decisions in difficult times.

1st January 2009

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CONSTITUENTS, REGULAR READERS, BROWSERS and of course LOCAL LABOUR PARTY MEMBERS !

2008 was a mixed year with some controversial decisions taken by the council.  Even so, there were significant landmarks with the new social housing at Clark Gardens, the Garrison opening, the new Brooksby Health Centre, the new eight-classroom annexe at Largs Academy, the total refurbishment of the play area in upper Skelmorlie and, at last, work commenced on draining and rebuilding the Skelmorlie football pitch.  

2009 dawns with warnings of economic downturns and disaster for the country in general and business in particular.

The economics of the council will undoubtedly be tight, with even more difficult decisions to be taken than last year.  With the expected continuation of the freeze in Council Tax income, and the general tightness of money to invest in services, the Labour minority administration will be faced with a lot of tough situations.

What, in particular,  these challenges will be, will become clearer as we discuss and digest the budget figures over the next six weeks, but it looks as if we find ourselves in the world of the Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times!“.

Interesting times indeed. Let’s see how it all pans out… and a Happy New Year to you all!

13 Dec 2008

Good news. Juliana and I went to the new Nardinis for a pizza. The building, especially the newly designed interior, is fabulous, and the pizza was also very good!!!

The cafe seems set fair to be the great asset to Largs that it has been in the past. A greatly needed boost to the town’s image and to it’s economy.

13 Dec 2008

Bad news at the polls. We lost the Kilbirnie by-election which was necessitated by the death of councillor Craig Taylor. The SNP won comfortably on a 35% turn-out.

09 November 2008

Remembrance Sunday

This cold and windy morning I attended the Remembrance Service at a well-attended Skelmorlie Parish Church.

The ceremony was shared with Inverclyde as the memorial is shared between Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay and is located at the pier in Wemyss Bay. Inverclyde was represented by ex-provost Cianna Rebecci, who just happens to be a relative of my wife Juliana.

It was a simple and sombre ceremony, and it was nice to see a good turnout, especially of children from the village.  

07 November 2008

Latest News from Glenrothes….

Muddled in from the pub about half past midnight last night, and I swear I saw an announcement that Labour had won the Glenrothes by-election. Can it be true?

Yes it can!

The Labour share of the vote went up! And the majority was a comfortable 6,776.

Good news all round… well done to Lyndsay Roy the local heidie who did the trick!

15 October 2008

Forgive me

Or at least indulge me for intruding some personal news on this page… but we have become grandparents!!!

Young Lachlan arrived yesterday…

And we just had to let the world know…!!!

09 October 2008

New Blue Bin Introduction

All this week there have been “roadshows” in Skelmorlie, Fairlie and West Kilbride on the introduction of the new bin system, designed to separate organic and waste, recyclable waste and heavy plastics etc. into different bins to be picked up on alternate weeks.

The new system of collection will be brought into operation later this month in te North Coast Ward.

03 October 2008

Skelmorlie Play Area

The Play area at Skelmorlie Primary has been extensively upgraded, to the extent that it is fair to say it is really a new facility. Great credit for this must go to the Pupil Council at Skelmorlie Primary, who wrote to me criticising the old facility. With the invaluable help of Ian Kinghorn of Technical Services, we were able to get the new equipment in place in double quick time.

The Play Area opened for business two weeks ago. The children tell me that it is very popular and well used. It is particularly busy before school starts and as the kids are going home at the end of the day.

30 Sep 2008

Education Review Group

As noted above, there are a series of Review Groups taking place. The aim is to look at the operation of a particular department, to look for savings if they can be found and, crucially, to allow Councilors to better understand the operation of the Departments and the Council. As noted above, the SNP has refused to take part in these review groups.

Today we visited Ardeer Primary, John Gault Primary and the new Greenwood Academy. All three schools were welcoming and provided good learning environments.

In particular the new Greenwood Academy 1500 pupil secondary in Dreghorn was a magnificent school. Modern, well equipped and provisioned and with bright kids and competent teachers, it is a beacon school. It is to the crdedit of the Labour party and Labour led NAC, that we built this school, and the equally good St Mathew’s in Ardrossan. We did this in the face of fierce SNP opposition. And Tory oppositon.

I’m proud that we did.

Visit to Greenwood Academy.

29th August 2008

Largs Viking Festival

I have recently become a director of Largs Viking Festival.

The Festival proper starts tomorrow 30th August, but the excitement has already started with the arrival of the RFA Largs Bay in the North Bay.

Fairlie Post Office

Despite the nonsense in the local newspaper, I have registered my complete opposition to the proposed closure of Fairlie Post Office. Today I was interviewed by WestSound radio and gave them a fairly extensive case for saving the Post Office. They put a little bit of the interview on air… I’m trying to find out if I can make the soundbite available on this page…. don’t hold your breath!

Full text of my response to the Post Office.

I am extremely surprised at the decision to recommend closure of the Post Office at Main Road, Fairlie. Fairlie is a rural village, and as such, it is surprising that, given the Government’s commitment to maintaining rural facilities where possible, Fairlie Post Office has been singled out for closure.

