Tonight Tavish Scott reminded voters that Scottish Liberal Democrats have a record of delivering for our communities in the Scottish Parliament, a record that’s worth supporting on May 5th.
Save our local Police
Just last week rank and file police officers rejected the SNP, Labour and Conservative plans to create a national police force.
I agree with the police officers. The plans to scrap our local police forces will cost £92million and it has been estimated, could cut 3,000 front line police officers – we cannot afford this proposal.
At a time when we need to save money, this proposal doesn’t make sense. The Scottish Liberal Democrats want to help the local police and people work together to cut crime. However, under the plans supported by Labour, the SNP and Conservatives every police officer would be allocated according to national directions not local policing need. That could mean your local police seeing dozens of officers sent to support other areas hundreds of miles away.
I’m concerned that by creating a single national police force, the chief constable will come under the political control of a government minister who will tell them what to do and will lose their links with local communities.
For 150 years people in this democracy have worried about the government gaining political operational control over policing. We need a police service that is responsive to local needs not one which is subject to central diktat and centrally imposed targets.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats want to keep policing local, help the local police to work with the local community and to keep the number of officers high.
For more information check out the campaign on Facebook.
Solutions for Glasgow and for Scotland
Today the Scottish Liberal Democrats launched our manifesto for the Scottish Parliamentary elections. Its a manifesto which offers real solutions to the problems facing our communities and our country. Scottish Liberal Democrats have a proud record in Scotttish Government. It was the Scottish Liberal Democrats who scrapped the tuition fees which Labour had imposed on Scotland and it was Scottish Liberal Democrats who introduced Free Personal Care for the Elderly.
The main themes of our Scottish manifesto are:
Excellence in education
Raising standards in schools by giving head teachers more power, so that teachers spend more time teaching your children, not filling in government forms.
Giving every child a fair start in life with an Early Intervention Revolution so that no child is left behind.
Supporting colleges and keeping Scotland’s universities globally competitive by investing in science and research, modernising the sector and improving student support.
Working with other parties to keep higher education free – no fees and no graduate contribution.
Jobs and economic growth
Creating the conditions for 100,000 new jobs, supported by at least £1.5 billion of investment freed up by reform to Scottish Water.
Getting money to small businesses where the greedy banks have failed and bringing them together with colleges to provide the skills our economy needs.
Cutting energy bills and boosting the green economy with new help to pay for insulation in your home or business and new investment in renewable energy.
Helping Scottish business compete internationally by boosting exports, cutting regulation and making Scotland the most digitally connected economy in Europe.
Keeping services local
Cutting crime by keeping the police local, helping them tackle local problems and making offenders pay back to your community for the damage they’ve done.
Supporting less well-off pensioners by reforming the unfair council tax so they pay nothing at all.
Helping to protect local jobs and services by cutting high pay and bonuses at the very top, listening to frontline staff and driving out waste.
Improving out-of-hours care across Scotland by putting local GPs back at the heart of the service.
You can download the full manifesto here.
Good news for Glasgow’s Pensioners
The Scottish Liberal Democrats launched our plans to make the council tax fairer on Wednesday 30th March.
Our proposal is to exempt less well off pensioners from council tax. A pensioner on an income of less than £10,000 will pay nothing at all in council tax. Our proposals will mean a saving of up to £400 from a typical Band D bill.
Pensioners often pay hundreds of pounds in council tax. But Liberal Democrats have solutions for Scottish pensioners, whose income is just above the state pension.
A third of Scottish single pensioner households have incomes of less than £10,000. That’s less than £200 a week. Under the current system, a single pensioner living in a Band D house gets some help, but still has to pay out £406 annually. That’s over £40 a month out of an income of less than £800 when she has to feed and clothe herself and heat her house too. Under the Liberal Democrat plans she would pay nothing in Council Tax.
How does this compare to the SNP and Labour policy of a Council Tax freeze?
The SNP and Labour council tax freeze will save the pensioner £22 on her £800 bill. Under our plans she saves up to £406.
What about the Conservatives policy?
The Scottish Conservatives have said they will cut the council tax bill by £200 for any household containing a pensioner.
The pensioners on £7k, £8k and £8.5k will pay nothing under either party.
The pensioner on £9k will pay nothing under the Lib Dems but £55 under the Conservatives.
The pensioner on £9999 will pay nothing under the Lib Dems but £206 under the Conservatives.
