Reporting of unauthorised works

I am aware of concerns about building work or removal of trees which do not have planning permission. There are a number of current sites reported to the Council as having unauthorised works or activity taking place on them.

To seek an investigation by the Council of works taking place on sites, a planning enforcement form can be completed. 

This is supported by the Council's Enforcement Charter.

Useful link:

Planning Enforcement Form: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/AF3int/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?ID=CUbjuUzuep3&fs2s=G!7Okzylbgg#1 http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3049BC4C-2F36-4CFB-A863-8B28004E0AA7/0/enforcementcharterspreads.pdf

Enforcement Charter: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3049BC4C-2F36-4CFB-A863-8B28004E0AA7/0/enforcementcharterspreads.pdf

Re-painting of white lines

There are ongoing requests for white lines to be repainted at various junctions in the Hillhead area including Cresswell Street and Cranworth Street.

 Junction with faded white lines.

Residents feel there is an increased risk of accidents on streets with faded or missing white lines. Requests have been made to council officials for these white lines to be painted as a priority. 

Eco Award for Wellington Church

Yesterday, I was invited to join in the celebration of Wellington Church in receiving their eco-congregation award. 

Whilst at the church, I took part in the Fayre selling nearly new gifts and fair trade goods.

A range of fair trade goods on sale.

Earlier in the week, I heard about the efforts to ensure Scotland becomes a Fair Trade Nation. Wellington Church along with many groups is helping to make this happen.

Useful link:-

Eco-congregation Scotland - http://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/

Fair Trade Nation Campaign - http://www.sftf.org.uk/who-we-are/fair-trade-nation-campaign/

Lighting in Kelvin Way

It has been highlighted that people don't feel safe walking through Kelvin Way. There is a need to ensure that any lighting faults are reported and street lighting maintained to a high standard to reassure the public. 

View of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

This evening, I walked through the area and found two lighting faults and these will be reported to staff at Land and Environmental Services.

Light out in Kelvin Way.

Any defects can be reported to the staff who manage street lighting at Glasgow City Council.

Useful link:-

RALF - http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/residents/gettingaround/ralf/

2012 Koestler Awards at Tramway

This afternoon, I attended the opening of the "Insight & Outlook" exhibition which showcases artwork and writing from people in prisons, secure hospitals, secure children's homes and criminal justice services throughout Scotland.  The selected exhibits were entries to the 2012 Koestler Awards, a charitable project founded in 1962. It was curated by young care leavers from Glasgow's Leaving Care Services with support from the artist David Shrigley.

 

Representatives of the Koestler Trust, David Shrigley, Representative from the Scottish Prisons Service, Representative from the Cooperative, a main sponsor 
and two of the young care leavers.

During my look around the exhibition, I was fortunate to meet up with a campaigner against nuclear weapons, Barbara Dowling, who has been arrested at various protests. She shared her experience at Greenock Prison and highlighted the benefits of accessing the art facilities with support available from a tutor from Motherwell College.

Barbara Dowling and her painting of Bluebell Woods.

This exhibition is on from 3rd - 25th November 2012. There is a special award for artworks chosen by public votes.

Useful links:

The Koestler Exhibition - http://www.koestlertrust.org.uk/pages/scotland2012/exhibscot2012.html

Free information and advice service in Woodlands

This evening, I attended an information event at the Albany Centre, Ashley Street and spoke with representatives of the Maryhill Advice Bureau. It was really good to hear that there is an advice service available on Tuesday evenings.

Advert for the advice session.

I was informed that anyone wanting to come along for advice has to telephone and to make an appointment please call on 0755 190 4892.

Useful link:

Citizens Advice Scotland - http://www.cas.org.uk/about-us

Support for Affordable Warmth

Glasgow City Council's Affordable Warmth Dividend is a progressive policy and one of various actions needed to address fuel poverty. It is a scheme which can assist residents over 80 years of age and older with their increased costs associated with the winter months.

The approach of providing an Affordable Warmth Scheme was recommended in the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge Glasgow Report. It lists a total of 60 recommendations which support council's activities to reduce fuel poverty including appointment of an Affordable Warmth Champion, to create a city-wide energy literacy strategy, develop Sustainable Glasgow, and promote sharing of information with energy companies.

The pressure on household budgets, and on fuel bills in particular, remains a major concern for elderly people. We should not just be concerned about relieving their financial hardship through the scheme, but also improving their health.

In 1986, the UK Medical Research Council published a paper, Low Indoor Temperatures and Morbidity in the Elderly, which established clear links between cold indoor temperatures and health risks to the elderly in the UK.

This was backed up in a April 2002 report, The Raised Incidence of Winter Deaths, where the key points to emerge were:-

1. Mortality rates are markedly higher in winter months than summer months.
2. 'Excess winter mortality' is particularly pronounced for the elderly.
3. Additional winter deaths are particularly associated with respiratory and circulatory diseases.

The Council has to work closely with our colleagues in health services and home care services supporting the most vulnerable elderly with coronary heart disease, stroke or lung problems to assess their energy requirements and take action to support the introduction of home energy efficiency measures.

We can acknowledge some progress when reading the statistics from the report on "Winter Mortality in Scotland - 2011-12, which shows fewer deaths were registered in Scotland during winter 2011/12 than during any winter since records began more than 60 years ago. Figures released by the National Records of Scotland indicate there were 19,119 deaths registered in Scotland in the four months to March 2012. This was 507 fewer than the number registered during the same period in 2010/11; and is the lowest number of winter deaths registered in Scotland since records began in 1951/52.

 

We can be positive about the work being carried out to reduce winter deaths and schemes to  support elderly people pay their fuel bills, but there is a still much more to be implemented as part of tackling fuel poverty.

Useful Link:

Affordable Warmth - http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/YourHome/CouncilTax/Affordable+Warmth+Dividend.htm