The village is residential, with a high proportion of elderly residents, many of whom will have no access to a motor car. You say that Largs Post Office is 2.7 miles from the existing facility in Fairlie, but many of these residents live up the hill, away from the main road, and any trip by bus will lengthened and complicated by having to get to the Main Road to catch the bus to Largs, which is the next nearest Post Office. Others live to the south of the village and clearly live more than three miles from Largs Post Office.

If this closure goes ahead it is certain that many residents of Fairlie, both up the hill, and to the south of the village, will have to travel much more than the three miles you stipulate as the longest appropriate distance of travel. Many of these will be elderly, some of them infirm. Many will have to make the journey, at considerable inconvenience, by public transport.

The Post Office is a key facility for many residents who collect benefits etc. and who rely on an accessible Post Office to maintain these vital transactions for them.

The Post Office is one of very few active businesses in Fairlie and its loss will be felt by the community in many ways. If the Post Office closure goes ahead the shop will close, again at some inconvenience to the town and local residents, particularly the elderly and infirm.

Before I conclude, let me deal with the recommendation that Fairlie customers can, in future, use the Largs Post Office. It is not so long since Largs had two Post Offices. In the last wave of closures, it lost one of these. To now say that the remaining Post Office should cope with the custom which previously took three post offices makes little sense. Largs Post Office is very busy at peak times. Adding Fairlie residents to the queues will make it intolerable to use on a number of occassions in any one week.

I note that you are willing to provide the rationale that you use to justify a particular recommendation for closure, but you have nothing to say on the reasons why another similar Post Office is kept open. I believe that your failure to reveal the full costs / benefit of your rationale in all cases makes it impossible to mount a full defence of any particular Post Office. You have full information in all cases, while local councils, myself and local people have partial information at best. I would request that, before these proposals are implemented, you release a full amount of data to local councils and other interested bodies, so that we can make a fair and reasoned analysis on the same basis as yourselves. I believe that this is necessary in the interests of fair and equitable treatment for all parties. Without this information being made available, the suspicion will persist that the decision to close this Post Office is based more on your convenience and the commercial savings to Post Office Ltd. than on any of the criteria which you state are in operation.

30th July 2008

Review of Capital Plan Keeps Largs Community Centre on Track

Yesterday I attended the Executive of the Council, where we were given a presentation of the revised Capital Plan. The revision is necessary because of the credit crunch and the effect it has on our ability to sell surplus assets, and therefore to get income to balance the books. It was decided to suspend significant sales until the market turns up. Nothing of significance has been dropped from the capital plan, but some programmes have been delayed ’til later years. The good news is that the new Largs Community Centre has been kept unchanged, and will be going ahead as planned.  

Haylie House

I also attended a briefing on my new position as a trustee of Haylie House care home. It was an interesting overview of the set-up, finances and the physical building and services delivered by the charity.

Haylie House is one of the most respected care homes in Scotland, and I look forward to my involvement and being able to help in any way I can.

29th July 2008

It’s been a quiet time, as the council is in recess.

I’ve been on Arran for a long weekend since Friday morning, so I missed a lot of the hoo-ha over the Glasgow East by-election – it’s a different world without 24 hour tv news! 

We walked and drove the whole island and the weather was beautiful, so we had a great time. One thing I couldn’t help noting is that the council has a very visible presence on Arran. I was particularly impressed with the brand new Arran High School complex.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arran High School

It seemed a wonderful facility for the people and in particular the children of Arran, and delivered by the Labour Council.

 

Opening of New Houses at Clark Gardens

The new Cunninghame Association house at Clark gardens on Moorburn Road, largs, are now complete. New Tenants Cameron and Natalie Neil were pleased to accept the keys and will move in on Wednesday 16th July. Congratulations to them, and to all the new tenants who will join them in this much needed social housing development for the North Coast. 

3rd July 2008

The Queen visited Inverclyde sports Centre today to celebrate its 50th anniversary. It rained all through the visit, but it seemed to go well nevertheless.

June 30th

I have been appointed a a director of Haylie House, and of the Viking Festival. I look forward to both appointments and learning and contributing to both projects.

June 24th 2008

At today’s Council Meeting I volunteered to become a director of Haylie House. I have no clear idea what it entails, but I am looking forward to getting involved an dhelping as much as I can with this Largs institution.

Today I also became a director of the Viking Festival… not sure if it’s a great idea given the recent problems within the committee, but I think it’s good that councillors get involved with local organisations, so I’m willing to give it a go. The organisation for this year’s festival is almost complete, so I guess I’ll learn more as the next season takes shape.

24th 2008

I have been informed by the Planning Department that the Slipway Application is not to be “called in”, so it is now being returned to Irvine and will be approved with no more formality.

I have informed David Kent of SSI and Carlyn Elder of the Marina who semed delighted.

This is great news for the town and for the Marina. All four local councillors have combined to support this application, to the extent of writing to the planning authorities in Edinburgh to express that support. I believe that the new facility can now be built in time to allow national and international championships to take place, and to provide Largs and Scotland with an high quality, international class venue for prestigious yachting events.

 The planning application will now be returned to Irvine for a final decision by the council. Given that it has been passed at two previous Planning Committee meetings, there should be no problem with allowing the development to commence as soon as possible.   

