I attended the recent prize giving ceremony at St Benedict’s Secondary school. Its amazing to think the school has been up and running now for 5 years . It was a brave decision for the council to close St Cuthbert’s and St Brendan’s and create a new school but, after what I seen at the ceremony, I know it was the right decision.
It was good to see so many of our young people on their way to reaching their potential .They are a credit to themselves, their families and their school.
New Office
I am pleased to announce that my new Parliamentary office is now up and running in the centre of Paisley. I share the office at 4 St Mirren Street (opposite Paisley Town Hall) with fellow West of Scotland MSPs Mary Fee and Margaret McDougall, and hold weekly surgeries there on a Friday from 4pm - 5pm. Please get in touch if you wish to book an appointment.
In Parliament
There has been much discussion in Parliament and in the media recently about the Scottish Government’s proposed Anti-Sectarian legislation. I have received representations from a number of constituents and faith leaders who have concerns about the proposed new laws and I hope the Scottish Government will take these into account before they come before Parliament. This is a very serious and important issue and any proposals must be widely supported and be workable.
I don’t believe legislation in itself is the answer and that’s why in a recent Themed Question Time session in Parliament, I challenged the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, to make a new programme aimed at tackling sectarian attitudes in the workplace available to government staff. Nil By Mouth, a charity whose aim is achieving a society free from sectarianism, have been given funding to develop a sectarian awareness package for workplaces across Scotland, which is due to go live in the next few weeks. I have also written to local authorities and local businesses to suggest they make use of this service, which will be free of charge. We need to make programmes like this available to as many people as possible if we are to stamp out sectarian attitudes that blight not only the game of football in Scotland, but wider society.
In the Community
As part of Macmillan Cancer Support’s flagship fundraising event, World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, I invited local residents to join me, Douglas Alexander MP, Mary Fee MSP, and Councillor John Caldwell for coffee and cakes at an event in Renfrewshire. The event was a big success and we raised £150 for Macmillan Cancer Support. I was really pleased to see so many people turn up and make such generous donations. Macmillan Cancer Support provides vital assistance to those most in need and the money raised will help the one in three people affected by cancer. I look forward to hosting another coffee morning and raising more money next year.
Surgeries
My next advice surgeries will be on Saturday 5th November and Saturday 3rd December at 9am in the McKillop Hall, Lochwinnoch and at 10am in the Steeple Hall, Kilbarchan. Please contact me at any other time by calling 0141 840 3653 or visiting
www.NeilBibby.com
I will be laying the wreath on behalf of the council at the remembrance day service in Howwood on the 13th November. I do feel its a privilege and I am very proud to do it. In recent years, we have seen an increase in numbers at the various services across Renfrewshire. Particularly there has been a rise in the number of young people and youth organisations paying their respects to those who sacrificed so much for our country. I am pleased to see this growing appreciation for the job our armed forces do on our behalf .
There will be a meeting held in late November for the people of Howwood to air their views on the proposed lease of the Howwood pitch .The meeting will be publicised locally and I hope as many villagers as possible turn up to hear the proposals .
The campaign to get Stagecoach to reverse their decision to withdraw some of their services through the village continues. The press have shown some interest and this will help publicise the campaign and along with the petition will add strength to our case . If you can please lend your support .
The village will hopefully be enjoying clear drinking water after Scottish Waters decision to bring forward works to the infrastructure of the water system. Well done to everybody involved in raising this issue, particularly the Howwood Community Council.
The government in London have pledged to help communities to get quicker broadband services. I would hope this helps communities like Howwood, let me know what you think.
As ever, I would like to welcome villagers along to my surgery which I hold on the 4th Friday of the month in the village hall between 5.30pm and 7pm - I hope to see you there.
36 |NOVEMBER 2011 | your LOCAL news every month - in print and online |
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