Children’s Services Planning

I have received information from a coalition of 25 of the leading children’s charities in Scotland, and a request to sign up to a pledge to plan for children. 

I have signed up to the #plan4children campaign and will seek to follow good practice in good children’s services planning, fulfil my new planning duties under the Children and Young People (Scotland Act) 2014. I am aware of the importance of addressing key issues including  barriers to education and the attainment gap, mental health, poverty and neglect. 

I pledge to plan and build high quality services that empower children, young people, their families and communities by:

• collaborating with children and young people, their families, communities and service providers in service design;

• providing services that promote prevention and early intervention;

• connecting the outcomes and ambitions of strategic plans to decisions about investment in services;

• taking an accountable and transparent approach.

Further details about the #plan4children at: http://www.ccpscotland.org/hot-topics/pledge/

Recognise the unpaid carer

In recent weeks, I have been contacted by the Carers Trust Scotland at: https://carers.org/country/carers-trust-scotland

Scotland’s national carer organisations are calling on all candidates in the 2017 Scottish local elections to recognise the unpaid carer vote and ensure that health and social care services across Scotland are well resourced and responsive to carers’ needs.

Across Scotland, there are 759,000 carers and 29,000 young carers who deserve recognition from elected representatives. I appreciate the importance of investing in support for carers so they can continue in their caring role, protecting the health of the people they care for and securing the longevity of our social care system.

I will support work to improve short break provision for unpaid carers, ensure that support is available for carers who want to take up or remain in paid employment, and that the Carers (Scotland) Act is implemented with adequate resources from 2018.

Investment in public transport

To get around Glasgow, I travel using the subway, trains and buses on most week days. The reliability of our public transport is very important for my day to day work activities. I am very supportive of the campaign to invest in public transport.  It is essential that there is funding provided for public transport to help promote better health and connect communities across Glasgow. 

A priority is provision of an integrated transport strategy with a fleet of Glasgow-owned electric buses, as well as new and well maintained cycle and walking routes throughout the city.

Also, Crossrail presents fantastic opportunities for us to develop Glasgow's rail network that residents deserve. Proposals could include investment in new rail stations at West Street, Citizens Theatre in the Gorbals and Glasgow Cross. This is a great opportunity to reduce poverty linked to transportation costs. Less reliance on car travel will improve health for residents as it will reduce stress levels and promote a higher quality of life. We urgently need renewed focus on securing investment in Crossrail from Transport Scotland and Glasgow Region City Deal.

To find out about efforts to provide a fully-integrated and accessible public transport network, please go to: http://www.getglasgowmoving.org/

Promote the mental health of all pupils

The impact of mental health on the attainment of children and young people is highlighted by a new publication from Children in Scotland and Youthlink Scotland. It refers to 1 in 5 children experiencing mental health issues before the age of 11. 

There is a need for Education Services to make changes to focus on intervening to address the mental health issues affecting children and young people. The views of children and young people have to be gathered to help shape the service provision that is developed as part of reducing the attainment gap. 

I agree with the recommendations that councillors have to work to promote the mental health of all pupils; protect third sector grants and youth work budgets; work with headteachers and parent councils to improve mental health and attainment; encourage participatory approaches to decision-making; and ensure there is a central information point listing services available for children and young people across Glasgow.

Ban Fracking

Yesterday, I met activists highlighting the dangerous from fracking and received a copy of their leaflet. Evidence was provided about the risks associated with hydraulic fracking.

Fracking can be banned as it does not help to reduce carbon emissions and stop climate chaos. Further information is available from Frackwatch Glasgow at: https://twitter.com/frackfreeglasgo

and also, Scottish Green Party at https://greens.scot/ban-fracking

St. Georges Cross Underpass Lit Up

In the last week, we have experienced lighting faults in St. Georges Cross underpass. This caused concern for people's safety walking through this route. I reported the need for lighting repairs and the lights were back on by 10th March. 

View of lights on at St Georges Cross Underpass

Any problems with street lighting can be reported to Glasgow's Roads and Lighting Faults Helpline at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=17045

Support for walking and cycling

Yesterday, at the Scottish Green Party's Spring Conference, I met up with representatives from Go Bike to provide support for the campaign to increase investment in cycling and walking. 

Three priorities supported are investment, infrastructure and local action.

Green councillor candidates support "We Walk, We Cycle, We Vote".

During the last year, I have requested additional cycle hire sites across the Hillhead area, including Hyndland Railway Station. Also, I have given my support for the development of the Woodside Mini-Holland Project. I have supported a Green budget proposal to provide £8m for cycling routes, the North Glasgow City Way and East Glasgow City Way in 2017-18.