June 20th 2008

June 22nd 2008

I was invited to Millport to the celebration of the Golden Jubilee  of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. The alter party included the current Bishop John Cunningham, Maurice Taylor the retired bishop, past Parish Priest Mgr Joseph Boyd and current Parish Priest, Father Eamon Flynn.

After the service we were all invited back to the DA hall for an excellent buffet meal.

I have to say it was an excellent family day. Everyone enjoyed themselves. We even had a 16mm film (converted to DVD) of the original opening of the church 50 years ago, showing continuously. It was a great reminder of how things change, and yet stay the same.

Thanks to the organisers for inviting me. I had a great time!

June 21st 2008

Last night I went to a recording of the radio programme Any Questions at James Watt Campus in Kilwinning.

It proved an interesting evening. The panel consisted of Wendy Alexander, Dominic Grieve, Ed Davey and Nicola Sturgeon. I put forward a question on the “C. Diff” outbreak at Alexandra Hospital, but it was not accepted (another question on the same subject was).

I was impressed by all of the speakers, and the way they took on the questions which, we were assured, they had not previously seen… I’m sure they could guess which were likely to come up, but still, they were all well briefed.

Wendy Alexander was asked if she still supported an early referendum on independence, and she said she did. Strangely it was Nicola Sturgeon who seemed afraid of the referendum… and I thought it was SNP policy??!!  

June 20th 2008

An acknowledgement has been received from Edinburgh that the plans for the new slipway at Pencil beach are in the hands of civil servants and the 28-day turn-round starts today, which means we should have a reply by, or maybe even before, 18th June.   

June 18th 2008

Late last year Ian Kinghorn of Grounds Maintenance and I met with the School Council at Skelmorlie Primary. They were concerned at the state of the play area in the town. Ian followed up with his department, and today the plans of an extensive upgrade to the play area were presented to the Headmistress and to the School Council. The project will replace and extend the existing play area with more modern play equipment. It is hoped that the upgrade will take place over the summer.

June 18th 2008

Because of the complications of the Planning System, the application for the new slip at the Marina was,  yet again, brought back to the Planning Committee yesterday. I attended and saw the application finally agreed for referral to Ministers at Holyrood.

I also learned that the World Laser Championships have been allocated to Scotland for 2010 and that this facility needs to be complete to have a chance of hosting the event.

I will now send the agreed letter to relevant Ministers and MSPs to try to ensure that the application is not left on a shelf over the summer, and that we have a chance to get the project completed on time

15th June 2008

Councillor Liz Marshall and myself visited Nardinis to view progress. There has been a lot of change since our last visit, but it is obvious (as it has been for some time) that the June date for opening is impossible to meet.

Nevertheless, the improvements to the building are taking shape, and they promise to be impressive. The extensions for kitchen and staff space have been constructed, the fabric of the exterior and interior is almost complete and it is hoped to begin the interior fit-out in about two weeks time.

The project managers are still predicting a summer opening, which would be a good thing for the town. I will keep an eye on progress and report here when I get new information.

07 June 2008

I was invited to Auchenharvie Ice Rink to present some of the prizes at the Skating Club’s annual competition. Katy Clark MP and Provost Bobby Rae were there, as were a number of other councillors. I was impressed by the fitness and dedication of the girls as they competed for the class and age prizes. Two of the girls competing were international class and had competed for Scotland and Great Britain.

It was a most enjoyable day and I left with a good impression of how the small groups of volunteers who dedicate time and energy to running these organizations perform a positive good for the community.

The icing on the cake was that I was able to give a prize to Largs girl Jemma Reid, who was first in her class.  

06 June 2008

Largs Academy Prizegiving last night. The school has recently had very good HMI report, and the Headmaster Arthur Jones was correct to make much of it in his speech. Largs Academy is an excellent local school which has benefited from investment over the past ten years, investment it was starved of in previous decades.

To the prizegiving. I am not one of those who shares the doom and gloom about our youngsters that seems so prevalent today. It’s great to see the young people of the area getting some reward for their efforts and to see the wide variety of skills and knowledge that they possess. As usual with Largs Academy, the music and singing was of a very high standard, and we had a nice tea and strawberry tart to follow.

Altogether a pleasant evening, although I got soaked walking home after the event! 

05 June 2008

Pencil Beach gets Clean Beach Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful

Councillors and Officers attend the Pencil Beach Flag award Ceremony.

Pencil Beach in Largs has been awarded a Clean Beach Award by the Keep Scotland Beautiful Campaign.

This is a significant achievement for Largs. This popular beach has now got the imprint and approval of a national organisation, confirming the cleanliness and quality of the beach and the quality of the water for swimmers. Tourists can now visit Largs in the knowledge that we have a safe, secure and clean bathing facility at the ever popular Pencil Beach.

Newton Beach

Councillors and Officers attend the Neton Beach Flag Ceremony.

On the same day, the Keep Scotland Beautiful Awards was renewed for Newton Beach on Cumbrae. This award was first given last year. The beach has also recently been named as Scotland’s favourite beach.

Local Councilors and officials gathered at Newton Beach and the Pencil for a photo opportunity on what was a beautiful June day.

 

 June 3rd

Glasgow City Council hasset up a little exercise in calculating your liabiliy under the SNP’s proposed Local Income Tax.