Very wealthy pensioners – such as Annabel Goldie and other Conservative MSPs – will not benefit from our policy but will benefit by £200 under Conservative policy.
What about Local Income Tax?
We are still in favour of local income tax. We have made the judgement that it will be best to wait until 2016 to begin to introduce it. That way we can learn lessons from the introduction of the new Scottish income tax following the new powers in the Scotland Bill that came from Calman. Under those powers the Scottish Parliament will have control of 10p of income tax from April 2015. That will be preceded by an enormous amount of work from the HMRC to set up the systems. It is a significant moment in the development of a federal structure for the UK – two governments sharing responsibilities over the HMRC. It makes sense to gain the benefit of that experience.
Glasgow Liberal Democrats set for Holyrood
Right to left, Natalie McKee, Kenneth Elder, Katy Gordon, Robert Brown, Eileen Baxendale, Paul McGarry.
Well the Scottish Elections are now officially off the starters blocks and I thought I’d share my colleague Andrew Reeves’ post on some of the Liberal Democrats achievements so far. These achievements have improved people’s lives and that’s why I’ll be working hard for my colleagues who are standing in May’s elections to continue this good work.
“Let me just mention four of the achievements made by the new coalition government because of the Liberal Democrats being part of it (in no particular order) in just ten months;
1. The link between pensions and earnings, scrapped by Margaret Thatcher, was restored in the Coalition’s first budget. The annual increase in the state pension will be protected by a ‘triple lock’ – the rise will be in line with earnings, prices or a 2.5% increase, whichever is the greater.
2. We have scrapped the ID card programme. The ID card database was publicly destroyed on 11th February 2011.
3. In June’s emergency budget we increased the rate of Capital Gains Tax to 28% for higher rate taxpayers while keeping it at 18% for basic rate taxpayers. This will raise an extra £1bn and end the disgraceful situation of bankers paying a lower rate of tax than their cleaners.
4. In June’s emergency budget, we raised the tax threshold by £1,000, lifting 880,000 low earners out of tax completely (from this April). It will increase each year of the Coalition Government until it reaches £10,000, which will lift an additional 3 million people out of tax altogether.
In Scotland Tavish Scott fought for local Post Offices to receive over £1million support, last year 50 of Scotland’s Post Offices developed their business thanks to the Post Office diversification funds, a further £1 million has gone into the fund for this year.
Other concessions made to the Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament budget include:
· Additional funding for FE bursaries of £15 million, spread across 2010-2011-12 to provide additional student support for current student numbers.
· Additional funding of £8 million in 2011-12 that would support an additional 1,200 college places and associated student support.
· 1,500 additional Modern Apprenticeships, including 500 places for the renewables sector, at a cost of £2 million
· 2,000 additional flexible training opportunities
That is what the the voters of Scotland are looking for, Solutions for Scotland .”
Welcome News on Tax
Welcome news for Glasgow today as due to changes in the national tax system, implemented by Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government, 6,300 of Glasgow’s poorest residents are to be lifted out of the personal income tax band altogether.
A further 246,500 residents will also find their tax situation better off, when the changes are implemented in April this year – paying up to £200 less per year in income tax.
Liberal Democrats in the UK Government are increasing the personal tax allowance to £10,000, meaning no-one will pay any tax on the first £10,000 they earn.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Katy Gordon, candidate for the Glasgow Region, said:
“Thanks to the Liberal Democrats, over 6,300 people in Glasgow will not pay any income tax and more than 246,500 people will pay much less than they did before.
“Liberal Democrats promised at last year’s General Election to increase the personal allowance. I am proud that my colleagues in Westminster are delivering that promise.
“Liberal Democrats have put money back in your pocket for you and your family.
“Labour put an incredible income tax burden on the poorest in society. It is not fair that people on the lowest incomes paid so much of their income in tax.
“In just 11 months, 252,800 people in Glasgow have benefited from Liberal Democrats in Government. This figure will only increase as the tax system gets fairer under Liberal Democrats.”
The Blitz – 70th Anniversary
Kilmun Street, Maryhill
As we mark the 70th anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz this weekend on 13th and 14th March 2011 when over 528 civilians were killed during the two nights of bombing , I also want to mark the loss of men, women and children not only in Clydebank where my mother and her family were during that time but also the losses in Maryhill.
SCOTT, Marion, age 23; of 32 Kilmun Street, Maryhill. Daughter of Marion Buchannon Scott, and of the late David Scott. 14 March 1941, at 32 Kilmun Street.
