• SNP Concerns over Social Work Overspend

    23Jan

    SNP politicians in Dundee today reacted to public statements by Dundee City Council’s Administration leader, Councillor Keenan, that more Scottish Government funding was being sought to cover a projected £1.5m overspend in the Council’s Social Work budget.

    Councillor Jim Barrie, SNP Group Spokesman of Social Work & Health: “I am pleased that the Scottish Government and Dundee Council are working very closely together on this issue.

    “Although Dundee has some unique problems, the rising cost of provision of social services is affecting all councils and the areas where costs are rising most steeply are in the care of the elderly – we have an aging population – and in the provision of services to vulnerable adults and young people.

    “There is huge pressure on staff and budgets due to, for example, provision of services to deal with the problems caused by drug and substance abuse.

    “The Council is looking to be as efficient as possible and to ensure that the cost of these additional services are shared equally between the Council and its key partner agencies such as NHS Tayside and Tayside Police.

    “One of the best aspects of the Concordat signed between the Council and the Scottish Government – apart from the record levels of funding – is the flexibility which it gives the Council to develop efficiencies in other budget sectors where demand is falling, or where services can be provided – or are already being provided – by other agencies.”

    Commenting on the situation, Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “Social Work Departments have always been under pressure across Scotland and as one of Dundee Council’s biggest spending Departments, there is nothing new in predictions of spiralling costs leading to an overspend.

    “Councils have always faced the difficulty of providing services to meet rising demand in areas such as social work where staff costs are necessarily much higher than in other budget sectors.”

    Shona Robison MSP said: “Through my regular meetings with the Chief Executive, I am well aware of concerns about the Social Work projected overspend and look forward to further discussions on the issue.

    “I am also aware that the Council has discussed the situation with my Ministerial colleagues and put their case directly.”

  • Politicians Shocked at McLeish Bros Administration Move

    20Jan

    Local politicians in Dundee were shocked and disappointed at news of local delicatessen chain McLeish Bros going into administration today.

    Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie said: “I am very disappointed and heartbroken for the staff. This was a highly ambitious company with big expansion plans which was well-rooted in the Dundee area.

    “I am trying to arrange an urgent face-to-face meeting with the company to see if there is a possibility that any help can be offered.

    “Given the Government has put money into the banks and their insistence that lending should be at 2007 levels it seems incredible that a facility should be withdrawn in the manner reported.”

    Shona Robison, Dundee East MSP said: “This is distressing news. Local people who work in the popular fish and deli shop in Castle Street and the two McLeish stores in Brook Street, Broughty Ferry will be losing their jobs – and our sympathy is with them today.”

    Dundee West MSP, Joe FitzPatrick said: “As the company is based in the Gourdie Estate, I will be working with my colleagues to get to the bottom of the troubles which have led the company to this, and hope to be able to meet with senior management to discuss it.”

  • Dundee Calling Dundees Around the World

    20Jan

    Dundee MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick are waiting to receive their first reply from settlements called Dundee around the globe.

    The politicians wrote to more than 16 settlements around the world, including 13 in America, who share Dundee’s name, with the intention of inviting them to the Homecoming 2009 events in Scotland.

    Joe Fitzpatrick said: “We located 16 distinct settlements called Dundee, with 13 in USA; Florida, Michigan, Oregon, New York, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Mississippi, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, also East Dundee and West Dundee in Illinois, Dundee in Canada (New Brunswick) and Dundee in South Africa (Natal).

    “As these share an obvious link with our Dundee, we thought it would be a nice gesture to write to them hoping to set up some sort of a link.

    “Almost certainly people from Dundee would have been involved in the early stages of each of these settlements and it would be nice to have recognition of these connections.”

    Shona Robison said: “There are probably many more places called Dundee around the world but some are very small such as Dundee in New South Wales, Australia, which is a farm, so we have concentrated on settlements where there is a significant population. However, we feel sure that there might be one or two more that we have missed and would welcome any information from anyone who knows of more that we may have missed.

    “In particular, we are surprised not to have any Dundee place names in the West Indies or elsewhere in Africa.”