 It’s easy to use and it’s here; http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/

Update 03 June 2008

At the North Coast Area Comittee meeting yesterday I raised the question, and got the agreement of all four local councillors, to write to the relevant minister asking that there be no undue delay in reviewing, and garnting, this application.

It transpires that there is a general commitment on the part of Holyroodto process these applications within 28 days, but at this time of the year any delay would take us up to the summer recess, which could be dangerous to the timetable of the project.

Update 29 May 2008

The Planning Committee of the council has passed the plans for a new slip at Pencil Beach but, given that North Ayrshire Council has financial and other interests in the project, the decision has been referred to Holyrood for ministers a final decision.

Any delay in the decision making may be vital to the success of the project, as the timimng of its completion is important to the Scottish Yachting Association in considering the venue for pre-Olympic activities.

I have therefore written to Kenneth Gibson MSP to ask him to use his presence in Holyrood to impress upon ministers the importance of making the right decision and in speed of decision making.

12 May 2008

To my surprise I was summoned to be part of the Magnum Review Group. Someone dropped out, and I was nominated to take their place. The group has begun considering what we should do about the Magnum Centre in Irvine. Once a state-of-the-art facility, the 30-year-old building is now out of date as a building and a facility. It needs constant maintenance and is very inefficient in its use of fuel and heating etc. It costs a lot just to keep the building open and operating.

We have the task of deciding what should be done in terms of upgrading, refurbishing or replacement of the facility. From what we learned yesterday, it’s not going to be an easy task or decision to make.

12th may 2008

It seems Kenny Gibson thinks I’m not worthy of being called a Scot. In Mr Gibson’s opinion, if you disagree with him, you are, and I quote ;

“Unlike Mr Gallagher, the SNPwill also standup for Scotlandwhen they don’t. Sadly, he appears to loathe the very concept of Scotland andhas neither faith nor trust in the good judgement of the Scottish people.”

So for the crime of not being a Nationalist, I must somehow “loathe Scotland” and think all other Scots are stupid…. By the way, when Mr Gibson says “they” I presume he means me and/or other voters who are not nationalists. That’s the majority of Scots that Mr Gibson seems to believe are not fit to breathe the same air as him….

You can read the whole of Mr Gibson’s sorry farrago of a letter here….

http://www.largsandmillportnews.com/articles/3/23738

7th May 2008

I have joined a Service Review Group (the working groups that the SNP is afraid to take part in). This one is on the future of the Education Department. A large part of our deliberationswill be concerned with where the 3% cuts that the SNP Adminitration in Edinburgh wants councils to identify and enact – incidentally, isn’t it ironic that the council is trying to implement SNP national policy and the local SNP group has renagedon any cooperation! You couldn’t make it up. On reflection, you could easily make it up: when dealing with the SNP fiction is your best guide.

Given the opposition to the last review group to look at education (see press release) it is difficult to see how any savings can be proposed, and if they are proposed, that they could ever be implemented in such an atmosphere of irresponsibility as the opposition Tory/SNP coalition pursues.

30th April

I attended a meeting in Largs academy, called by the Community Council, to put the case for keeping Moorburn open. About 35 attendees, so not agreat turnout, which I calculated didn’t exactly show a great passion for the subject on the part of the people of Largs.

Tom Steele from NHS Ayrshire and Arran gave a short decscription on the new facilities which wil be delivered by the Brooksby Centre.

The plea to keep Mooorburn was made by Liz Marshall from the platform. Myself, Allan Hill and Bobbby Rae all contributed along the same lines: it might have been a good idea if something had been done yerars ago, but it’s now too late, Moorburn is a listed building, andthe safeguards in the conditions of sale are adequate to keep the building in a proper state to protect the Largs seafront from the depradations of property developers.

Discussion then moved on to the £1.1 million that the council has approved for a new Community Centre in Largs. Again there were a number of negative comments.

I have to say that I got a bit annoyed, and pointed out that the opening of a new Health Centre and the promise of a new Community Centre are “good news” stories, and really do not merit the negative reception evident from the audience.

And it’s true: Largs is geting a new, much needed, Health Centre and it will get a new Community Centre in the near future. In an imperfect world, that’s all good news.

24th April

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Status of Assessments and Implementation of the New Care Service

 Social Services gave this status as of 24^th April 2008.

 Of 73 tenants in sheltered housing in the North Coast Ward, only 6 have, so far, required additional services.

 As of the above date, assessments have been carried out on 52 sheltered housing tenants in the North Coast. A further 21 tenants have refused an assessment and there are 2 assessments still to be completed. Both of these relate to tenants that are in hospital. Of the 52 assessments carried out, 6 tenants were found to require additional services. Of these 6, 4 people required to be referred to our Occupational Therapy service and 2 people required an increase in their Care at Home support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I invited representatives of the Noddsdale Meadows Residents Association, including Chair David Anderson and Secretary Kate Kinnear, to Irvine to meet withsenior council officers to discuss their perceived problems with factorage on the estate, and withthe Greenbelt Group of Companies. Katy Clark MP also present to lend her weight to the case.

Nine residents turned up, which was rather more than we had anticipated, but the meeting was well conducted and good mannered.