SCOTT, Marion Buchannon, age 58, of 32 Kilmun Street, Maryhill. Widow of David Scott. 14 March 1941, at 32 Kilmun Street.
SCOTT, Norman, age 7; of 32 Kilmun Street, Maryhill. 14 March 1941, at 32 Kilmun Street.
SIMPSON, Isabella Campbell Crawford, age 30; of 36 Kilmun Street, Maryhill. Wife of William Simpson. 14 March 1941, at 36 Kilmun Street.
SIMPSON, James McTadzean, age 9; of 36 Kilmun Street, Maryhill. Son of William and Isabella Campbell Crawford Simpson. 14 March 1941, at 36 Kilmun Street.
SIMPSON, William, age 34; of 36 Kilmun Street, Maryhill. Husband of Isabella Campbell Crawford Simpson. 14 March 1941, at 36 Kilmun Street.
SIMPSON, William, age 6; of 36 Kilmun Street, Maryhill. Son of William and Isabella Campbell Crawford Simpson. 14 March 1941 at 36 Kilmun Street.
“The cool, unwavering courage of the people is evident, and when the full story of their heroism in the face of the Luftwaffe is told, they will take their place alongside the citizens of London and Coventry.”
Glasgow Herald, 18 March 1941
Below is the Warden’s report of that night.
“In this incident the type of explosive used was land mines. Two of these landed, one in the open fields west of Duncruin Street, the other on a tenement at Kilmun Street. This property was of the type where five and seven homes were situated on each landing.
Blast from the first mine wrecked the school known as St Mary’s RC school. The wide front of red stone withstood the blast but windows were torn out, rooms wrecked doors blown to atoms. It was a marvellous escape the AFS had when one looks at the place they had been in. The door of the Warden’s Post F44 was completely wrenched off but no other damage was done to the post.
The second mine was travelling in the same direction and it is my humble opinion that the blast from the first mine blew the second one back, to deposit its load in Kilmun Street.
The property at 32-36 Kilmun Street was demolished. 26 Kilmun Street and the property on the other side was blasted. A small fire started, but this was quickly under control. In Shiskine Street the property was wrecked.
Some strange sights were witnessed. I was in the scene just after the first explosions. In fact the second blast caught me in Maryhill Road and it was a bit of a comedy to find one’s self surrounded by Cochrane’s tea packets and no ration books required.
On reaching post Fll at Lennox Street and Maryhill Road, I found the people rushing from the scene. These were put into shelters in the Tramway Depot at Celtic Street. The wardens at this point were splendid attending to injured and taking the lead in the matter rescue.
I noticed that the ‘homeless’ would be in the way to any work being done. So I ‘borrowed’ one of the trams and with one of my wardens we drove the homeless to the rest centre at Eastpark School Avenue Park Street.
We had five carloads before we put the car back to its ‘stable’. It was quite an interesting journey from Maryhill to Bilsland Drive. At some points I had to get out and remove shrapnel that clogged the rails. Our job over.
The opening up of the rest centre was tough to begin with owing to the fact that the principal centre at Maryhill School had to be evacuated owing to the fact that windows of same suffered from the effects of the blast. A centre for the Workers was opened; after much ‘scrounging’, we managed to get something to carry on with.
This canteen was held in a small house at Maryhill Road and Lennox Street. Mrs Wilkinson and boy messengers were the principal people to carry out this work. The Canteen operated up to 6pm on the evening of the 14th March, 1941.
During the weekend wardens assisted in the clearing of the debris and a good job of work at clearing was carried out by a crowd of young men. At this point the Lord Provost paid us a visit. The incident post was first established at a house in Maryhill Road but I suggested to the officer to transfer his flag to the wardens post F44. This worked splendidly. ”
Glasgow City Archives & Special Collections, Records of the Civil Defence Department, DCD 9/15
Incident in Summerston
Can I urge constituents with any information that might assist the Police with their investigation to contact Maryhill Police or Crimestoppers in confidence at the numbers below.
Shots Fired At House – Maryhill
Strathclyde Police is continuing enquiries and appealing for information after a firearm was discharged at a house in Maryhill on Sunday 30 January 2011.
Around 0355 hours on Sunday morning, police were called to a report of a firearm having been discharged at a window of a house in Rothes Drive, Maryhill.
