There has been a regrettable loss of momentum in
Inverclyde Council’s waste recycling programme.
During the period 2003-2007 the Council increased
its recycling from 6% to 23%. In the last 3 years our
recycling rate has increased to only 30% the fi fth lowest
in Scotland out of the 32 local authorities.
The food waste collection trial in which many
households in Kilmacolm participated and which has
been hailed as a great success, has come to an end.
Inverclyde deemed it too expensive to continue to
Cllr Michael Holmes has reported on the closure of Torr
collect food waste in this way and currently offi cers
Road in Bridge of Weir, a summary report is provided
are looking at the possibility of collecting food waste
on page 3.
as part of the brown bin system for garden waste. However, no funding
has been provided in the Council’s budget for the coming fi nancial year
The 70mph speed limit across the roundabout on
for implementing and running food waste collection. Inverclyde Council
the A8 at Langbank continues to cause signifi cant
therefore has no chance of meeting the Scottish target of recycling and
worry. Councillors, the Community Council and many
composting 40% of all household waste by 2010 and without signifi cant
residents have been lobbying to get the limit reduced.
fi nancial commitment will not meet the 2013 target of 50% either.
It is particularly dangerous for drivers trying to turn
right towards Glasgow when accessing the road from
Langbank. Transport Scotland and the A8 Safety Group February has been a busy month with a major part of
have held a site visit and a report is being prepared. I it passing our council budget. Last year councillors had
hope this means change will fi nally happen – I have been raising this issue taken a decision to pass a two year budget, which has
for nearly 3 years now and we will continue to do so until something is been very helpful considering the present economic
done. situation we fi nd ourselves in, and so this year was
The budget for the council was set a few weeks ago. This will see a
more about amending last year’s agreed spending
reduction in services and some of our most vulnerable citizens paying
commitments. But again this year has been diffi cult
more. Social Work will lose £1.4million - meaning fewer staff supporting
because of the recession and Scotland’s grant being cut
those with physical disabilities, cuts in funding to support those with
by £800 million and so our council like others throughout
learning disabilities and abolishing the senior citizens voucher scheme
Scotland have had to take a share of this reduction,
(this helped many elderly people get out and about). Council house
which in turn means we have to make diffi cult choices
tenants will have their rents increased by 4.5% (and Renfrewshire already
locally. Our SNP group’s budget proposals were voted
charges more rent than most other local authorities). Charges for many
down, which is sad as among our proposals we had planned to spend
services that were previously provided free of charge will be introduced
additional money on fl ooding, pot holes repairs, 50 more grit bins as
and many existing charges will have infl ation-busting increases. Nearly
well as freezing the council tax, freezing councillor’s remuneration and
£1million has been taken from education – meaning fewer teachers,
reducing the cost of civic hospitality by 20%.
educational psychologists and support staff. This does not include the I was told at long last that Glebe Court’s car park was to be resurfaced
saving that will be made from taking school transport away from all those by River Clyde Homes. I have been pressing for this to happen since the
secondary pupils who live within a 3-mile radius of their school. This summer of 2007 when the sheltered housing complex was still under
proposal means that pupils will have to walk – or be given lifts – to and Inverclyde Council.
from school. The Council has also removed school crossing patrollers
During the recent cold snap I was contacted by a number of constituents
from many sites. This policy is simply wrong and short-sighted. It
around Ward 1 asking if their areas could be considered for a grit bin
will cause disruption to many families, increase traffi c and mean that
or in cases where there are grit bins if they could be refi lled. Two of
hundreds of pupils at Gryffe High and St Benedict’s will be forced to walk
the constituents in Kilmacolm who contacted me about this reside
in all weathers to and from school. I did not support this budget because
at Broomeknowe Road and Hillside Avenue. In each case I passed on
of the impact this will have on Renfrewshire’s residents.
these requests to the council’s Roads department. We have now been
On a more positive note I have received a letter from Renfrewshire told by offi cials that there will be a review of the Winter Maintenance
Association for Mental Health (RAMH) about their ‘Lifeskills Service.’ programme.
Part of this is that RAMH will recycle unwanted furniture to people most
It was very good news to hear that the Scottish Government will help
in need. If you have furniture you would like to see recycled, please
provide funding for a new Additional Support Needs school to replace
call RAMH to arrange an uplift on 0141 881 8811. E-mail: cllr.michael.
Glenburn and Lillybank schools. The new ASN school is to be built beside
holmes@renfrewshire.gov.uk Surgeries: 4th Monday: Langbank PS (6-
the new shared campus for Port Glasgow High and St Stephen’s schools. At
6.30pm) and Bishopton Library (6.45 – 7.45pm) and Cargill Hall, Bridge of
the time the council applied for this funding I was asked to write a letter
Weir 4th Wednesday (6.30 – 7.30pm). Mob: 07917 882296
of support from the council’s administration to the Education Secretary,
and I was only too glad to do this. I had also been asked to write to the
Health Secretary last year for funding assistance with regards to the new
health facility being built at the Wellpark in Greenock and again I was
very pleased to do this at that time too.
I was contacted by a resident in Knockbuckle Road about broken glass and
empty bottles lying about the area. I immediately contacted the police
and community wardens about this and they said they would continue
to monitor the area. Last month saw another two Scottish Government
ministers coming to Inverclyde. Enterprise Minister Jim Mather MSP went
to Gourock to a meeting with local traders and business people, which
local MSP Stuart McMillan had helped arrange and which I also attended
along with my colleague Cllr Nelson. One of the key issues raised by
the local traders with the Minister was about tourism, an issue that I
have raised myself on more than one occasion with council offi cials. The
other Minister visiting last month was Fergus Ewing MSP. Fergus was in
Greenock to visit the Inverclyde Alcohol and Drug Partnership.
My surgeries in March are at Park Farm Community Hall on Tuesday 2nd
at 6pm, Tuesday 16th at St Francis Primary at 6pm and at Boglestone
Community Centre on Tuesday 30th at 5.30pm. Anyone wanting to contact
me can do so by phoning me at my council offi ce on 01475-712727 or on
mobile at 07747 765839, or by emailing me at jim.macleod@inverclyde.
gov.uk or writing to me at Inverclyde Council, Municipal Buildings, Clyde
Square, Greenock, PA15 1LY
6 MARCH 2010 | send your ARTICLES & PHOTOS to
info@advertizer.co.uk www.advertizer.co.uk| 01505 874385 |
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