Consultation on 20 mph speed limits

At this week’s Policy and Resources Committee it was agreed that Dundee City Council would carry out a public consultation to find out what people think about introducing 20mph zones and limits in Dundee. Included in the consultation will be community councils, tenants’ and residents’ associations and other representative community organisations. The director of city development was tasked with carrying out the consultation as soon as practically possible.

 

Following on from the introduction of 20mph throughout Edinburgh, Transport Scotland has published a good practice guide on 20mph speed restrictions and it is intended that all Scottish local authorities use this guidance for developing future 20mph schemes. The report before councillors recognised that when considering the introduction of a 20mph speed restriction it should be done as part of a range of other measures to improve safety and other objectives.

 

Over the years I have been contacted by many people requesting 20mph limits to be introduced in residential streets so a formal consultation will allow the council to develop a policy on the matter.

City Development Committee

There are a couple of items coming before tomorrow’s City Development Committee that are specifically to do with Broughty Ferry. The first is a report which considers the review of the existing speed limit on Linlathen Road, which is the road that runs from the roundabout on the A92 to Ferryfields and Clearwater Park. It is recommended that the committee approves the preparation of the necessary traffic regulation order which will reduce the existing 40mph speed restriction to 30mph. The mean speeds are below the current speed limit but there is a high level of anxiety from local residents with regard to road safety issues and it is something that has been raised with me by a number of local residents for quite a while now (please see earlier posts).

The other item of local interest is in respect of draft conservation area appraisals for Forthill, Reres Hill and Grove conservation areas.  It is being recommended that the committee approves the proposed conservation area appraisals and remits the director of city development to consult the local community and interested parties on the terms of the appraisals and report back with the results of the consultation process.

A conservation area is defined as an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character of which is desirable to preserve or enhance. It ensures that new development or alterations will not have a negative impact on the existing character of the area.

Bruce Mackie

I was deeply sorry to learn of the passing of Bruce Mackie, a former Broughty Ferry councillor and leader of the Conservative Group for many years on Tayside Regional Council and then Dundee City Council. He was a warm hearted, generous man who was easy to like. Colleagues from across the political spectrum valued his friendship. He served the city of Dundee with distinction for many years and his guiding principle as a councillor was always to put Broughty Ferry and Dundee first and foremost.  

 

In 2006 Dundee Conservatives hosted a dinner for Bruce to recognise his 40 years of service as a councillor. It was testament to the high esteem in which he was held by the party that I was able to read out at the dinner tributes that had been received from a host of senior Conservatives including Margaret Thatcher, John Major, David Cameron and William Hague.

 

I will always be grateful for the support and guidance he gave me. My thoughts are with Bruce’s family at this sad time.

Budget meeting

The council’s Policy and Resources Committee met yesterday afternoon to set the council budget for 2015/16. The outcome was a further freeze in the amount of council tax that has to be paid but there was disagreement among the various council groups about where the savings should be made and there was a lengthy debate about the deletion of a senior teacher post at the Young Mums’ Unit based at Menzieshill High School. From what I know of the unit, what I’ve read about it and representations I have received it appeared to me that having a dedicated senior teacher has been an integral part of the success of the unit.

I submitted a straightforward amendment to the SNP administration’s proposals which asked that the existing staffing structure of the Young Mums’ Unit be retained at a cost of £44,000; a very small sum of money when considering the council’s £multi-million  annual spend. To achieve the required £44,000 I proposed the alternative savings as mentioned in my earlier post which were : £5,000 for alcohol purchases; £4,200 food and refreshments for councillors; £1,00 councillors attendance and conferences; £33,000 hospitality budget- various departments; and an £800 reduction of other supplies and services in the communities department.

It seems to me that at a time when the council is looking to make savings it should ensure that all non-essential spending is eliminated first and to my mind the council could easily do without the foregoing items of expenditure. My amendment was defeated by 16 votes to 3, the SNP group voted against it and the Labour Group abstained.

South Balmossie Street

I was pleased to see that work has started to bring the west footway in South Balmossie Street up to standard. This is another pavement I have regularly raised with the city development department as needing some attention. At last it has scored highly enough in the council’s unadopted footways scheme to be attended to.

The 2015/16 priority list will be available towards the end of March and I am hopeful that a few more of the remaining unadopted pavements in Broughty Ferry will make it into a programme of works.

Budget proposals

Earlier this week I submitted my budget proposals to the council’s chief executive, which I intend to move at next week’s meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee. It includes the £44,000 required to retain the existing staffing structure at the Young Mothers' Unit which the SNP administration are proposing to reduce by removing a senior teaching post, and £54,000 for the retention of The Duncan Project, a community safety initiative in the city centre which works with Police Scotland to ensure good information flow on retail crime between the police and city centre traders, which the SNP administration had intended to end. I think that both of these initiatives provide a valuable service and should be supported.

 

The Young Mothers’ Unit at Menzieshill High School caters for the extra needs of pregnant schoolgirls and young mothers with their babies from across the city. The unit is staffed by a principal teacher, supported by a designated support worker and two qualified early years practitioners. The unit gives young mothers the opportunity to continue with their education and help provide a positive future for both themselves and their babies.   In its last inspection report the Care Inspectorate awarded a  5 for all the areas inspected which means in the 1-6 grading system it is considered to be 'very good', and a 6 was awarded for its staff, which is considered to be 'excellent'.

 

The alternative savings I have identified will not have a negative impact on the delivery of frontline services and they have been accepted as competent by the chief executive.

 

I understand the SNP administration has adjusted its proposal which will allow for the continuation of the Duncan Project.

 

My alternative savings from the council budget are detailed below:

Delete from administration’s savings	£000
Cessation of Duncan Project	54.00
Restructure of Young Mum’s Unit	44.00
Total	98.00
Replace with
Reduced provision for the Carbon Reduction Commitment Tax (as per the email dated 30.1 from the Director of Corporate Services)	54.00
Various departments –delete budget for hospitality	33.00
Delete budget for councillors attendance at conferences	1.00
Delete budget for alcohol purchases	5.00
Delete food/refreshments councillors lounges	4.20
Communities- other outlays p66	0.80
Total	98.00

Temporary traffic orders

I have been advised of the following two temporary traffic orders:

 

Carriageway resurfacing works are to be carried out at Dundee Road / Westfield Road / Brook Street / Claypotts Road junction therefore the driving of any vehicle will be prohibited from Monday 23 February 2015 for 5 working days. Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained. Alternative routes for vehicles are available via West Queen Street / Queen Street / Gray Street.

 

In recent months I have received many complaints from constituents about the condition of this junction and although potholes have been filled when required it is certainly in need of a more permanent repair.

 

Carriageway reconstruction works are also to be carried out in Long Lane from Fort Street to Gray Street. The traffic order is expected to be in force for 2 weeks from 23 February 2015.  Access for residents will be maintained where possible.  The one-way order which relates to this section of Long Lane will be rescinded for the duration of these works. An alternative route will be available via Fort Street, King Street and Gray Street.

Vehicle activated signs

I previously posted that vehicle activated speed signs were to be sourced by the city council and sited in various locations in Dundee. The council's head of transportation has now advised me of where the initial locations in Broughty Ferry will be:

 

Dundee Road east bound, near Ralston Road junction, following the recent 40mph speed reduction to 30mph for this section of Dundee Road;

 

Balgillo Road east bound, near Falkland Crescent junction and west bound north of Elie Avenue, to support safer routes to schools for Barnhill Primary.

 

Installation works are programmed to start week commencing 2 February.The impact of the speed activated signs will be monitored and additional locations will be considered for later in the year.