Officers attended and quickly established that no one had been injured, however, the property had been damaged as a result of the shots fired.
Appeal for witnesses
Detective Sergeant John Semple at Maryhill Police Office is appealing for witnesses. He said today: “Thankfully the residents of this property were asleep at the time and nobody was injured. However, the people responsible for this reckless act obviously have no regard for anyone’s wellbeing and it is vital that we trace them.
“We are carrying out a thorough investigation into the circumstances, and would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have any information at all which might help us with our enquiries to come forward.”
He added:
“We are confident that someone within the local community knows who may be responsible. Even if you don’t want to speak to police, please do the right thing and call CRIMESTOPPERS – you won’t need to leave any personal details.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Maryhill Police office on 0141 532 3700. Alternatively CRIMESTOPPERS can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.
Refuse Collection update
Like many other Councillors I’ve been contacted about bin collections being affected due to the recent bad weather so I’ve posted the most recent update on cleansing operations received from Land and Environmental Services.
MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF ROBERT BOOTH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Dear Member
As you are aware, our refuse collection service was disrupted during November and December as a consequence of the extreme weather conditions. The situation was exacerbated to a certain extent during the festive holiday period, with the normal seasonal peak in refuse produced coupled with reduced resources on certain public holidays. I am pleased to inform you that with the recent improvement in the weather the majority of these services are now returning to normal, however, I must warn you that further snowfall has been forecast for the coming weekend which may once again impact on this service.
Provided below is a general summary of the current situation, followed by further detail on an area basis.
Multi-Storey Locations – Collections from all multi-storey locations across the city are all currently up to date. Advance uplifts are continuing at a number of these locations to ensure refuse chambers within these properties have sufficient space to safely cope with any additional New Year refuse.
Kerbside Wheeled Bin Uplifts – The Service has returned to scheduled weekly uplifts for residents with kerbside collections. The vast majority of wheeled bins presented are now up to date citywide. Festive arrangements for kerbside wheeled bin uplifts were generally successful with certain allowances for delays due to weather. All New Year refuse will be collected from domestic wheeled bin routes by Sunday 9 January.
Back-Court and Lane Collections – These locations continue to present the most challenges at the moment and additional resources are being deployed to assist with dealing with the backlog in specific areas noted below. Priority will continue to be given to putrescible waste with recycling collections following thereafter.
Outstanding Collections – We continue to work closely with Customer & Business Services, sharing information and identifying and resolving known hot-spot locations.
Temporary Neighbourhood Refuse Deposits – Prior to Christmas, additional large bins were sited in neighbourhoods across the city in order to assist residents who wish to deposit excess waste. We have identified locations within each area where these additional refuse containers have been successfully utilised. At these locations the service will be extended until Friday 14 January in order to alleviate any local difficulties.
Commercial Collections – Have been largely unaffected and have now returned to normal.
Bulk Uplift – A limited service is being operated at present with priority being given to bulk materials already placed on the kerbside. The remaining resource from this service is currently assisting with domestic waste collections and will return to their core duties as soon as possible. Partner organisations such as GHA and GERA have also been providing much appreciated assistance with this service.
Area summaries are provided below with more detailed information.
North Area
Dawsholm
Wheeled Bin Routes – all up to date.
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – all up to date.
St Rollox
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – all up to date.
South East Area
Polmadie Complex
Route
Wheeled Bin Routes – 2 hours behind.
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – generally 2 days behind in Govanhill, Castlemilk and Shawlands areas. Up to 3 days behind in Gorbals and Mount Florida.
Additional resources are being deployed in each of the areas, to recover the outstanding backlog. As they become available resources from other areas in the city will be diverted to the South East in order to assist this worst affected area.
East Area
Eastern
Wheeled Bin Routes – 2 hours behind.
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – half day behind schedule.
Easter Queenslie Complex
Wheeled Bin Routes – all up to date.
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – 1 day behind (Tollcross area) additional resources deployed to clear backlog.
West Area
Western Depot
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – half day behind schedule.
South West Area
Wheeled Bin Routes – all up to date.
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – 1 day behind.
Working closely with the Customer Care Centre, we are continually reviewing and responding to any addresses within the city where domestic refuse has remained uncollected for any substantial period. Close liaison with our colleagues in the Customer Care Centre has meant that for the period 1 Jan until 7 Jan 2011, we have managed to reduce the number of reported missed collections to 620 – representing 44% of the total for the same period last year. Notwithstanding any further adverse weather, we anticipate that we will return to a normal collection schedule by Friday 14 January.