It seems unlikey that the Residents’ main aim of having the factorage transfered to the council will happen, but the residents were advised to put their request for this to happen on paper andconvey their wish to the council, as a prelude to further discussions.

Other problems on the estate were also discussed.

8th April

Attended meeting in the Largs Library to see the presentation from the Scottish Sailing Institute on the proposed development at the Pencil. Unfortunately the meeting had been advertised for 6.30 pm, but actually started at 6pm, so I missed about 20 minutes of the presentation.

It is obvious that there are advantages and benefits for the town in attracting international class sailing events to Largs, which the development will allow, but there was also a lot of concern about the impact of the development on the Pencil Beach. 

Despite the downside of the new  slipway and its encroachment into the existing beach, it is claimed that the benefits to Largswould be substantial, bringing more international sailing events to the town, with all the  publicity that brings, not to mention the business opportunities of hundreds of competitors, their families friends and spectators staying here for the preparation days and the events themselves.

The matter is comng before the planning committee in May.

7th April

Apologies to anyone who atended my planned surgery on 3rd April at Moorburn. Unfortunatey I was delayed andcould not attend. I phoned Moorburn but there was no answer. I can only assume that the various numbers I tried did not ring through to reception. So again, sincere apologies. If you attended and still want to talk to me, please see the Home or Contact Your Councillor page. 

26th March

I attended a full-house meeting in the Semple Centre in Fairlie to oversee the set-up of a Neighbourhood Watch for the Causeway area. Suzanne Fairlie called the meeting after several incidents in the area.

Jim Dougal from Strathclyde Police and Jim Milller from Saltcoats made a very good presentation on how to set up and organise a scheme.

A number of volunteers were found, including Suzanne, to take on the co-ordinator responsibility, and it looks as if the plan for a Negbourhood Watch will go ahead.

March 2008

SNP Votes Against More Social Housing

At the last council meeting the SNP voted against the provision of new low rent housing for North Ayrshire. They didn’t put it that way of course. Instead they put down a motion claiming that the site of a former primary school in Ardrossan was “green field”, when it was in fact “brown field”, i.e. it had already been built upon and occupied by a school for decades.

The SNP then objected to this “green” site having houses built for socially appropriate renting to low income families, the “saving” of an old building site being apparently more imortant to the SNP than the provision of houses to families that need decent homes.

Contrast this with the provision of social housing in Largsby the council, in association with Cunninghame Housing Association. These houses will be available in the autumn and they will provide much needed housing in Largs for those who cannot afford to buy a house locally but who, nevertheless, wish to remain in the town.

In the debate I suggested that, if only Largswas so blessed with free land for housing that it could reject perfectly good brown field sites in the intetrests of making some obscure party political point, how happy I would be. Unfortunately there is not the land in the town to build such housing. Who knows, the SNP might celebrate this lack. I deplore it.

14th March 2008

Largs Initiative calls meeting to “Improve the Town”.

Marlyn Green of Largs Initiative, Robert Crawford, Guest Chairman and Carolyn Elder of the Chamber of Commerce at the Largs Conference.

Largs Initiative hosted a meeting of business people andother invited individuals to discuss ways of improving the town. At the request of the Initiative, the meeting was chaired by Robert Crawford, whose CV is loaded with development experience including being ex-head of Scottish Enterprise. Attendees included Katy Clark MP, Kenny Gibson MSP, myself and fellow councillors Liz Marshall and Allan Hill, plus a roll-call of local businessmen and women.

The meeting identified some key problems and opportunities which will be addressed at a follow-up meeting in April.

10th March 2008

Official Opening of the Garrison in Millport

Deputy Provost Ian Clarkson and local Councillor Elizabethe Marshall at the official opening of the Garrison.

After a ten-year project, with setback such as a serious fire which almost destroyed the building, the newly refurbished Garrison House in Millport was officially opened today.

Lord Bute sold the building to the community to allow the project to go ahead. The £4million plus project was paid for by, among others, NAC, HIE, the Lottery and Scottish National Heritage.

With features such as a brand new library, a cafe, and accommodation for doctors surgery and NHS facilities, it is a brilliant addition to the resources of the town andthe island.

6th March 2008

Council Meeting

The council meeting yesterday was interesting. It was attended by many members of the public who had been taken in by the SNP/Tory coalition propaganda on the sheltered housing warden issue, andby peopleconcerned about the schools closure programme. The presence of so many people added greatly to the atmosphere of the usually bland council meetings.

The first set piece debate was on the building of social housing in Ardrossan -v- preserving a brown-field site. The SNP and the Tories were opposed to the new houses. Labour and the Lib Dems, plus Margie Currie, were in favour of more social housing and, thankfully, we united to carry the debate and the vote. Now an 24 extra families will, in due course, get decent and cheap housing.

The other controversy was the SNP/Tory coalition attempt to get the wardens matter revisited. To do so, they needed to suspendstanding orders, which would require a two-thirds majority. In the event they lost the motion to suspendstanding orders by 15-13, so they could not even get a simple majority, and would have lost the vote again, as they did at the budget.

