Paisley Daily Express - 23 April 2012

Bus Services

Many communities throughout Renfrewshire rely on reliable and affordable bus services. Bus operators rely on a grant from the Scottish Government to keep these services running. Alex Salmond has decided to cut the bus operators grant which has led to a number of operators threatening to withdraw services and increase fares. Some operators, including those serving Renfrewshire are worse affected than others. Even those who qualify for concessionary travel are affected as a cut in services will hit them too. Many people will end up trapped in their local community, having to rely on expensive taxis if they can’t afford a car.
Scottish Labour has been calling for the regulation of bus services, to guarantee reliability and quality, at fares which the public can afford. Alex Salmond used to support regulation of buses until the owner of one of the biggest bus companies gave the SNP £500,000. Last Thursday in the Scottish Parliament, in a Scottish Labour sponsored debate, we heard of problems from right across Scotland. Alex Salmond needs to reverse the cuts to the operator’s grant and he should support the calls for Scottish bus services to be properly regulated.

Renfrewshire Child Protection

It’s heart breaking to hear of children who are at risk because of the failings and negligence of their parents. Many of these youngsters are damaged for life, even before they get a proper start. Tragically in some cases, the neglect results in death, as in the widely reported case of Declan Hainey. It would be wrong and foolish to say that such tragic cases can always be avoided. Equally we need to learn from mistakes and failings to ensure that everything humanly possible is being done to protect vulnerable children.

Recent press reports have highlighted “systemic failures” in child protection procedures in Renfrewshire Council. The press has reported that there were problems even before Declan Hainey died. So far no one in Renfrewshire Council has taken any responsibility for the series of tragic mistakes. Did senior Councillors compromise child protection by cutting budgets and staffing levels? Why were identified failures never reported to the full Council? How can Councillors hold the Council to account if no information is disclosed? Why have senior officials not implemented a policy of openness and disclosure where there has been a failure? We need answers. We need to know if there has been a cover up, with senior Councillors and officials covering for each other. We need a full independent inquiry into the “systemic failures” in Renfrewshire. Why won’t Alex Salmond order an inquiry? Is it because the SNP runs Renfrewshire Council? We cannot allow senior Councillors and officials to continue as though nothing has happened. Anything less would be a disgrace.

Linwood Tesco – stay vigilant

I welcome the recent announcement by Tesco that work is to start on its planned development at Linwood. It’s good to see the fences go up along with the notices of impending demolition. People in Linwood have waited a long time to see the town centre demolished. After refusing to meet with Councillor Anne Hall, Jim Sheridan and myself, Tesco has finally agreed to a meeting. We will continue to demand assurances about early demolition to finally rid the community of what has long been an eyesore. But the community needs to stay vigilant. We have heard these promises before from Tesco, but seen little action. Was it a coincidence that the sudden flurry of activity coincided with a possible Westminster investigation by the Scottish Affairs Committee which had been requested by Jim Sheridan MP? 

Tenant Protection

In recent years, I have started to receive more and more complaints about private sector tenancies. Sometimes it’s about anti social behaviour by tenants who drift in and out of short stay tenancies. They often don’t care about the effect their behaviour has on families who have lived there for years. The problem can be made worse by unscrupulous landlords who play the system. They allow complaints to build up and only act at the last minute to avoid legal action. They then bring in another lot of bad tenants and the process starts all over again, to the annoyance and frustration of decent neighbours.

I welcome the announcement last week, of a consultation to identify ways of helping tenants and dealing with the minority of rogue landlords. We certainly need to find ways to give local authorities the powers they need to tackle this problem. Private sector tenants need better protection, but so too do their neighbours. And above all it’s time to deal with those landlords who only care about their profits, and don’t care about the misery they cause.

Paisley Daily Express - 09 April 2012

School Buses

Many of you may have forgotten that SNP and Liberal Democrat Councillors removed school buses from almost 1,000 school pupils in Renfrewshire. Many pupils have to walk up to 3 miles each way per day. It can take a 13 year old up to an hour each way, some arriving at school wet, cold, and tired. One Liberal Democrat Councillor whose child benefitted from a school bus, voted to deny the service to other pupils who lived in her area, after her son left school. In Elderslie, Johnstone, Glenburn and Foxbar, SNP Councillors turned their backs on local families who relied on school buses.

Not everyone has forgotten. Last week I joined with parents who are determined not to give up the fight for their children. On a freezing, wet morning, I experienced just what it is like for youngsters who have to trudge 3 miles to school. It can’t be easy for them. I am backing these parents who want to make this an issue for the Council elections. Ask your candidates if they will do the right thing for our children and restore the school bus service to its previous level.

LMEG

Congratulations to the Lochwinnoch Millennium Events Group (LMEG). The Group recently made a successful application to the Climate Challenge Fund and has received an award of £442,499. The aim of the Group is to enable householders in Lochwinnoch and 3 neighbouring villages to reduce energy wasted in their homes. The project will also develop car clubs and lift sharing schemes, expand local food producing initiatives and provide better access to information about climate change.

There is a lot that each and every one of us can do to reduce the carbon emissions which damage our environment. I know from having spoken to members of LMEG just how enthusiastic and committed they are to making a difference. I look forward to seeing what nearly £500,000 can do to help their work in local communities.

Reid Kerr Funding

I recently joined staff and students at Reid Kerr College to protest about the funding cuts being imposed by the Scottish Government. Reid Kerr College has a fantastic record and gives many young people from Renfrewshire a chance in life that otherwise would be denied to them. I was told that across Scotland 592 academic staff have been made redundant and colleges are cutting courses. Staff told me that at Reid Kerr and additional 800 students places are having to be cut. I put this to Alex Salmond in the Scottish Parliament and he says that “the figures show an encouraging trend.” Try telling that to staff and students at Reid Kerr College.    

Keep Scotland Beautiful

We live in a beautiful country and often we take it for granted. All too often it takes a visitor from abroad to remind us of what we have. Unfortunately too many people are careless and thoughtless when it comes not just to our wonderful countryside, but also to the towns and villages where we live. The litter, waste and dog dirt is a real disgrace and it blights too many areas. Keep Scotland Beautiful is an environmental charity which campaigns to encourage individuals and communities to take ownership of their local area.

They are now running National Spring Clean 2012, which ends on 31st May 2012. They are looking for local people and groups who want to make a difference to the local area. Last year they worked with 100,000 Scots and this year they have a target of 200,000. If you want to help, visit their website www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/springclean.

Tax rises for elderly and disabled

No one likes to pay more tax. It would be great if we could keep everything we earn. Of course for many multi millionaires who can afford the best tax advice, this is the reality. Some pay next to nothing in tax. The latest UK budget announced tax cuts for the highest earners, but ordinary low and middle income pensioners are being asked to pay for this. They are losing the additional tax free allowance they received at 65 to give a tax cut to those earning over £150,000 per year.

Locally we all benefit from the freeze in Council Tax. Except that this is not quite true. Because Councils have less money to spend, charges for services to the elderly, sick, and disabled have been increased. Services to these groups are also being cut and I have a regular stream of enquiries from constituents who are worried about their elderly parents, or their adult child who is disabled. As one constituent reminded me last week “If you are elderly, sick, or disabled and need help, you are facing a number of tax rises. You are paying more for home helps, for alarm services, for wardens and more. Remember that these vulnerable people are paying for your Council Tax freeze.