Maryhill Kelvin – new grit bin locations Dec 2010
Below is the new list of grit bin locations within Ward 15 Maryhill Kelvin including the temporary 1 ton self help supplies. Constituents can also get up to 10kg of rock salt for free from the Dawsholm Depot.
There is a 24hr free phone number 0800 37 36 35 or 0141 276 7000 (for mobile phones) to report any requests for gritting or replenishing of salt bins.
Land and Environmental Services confirm that all available resources, both Glasgow City Council and sub-contractors, continue to be deployed on winter maintenance duties on a 24 hour basis. All priority roads and footways have been continually gritted during this period of adverse weather, with resources being deployed to secondary routes, e.g. residential areas, when resources permit, together with the replenishment of the 1,000 salt bins deployed throughout the City.
CADDER
Herma Street Opp. No. 65, North Footway of Tresta Road @ Fara Street, 13 Scapa Street, Tresta Road @ Skirsa Street, Tresta Road Opp No.179
NORTH MARYHILL and SUMMERSTON
Ilay Road @ Vets College, Acre Road @ No.63, Acre Road @ No.71, Acre Road @ No.107, Acre Drive Opp No.19, Dalsholm Road @ path leading to Dalsholm Bridge, Dalsholm Road near Maryhill Road, Crosbie Street @ Dungoyne Street, Kirn Street Opp No.11, Innellan Grdns between 16 + 20 @ parking entrance, Innellan Place @ Innellan Gardens, Skaethorn Rd 30m South of Roundabout with Cowal Rd, Skaethorn Road @ Fearnach Place, Fearnmore Road Between No.32 & 4, Fearnmore Road @ No.88 (A), Fearnmore Road @ No.88 (B), Fingal Street @ No.71, Fingal Street @ No.27, Aray Street @ Sandbank Street, Sandbank Drive @ Sandbank Street, McLaren Crescent Between Fernie Gdns + Willock Pl, McLaren Crescent @ Willock Place, McLaren Gardens, McLaren Crescent Opp No.6, McLaren Crescent @ No.17, Glenburn Street @ Cottar Street, Glenavon Road @ Thornton Street, Arrochar Court, Fairhaven Road @ No.27, Dougalston Road @ No.10, Invershiel Road @ Gallan Avenue, Broughton Road Opp No.220, Broughton Road @ No.241, Lynne Drive @ No.2, Broughton Road @ No.171 – 181, Newstead Gardens Opp No.23, Abercorn Place @ No.2, Letterfearn Drive @ No.46, Milovaig Street @ Invershiel Road, Dalsholm Rd Opp No 106 @ Dalsholm Park entrance, 20 Celtic Street, Duncruin Street @ Cranbrooke Drive, Sandbank Avenue @ side of No.1, Killermont View @ side of No.1 TEMP GRIT BAG, 171 Cumlodden Drive
KELVINDALE and KELVINSIDE
Strathcona Gardens @ Strathcona Drive, Dorchester Avenue at path leading to Ripon Drive, Weymouth Drive Opp No.70, Beaconsfield Road @ Cleveden Drive, Beaconsfield Road @ Service Road, 5 Lancaster Crescent, Cleveden Drive @ Cleveden Road, Bellshaugh Rd @ Kirklee Gardens Opp.Cleveden Drive, Kirklee Gate Opp NIB, Balcarres Avenue at Winton Drive, Balcarres Avenue Opp Sub Station, Grandtully Drive Opp Fortingall Avenue, Fortingall Ave @ car park ent to Nos 1-3, Highfield Place @ Cleveden Road, Dorchester Avenue @ Cleveden Road, Colchester Drive @ Weymouth Drive, Colchester Drive @ Winchester Drive, Opp 1 Kirklee Road @ Kirklee Terrace, GWR, Ashburton Road @ side of 76 Leicester Avenue, Chelmsford Drive @ Ashburton Road, Chelmsford Drive opp No.2050 Manchester Drive
MARYHILL ROAD CORRIDOR
Gairbraid Court @ Kelvindale Gardens, Glenfinnan Road @ Fogo Place, Ruchill Street @ Chapel Street, Chapel Street Industrial Estate @ No.13, Oran Gate @ Dead End (Footpath to Avenuepark St), Oran Place @ Sub Station, Garrioch Drive Opp No.14