4th March 2008

The Scottish Executive has set up a trial of Road Equivalent tariff for the outer isles, at the cost of a £22million subsidy. It is significant that the Cumbraeroute, which has the highest fare per mile in Scotland, has not had the benefit of the subsidy. The Largs Branch intends to campaign on this issue. Why should Cumbrae, with the greatest costs, be left out of this experiment, which would greatly enhance the attractiveness andlower the costs of visiting the island?

29th Feb 2008

Katy Clark arranged a meeting with Noddsdale Residents Association to which I was invited. Among the subjects discussed was the transfer of factoring of the common land in the estate to the Greenbelt Group. This was not popular among the residents and it was agreed that I would try to get the council policy changed so that the council would factor the land. The group will get its thoughts together andI will arrange a meeting with the appropriate officers to see if/how this can be achieved.

22nd Feb 2008

With the imminent closure of Moorburn and the possible need for new venues for groups within Largs, all four North Coast Councillors visited the Vineburgh Community Centre in Irvine to see whether the design and facilities would be suitable for a refurbished or rebuilt Stevenson Institute.

The centre was most impressive, not least the formidable volunteer army that works to keep it going. Spaces were flexible and well lit. It appeared well used, and the atmosphere was busy, although the staff assured us that Friday afternoons are quiet, and the building was not as busy as normal!

If we could have something as good as this it would be a great asset to Largs and to the various groups and organisations that could make use of it.

Community Radio

Louis Ferguson at the console of 3TFM, the community radio station based in Salcoats which serves the three towns.

Earlier in the day I visited the community radio facility in Saltcoats. It was an eye-opener. Very professionally run and with great impact on and lots of potential for involving and helping the 3 towns community.

11th February 2008

Fairlie fair trade Group and their “Fair Trade” Road sign at the south end of the village.

Tonight I attended Fairlie Fair Trade AGM. It is obvious that this is a very active and effective group. They have become a part of the village community and have a full programme of activities.

Their latest venture is a website to publicise their existence and events. It is at http://www.fairliefairtrade.co.uk , and I have made a link from our main page to it this site.

An upcoming event is a “ready steady cook” style cook-up, which promises to be an enjoyable evening.

8th February 2008

The Budget

The 2008/9 budget was debated yesterday (7th February).

The background:

• All group leaders, David O’Neil, Alan Hill, Liz Marshall, Ruby Kirkwood and Liz McLardy (spokeswoman for the independents), have been involved in a series of pre-budget meetings to ensure full communication of, and the opportunity to question, all budget information. In addition, all councillorshave been invited to a series of pre-budget seminars, again to ensure that all the information from the officers is available to all, and that all the issues, including the planned spending and savings, are known.
• There has been a tight spending allocation from Westminster and ….
• Councils have agreed to implement the SNP Executive’s Council Tax Freeze.
• We have been given £1.7m to cover a notional 2.5% increase that would have been necessitated by inflation…
• …in addition money which was previously “ring-fenced” for particular projects or programmes is now calculated to have been included in the Executive’s allocation to the council. This creates some uncertainty as it has not proved easy to clearly identify this money and confirm that there has been a full allocation.
• The upshot is that savings have to be made in order to balance the budget, and all services have been asked to find a flat 3% saving from their budgets.
• The Labour Administration is in a minority on the council, so the support of other groups and individual councillors is necessary to pass their legislation.

The large majority of the budget is more-or-less fixed, as allocated to the key services of Education, Social services, Housing, Roads etc. which have to be delivered by the council, by law.
The two items in dispute were the oppositions aim to provide free swimming for all at a cost of £500,000-£750,000. This was met by a Labour-promoted compromise amendment to deliver extra free swimming to all schoolchildren at a cost of £108, 000 and to take the money from reserve funds. This suggestion was accepted by the opposition without a vote.

The other contentious issue was the matter of the wardens for the sheltered housing complexes. Social Services can save £500,000 by redesigning the service delivery to tenants. This will mean the removal of the wardens, which is naturally enough quite an emotional matter.

The opposition wanted to refer this proposal to a study for more information, but the Labour Administration argued that the changes would be introduced sensitively, that they were in fact an improvement to the service and should not be delayed any longer than necessary, and that there would be no redundancies among the wardens.

After a good debate, a roll call vote was taken. The Tories and the SNP voted against the changes to the service, but the Liberal Democrats and a number of independents, including Liz McLardy, supported the Labour motion to implement the changes. The Labour Administration won the day, so the Administration’s budget was passed by 16 vote to 14.

30th January

Gordon Gibb, Architect, displayed the latest proposals for the Beach House site to a packed meeting in Skelmorlie Community Hall.

It was strikingly different from the previous proposal, in that it consisted of three large and one small “pavilion” type buildings, designed to look less overpowering from the street and more impressive to the shore side.

Concerns were expressed over the height and positioning of the buildings and the fact that it is another 50-odd flats for the village. Questions were raised about the sewerage and other capacities within the village, and their ability to cope.

30th January

To Skelmorlie Primary for Primary Six’s Burns Supper. This is the first time the teachers and children have run this event and it was a great success. Councilor Marshall and Provost Rae were there, as were representatives of the Largs Cronies.

It was very enjoyable.

The ceremony was taken seriously with the haggis piped in and out and all the traditional poems and speeches, some songs and haggis and neeps, washed down with Irn Bru.