    The Scottish Government have designated 2009 as a ‘Year of Homecoming’ when they hope that all those of Scottish descent or who claim any links with Scotland, or those who are simply interested in Scottishness and Scottish culture, will ‘come home’ to take part in a year-long celebration.

    The letters to all Dundees around the world contained information and online links about Dundee, Scotland, in the hope of inspiring their citizens – ‘who share an obvious link with Scotland’ – to consider visiting or finding out more about Scotland.

    The Homecoming 2009 programme now includes hundreds of events including celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.

  • MP Hears of Firm Expectation of Sale for McLeish Shops

    20Jan

    Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie today met with Iain Fraser and Callum Carmichael, of Tenon Recovery, Administrators for collapsed company McLeish Bros. and heard that there will be a close to bidding next week with a decision on the successful bidder shortly thereafter.

    Also attending the meeting were staff members representing Shona Robison MSP and Joe FitzPatrick MSP.

    Speaking after the meeting, Stewart Hosie said: “This was a constructive meeting and very encouraging. I was pleased to hear of the considerable interest which has been shown in the shops which were closed, which underlines my view that the operation was inherently sound.

    “The Administrator outlined their likely timetable of a close to bids next week and a decision on a likely buyer shortly afterwards.

    “The Administrators advised me that there were a number of options as to how the business will be disposed. The shops could go to one bidder as a going concern or as individual shops.

    “I would be delighted if all or the majority of the business was sold and I would hope that any future owner would wish to take on as many as possible of the previous McLeish staff.”

    Broughty Ferry Councillor Ken Guild welcomed the news and expressed confidence that the two former McLeish shops in Broughty Ferry would re-open in the near future.

    “I would have thought that these were popular and therefore profitable and attractive to a bidder, and am confident that they will re-emerge as popular food retailing outlets.”

  • Dundee Joins Worldwide Record Attempt to Toast the Bard

    20Jan

    An attempt is to be made to bring half a million people together worldwide to toast ‘The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns’ and Dundee groups are invited to take part.

    With two weeks to go until the 250th Anniversary of Scotland’s most famous icon, an attempt is to be made on the Guinness World Record for the largest ‘Worldwide Toast’ to Robert Burns – which will require in excess of 462,572 people to take part in the event.

    One Dundee event joining the attempt is the Dundee SNP Burns Supper in The Black Watch Club in Arthurstone Terrace on Friday 30th January. The local party have been holding Burns Suppers every year for at least twenty years and this is the 10th consecutive event at the Black Watch Club.

    At this year’s event, there will be two persons acting as witnesses who will be able to satisfy the evidence requirements for the record attempt. The toast will be made by Shona Robison, Dundee East MSP at the end of her Immortal Memory speech.

    In the 250th anniversary year of the birth of Robert Burns, the life and work of the bard has assumed centre-stage in the Scottish Government’s Year of Homecoming 2009 which it hopes will help to give tourism a major boost.

    Speakers at this year’s SNP event include James Halliday a former leader of the SNP, who will toast the haggis, Shona Robison MSP will give the Immortal Memory and MEP and SNP President Ian Hudghton who will give the Toast to Scotland.

    Commenting on the world record attempt, Shona Robison said: “This is a fun way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Scotland’s most famous poet and be part of history.

    “Perhaps other local venues and Burns Suppers might like to join in the world record attempt? If your event is taking place between 16th January – 7th February you can take part.

    “In fact you don’t even need to be at a formal event. Groups of people in pubs and clubs could take part by simply get people to simultaneously toast ‘The immortal Memory of Robert Burns.’

    “If you want to take part, please visit website: www.worldwidetoasttorobertburns.com and register. It’s free and is a great way to celebrate and spread the word.”

    The Dundee SNP events are always well-attended and normally comprise a traditional Burns Supper with speeches and an informal ceilidh afterwards. Often there are guests from overseas or special guests who simply want to experience their first Burns Supper.

    As in previous years, the event will include a ceilidh and various games and a prize raffles and the haggis will be piped in to the hall by a well-known local piper.

    As always, a vegetarian menu is available. All SNP supporters and friends are invited to attend. Tickets, price £8 (£4 for unwaged and students) are available from branches or by phoning 01382 903210.

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