Improvements to Braid Square Pitch

In the last 2 months, improvements to a red blaes pitch at Braid Square have been carried out. A new access route from St. Peter's Street via the playground of Oakgrove Primary was created to enable maintenance vehicles to come to and from the pitch. This was required as another access route had been closed off when bollards and safety barriers were installed.

Working alongside members of the Oakgrove Parent Council and staff from Education Services, I have helped to develop plans to provide secure fencing and resurfacing of one of the red blaes pitches. Grant funding and donations has been received to cover these works. 

The pitch is used by schools in the local area during 9am - 5pm. However, after 5pm on Mondays - Fridays and during weekends, it is open for community use and this is provided free of charge.

View of the resurfaced pitch with fencing and white lining.

The pitch is needed to encourage a range of sports activities and outdoor learning by the community. 

Dog walkers are asked to use other areas of Braid Square. This is to ensure that dog fouling is not a problem within the pitch area.

Repairs to Woodside Library

This week, I held my surgery at Woodside Library. During my visit, I was able to view the area of the library which is not in use due to damage to the dome. The books and shelves were covered with sheeting in preparation for maintenance works to start.

Internal view of the area below the dome.

The library remains open whilst the works take place. The investment in repairs to the A-listed library's dome is essential. This will enable the library to provide a full range of library services including access to vital study space, wide range of books, and computers.

Useful link:

Glasgow Life - http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries/your-local-library/woodside-library/pages/home.aspx

Get ready for the Women's 10K

This year's Women's 10K in Glasgow takes place on Sunday 6th June 2016. I have received my running pack in the post this week.

The route starts and finishes at Kelvingrove Park.I look forward to taking part and running alongside thousands of women through the city's streets.

Useful link: Great Women's 10K - http://www.greatrun.org/great-womens-10k

Travelling by Ferry

Over the weekend, I travelled by ferry between Ardrossan and Brodick to enjoy a holiday in Arran. I appreciated the opportunity to travel on a ferry service operated within the public sector by CalMac Ferries Limited. This service safeguards workers rights including protection of the workers’ pension scheme and a policy of no compulsory redundancies. 

View of CalMac Ferry departing from Brodick Harbour.

Currently, there is construction work underway to create new facilities for ferry passengers at Brodick Harbour. There will be a need to ensure such investment by CalMac Ferries Limited delivers improvements for the travelling public and the workforce. Rural and island communities are reliant on these ferry services to sustain their economies.

Update on Brodick Ferry Terminal at: http://www.cmassets.co.uk/project/brodick-ferry-terminal/

Roadmarkings in Hillhead

There is work underway to refurbish the road markings within the Hillhead Restricted Parking Zone. In the next few weeks, some areas will require temporary parking restrictions with provision of "No Waiting" cones in several streets. Residents will be notified of temporary arrangements by notices on lamp posts and close entrances. The streets to be refurbished include Bank Street, Otago Street and Cecil Street.

Resurfacing and new road markings planned 

at Kersland Street/Great George Street.

Resurfacing and new road markings planned 

at Glasgow Street.

Residents within Hillhead are asked to make alternative arrangements for parking on the dates when works are carried out in their street.

Woodland's Community Clean Ups

With the support of Woodlands Community Development Trust, it has been possible to plan regular community clean ups to clear bulk items and litter within the back lanes and backcourts of Woodlands. 

View of Woodlands Community Garden

On Sunday, I helped with the clean up and gathered with residents to enjoy a social gathering afterwards in Woodlands Community Garden. 

Bulk items cleared from a back lane.

The items collected during the clean up were uplifted by Land and Environmental Services. Volunteer clean ups are also supported by Community Safety Glasgow. The efforts of local residents have helped to transform the back lanes and ensure council vehicles can make use of these lanes to access bins for the uplift of refuse and recycling materials.

Further details about Woodlands Community Development Trust at: 

http://www.woodlandscommunitygarden.org.uk/

Gender Budgeting Resources

Recently, I attended a meeting to discuss the impact of budget cuts on women and the opportunities to develop gender budgeting. 

Currently, the UK Government does not complete a detailed equality impact assessment as part of the budget process. However, the UK Women's Budget Group has completed an analysis and produced a comprehensive gender assessment of the 2016 UK Budget, which is available at:
http://wbg.org.uk/wbg-publishes-comprehensive-gender-assessment-of-the-2016-budget-women-paying-for-the-chancellors-tax-cuts/

Since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, there has been progress towards gender responsive budgeting and the Scottish Women’s Budget Group is recognised as taking forward this agenda. There is a Equality and Budgets Advisory Group and Equality Budget Statement produced for the Scottish Budget. 

Reference can be made to the Fair Work Framework published in March and this shares good practice to support workers and businesses to address inequalities. Further details are provided at: http://www.fairworkconvention.scot/index.html

There is a wide range of research in to gender pay gap and the challenges that women face such as changes to pensions, in-work poverty, self-employment, childcare and age discrimination. Case studies are vital to highlight the impact of budget decisions on women by UK Government, the Scottish Government and Local Authorities. 

The work of the Scottish Women's Budget Group continues to develop with focus on linking with economic strategies and national performance frameworks.

Useful links:

New research report "Gender Equality Pays" - http://www.closethegap.org.uk/news/blog/new-close-the-gap-research-finds-womens-labour-market-equality-worth-17bn-to-the-scottish-/

Information on the Scottish Women's Budget Group available at: http://www.swbg.org.uk/