29th January 2008

I attended the AGM of the Tenants and Residents Association for Largs in the Community Hall in Flatt Road.

It was agreed that Sandra Clark should be Chair and Betty BelliVice Chair, with Lynn McMurray as Secretary and Peter Belli as Treasurer.

This organisation is key to the town and the delivery of services, and I hope it can do its bit to revitalise those areas of Largs, broadly the Council and ex-Council house areas, that it is set up to serve.

23rd January 2008

Visited Largs Academy to meet the Headmaster, Arthur Jones, and to see the school. I also viewed the new building, which has 8 extra classrooms and which is nearing completion.

During my visit I met three friends who just happen to be teachers in the school, Robin and Carol Wark, and Frank Turbot. I also met a neighbour, Christine, who works in the library!

I was not surprised to find a good atmosphere in the school. There is an HMI planned in three weeks, but i have no doubt that the school will perform well.

21st January

No Poo on My Shoe launch their new CD single in St Mary’s Primary.

I was invited by the “No Poo on my Shoe” campaign to attend the launch of their new song and CD, sung by pupils from all the Largs schools. The launch was in St Mary’s Primary in Largs. The song was excellent and excellently sung.

I think this group is doing a great job in a vital area of public health and I predict their campaign will be high profile and successful. Let’s hope so!

21st January

Skelmorlie Primary School Council wrote to me about the state of the play area adjacent to the school. After an initial inspection by some officers andmyself, I suggested a visit to the School Council to discuss the kids’ perceptions and to see if they had any ideas to improve the play area.

The Head Teacher, Mrs Muir, was happy to host us, so Ian Kinghorn from Grounds Maintenance and myself went along on Friday 18th. The children ran the council themselves in a quite professional manner and we had a good discussion. Ian took away some ideas and he will look to see what budget is available and what can realistically be delivered.

We will then schedule another meeting with the school council to discuss any proposals.

8th January 2008

Who are these people? Clue, they use SNP election material!

During the Christmas break, I found my car covered in these stickers. This is not the first time this has happened. They seem to be from an SNP offshoot. They have also put the stickers on the post office and some hand made posters on the Haylie Brae. Has anyone else come across this group? Does anyone know who they are and what they think they are up to?

From this picture of the posters on the Haylie Brae it is easy to see that, the slogans and the colours of this group are actually painted on the back of SNPelection posters. So, whoever they are, they seem to have connections with the SNP. It would be a surprise, given that they obviously have access to SNP materials, if the local SNP leadership didn’t know of these people and what they are up to.

I sometimes wonder if the local, or indeed the national, SNP leadership, secretly approves of this group and its activities.

SNP Budget 15 Nov 2007

The SNP has produced its first budget. Key is the promises broken rather than delivered, number one among those is the failure to abolish student debt. Below is an analysis by the Labour Party of the budget speech.

The Scottish Spending Review

Today, the SNP revealed its first budget, which outlined their long-awaited spending plans for the next three years.

While rural affairs and the environment emerge as winners, the losers of this budget are children and young people. This is a budget of broken promises. In their manifesto the SNP say they will: “invest in the frontline with a particular focus on health education and tackling crime.” But the budgets suggests otherwise.

Student Debt
The SNP promised to dump student debt, instead they have dumped Scotland’s students. They have ditched their commitment to write off student debt on the basis that they “won’t get the vote through Parliament” – this is without putting their proposals to parliament

This comes despite Nicola Sturgeon’s claim in January: “… I have explained that we will do this over a period of years in much the same way as the graduates would have done themselves. We will effectively stand in the shoes of Scottish students who remain resident here and take on the burden of their debt.” Nicola Sturgeon

Children andyoung people
The SNP promised a nursery teacher for every nursery child and have now backtracked.
Alex Salmond promised funding for kinship carers and there is nothing delivered for them in this budget.

Anti-social behaviour and Community Safety
Labour focussed on tackling crime and antisocial behaviour but the SNP’sbudget does not fund antisocial behaviour and community safety strategies.
The money previously given to antisocial behaviour and community safety has been moved into Local Authority GAE. This means that there is no guarantee that councils will spend this on tackling crime and making communities safer. Given the pressure on local authorities, this money may be used to fund the council tax freeze instead.

John Swinney admitted in his statement that the SNP are not going to meet many of their promises. Their budget contains:

• No abolition of student debt
  No £2000 grant for first time buyers
  Backtracking on commitments to fund kinship care
  No nursery teachers as promised
  No funding to deliver class size reductions
  Not enough extra money for local government to fund their manifesto commitments as well as a council tax freeze

The SNP are afraid of scrutiny
They voted down Labour’s proposals for debates to scrutinise departmental budgets and have presented a budget document that is opaque and unclear.
The new format is a much less transparent document than its predecessors and many of the headline figures are triple counted. For example, invest £5.4 billion in further and higher education when the actual budget is only £1.8 billion.

They have removed all real terms figures asked for by Andrew Wilson MSP when he was shadow finance spokesman so that real trends would be clear. They have also combined all specific grants to local authorities into a block so we cannot see what is being spent on them and have removed GAE figures necessary to examine the detail of the promises.

The SNP claim that all their spending would contribute to economic growth yet they have reduced the detailed information necessary to confirm this pledge.

On the streets of Largs, 27th October

Largs Labour Party members on the streets of Largs with Katy Clark MP and local Councillor Alex Gallagher. Many voters were spoken to, and some future voters as well, as the picture shows!

Alex and Katy also did some doorstep interviews in some streets to identify voter concerns. In time it is hoped to visit all houses in the town to help voters with any problems they may have.

Scrutiny Committee 3rd Oct.

We had a very good “away day” with the members of the Scrutiny Committee to Aberdeen County. They do not have the same scheme of administration as North Ayrshire, (we run an Executive and they still have the old committee structure), but there are still many things we can take from them, including the over all ethos and the complete absence of party politics in their conduct. It would be good to make the progress they have and to get the respect their committee obviously does from the rest of the council.

Area Committee

The first Area Committee took place in Moorburn yesterday (1st October). All four local members were present and the agenda included a focus on the position at…

Nardinis.

The lack of progress is clearly frustrating for everyone in Largs. There was a strong feeling that the situation has been allowed to go on long enough and it is now time for action, including the possibility of compulsory purchase and/or finding another developer. It is felt that a number of local businessmen would be interested in taking over the project Even if this is done soon, the timescales are still not favourable for a quick solution.

Concern was expressed that the amounts held in trust for the development of the cafe would not be enough to restore the building to its previous standard. While it would be enough to restore the exterior, I am particularly concerned at the likelihood of restoring the interior, which was stripped of valuable art deco fixtures and furnishings, and which will be impossible to restore to the previous exact standard.

It was agreed that officers would report to the December meeting on progress on meeting

Area Committee Meetings

Formal meetings are planned at intervals of eight weeks. it was agreed that informal meetings should be held in the intervals, i.e. a meeting every four weeks, every second meeting being to a formal agenda and with council officers attending.

It was agreed that officers would report to the next meeting in December with status on progress in the agreed direction.

Local YouthAction Fund

There is £3,400 in this fund for disbursement in the North Coast Ward.

Concerns raised by Skelmorlie Community Council.

Some concerns voiced by Skelmorlie CC were put on the agenda for the next meeting.

The state of the football pitch is the number one concern. Despite a number of previous attempts to provide a suitable surface, the pitch is still far too prone to flooding. The local youth team is currently playing all games away from home because of the situation.

Noddsdale Meadow Residents Group

Residents at Noddsdale Meadow had been concerned about some aspects of the factoring of the woodlands andverges aroundtheir estate. They invited me to a meeting with the factor, a company called The Greenbelt Group, on the 28thSeptember in Glasgow. The meeting appeared to go well, with the residents, represented by Kate Kinear, David Anderson andBill Kincaid, having their major concerns addressed. At least their questions were answered, and Alex Middleton, head of Greenbelt, promised to visit the site within the next few weeks, andmeet with the residents, to see the problems at first hand.

The problems are not completely put to bed, but at least their concerns are beginning to be addressed

Social Housing in the North Coast Ward.

Cunninghame Housing Association is providing a small number of houses at social rent levels in Largs (see below), but it is my belief that we need much more of this type of housing, particularly to accommodate young families in the whole of the North Coast area. This was raised at a meeting between all local councillors and Cunninghame Housing Association, andI agreed to investigate it further. I have taken it up with NAC Housing Dept and estates Dept. There is no doubt that there are many difficulties, not least identifying suitable land, and there are surveys planned in Largs and Millport within the next year.

I am arranging a meeting with Housing and Planning to see the way forward. Lest it appear that I am taking all the credit here, all local councillors wish to be and will be involved in this, certainly at the proposed meeting and, in the long run, probably through the Local Area Committee.

Social Housing on Moorburn Road

It is tremendous that some social housing is being at last provided in Largs. If you know of anyone who might qualify andwho wishes to put their name on the list, please get them to contact me. All local councillors had a meeting with Cunninghame housing association to review the completed plans for social housing at the former clinic site in Moorburn Road. I was impressed at the standard of the layout and finish proposed.

I see that the work has commenced (5th September), with planned completion date of late next year.

Settling in

I have enjoyed my first few months as a local councillor. The first few weeks was taken up mainly by education in the role of councillor, but also in a lessons in hard politics and who to trust andwhen not to trust them. The best bit of the job is meeting with people and local groups and learning about, andsometimes helping them with, their problems. There have been a few panics, such as the controversy at St Colm’s Place sheltered housing complex, when workmen turned up and removed the rose bed without any warning. Residents were alarmed, naturally enough, and the contacted councillor Marshall who alerted the other councillors. It turned out that NACwas planning an improvement to the complex, but had not alerted local councillors or the residents. After a meeting with residents, fears were allayed. The plans were acceptable to the residents, now we will wait until the project is complete and we see what the finished job looks like!

At this level, I have to say that my fellow local councillors have been a great help: I’m the new boy, but we seem to get on well, addressing local problems witha minimum (in fact none so far) party politicking. This suits me down to the ground.

North Coast Labour Party

Valerie Reid has been elected as the new chairperson of Largs Labour Party at the branch AGM on 26th May.

Previous Chair Alex Gallagher, who was recently elected as a local councillor, thanked the branch for having him as chair for the past few years, and wished Valerie well in her new post.