New flats for Dalmuir progressing

Twenty new flats for elderly and disabled residents in Clydebank have been given the go ahead.

The proposal to build two blocks of four-storey flats, which will be linked by a central glazed lobby, was granted planning permission on Wednesday.

Developer Wheatley Housing Group has also committed to contributing £12,780 to upgrade the nearby community park as part of the project at Auld Street and Beardmore Street.

A number of objections to the development were received, with concerns raised over the removal of 17 mature trees, the design and size of the flats, and increased traffic issues.

While Councillors were split over whether to approve or reject the plan, the Committee ultimately decided to grant permission because of the overall benefits.

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, Convener of Planning, said: “This was not a straightforward decision for the committee to make and I was extremely mindful of the objections which had been raised by residents. However, this is an excellent opportunity to regenerate a site which has been vacant for a number of years and create much-needed housing for the elderly and disabled residents in our communities. The new development will be in-keeping with the flats recently built at Beardmore Place and continue to transform this former industrial area into a more residential destination.”

Once completed, the flats will provide 16 one-bed and four two-bed properties with lift access, with a private courtyard for parking also to be provided.

The 17 mature trees which will be removed during construction have been assessed by a tree survey report as being in poor condition. To compensate for the loss, the developer will plant a number of replacement trees on the site.

Provost Douglas McAllister, Depute-Convener of Planning, said: “We are committed to improving local housing in our communities and this development will help us to achieve that. I am also pleased that the developer has committed to helping upgrade the local play park, on Beardmore Way, as this will be of significant benefit to many nearby residents. These properties will provide fantastic homes for a number of local people and I look forward to seeing the project develop.”

New Civic Heart for Clydebank

A new civic heart will be created at the former John Brown’s shipyard in Clydebank, after plans to redevelop the site were given the go ahead by Councillors.

The centrepiece of the development – which will include housing, retail and leisure outlets, and a health quarter – will be the refurbished fitting out basin and Titan Crane visitor attraction.

It has also been revealed that it is hoped a District Heating Scheme will be created that would be powered by extracting energy from the river basin. These plans are still in the early stages of development, but it would be the first system of its kind anywhere in Scotland if created.

Councillors on the Planning Committee unanimously agreed to grant planning permission in principle for the Queens Quay masterplan, which was presented by the owners of the site Clydeside Regeneration Limited (CRL).

Paul O’Donnell, representing CRL, told the committee: “At long last this represents the regeneration of John Brown’s shipyard. We aim to create an esplanade along the entire frontage of the Clyde and round the basin, opening up this area of Clydebank to the whole community for the first time. Our aspiration is to create a development that’s a little bit different from other major urban regeneration projects, with high design standards at its heart. This development will undoubtedly grow the local economy and will become a focal point for the community to use.”

This decision will allow the first phase of the development to get underway, which will see essential infrastructure works carried out, including repairs to quay walls and the creation of a new road layout.

Once this work is complete the development of the care home and health centre will be able to begin, with the housing, retail and leisure elements of the plan to follow. All of these developments will complement the existing facilities at Queens Quay, including the Council’s offices at Aurora House and the new £23.5m leisure centre which is set to open early next year.

It is expected that it will take more than 10 years to fully develop the 23 hectare site

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, Convener of Planning, said: “This will be the most significant development in Clydebank for a generation and I’m delighted to see it moving to the next stage. We have an opportunity to make this an extremely unique place, which will bring benefits to the whole of Clydebank and attract more people to visit our great town. The plans that we have agreed to approve will help to create a new civic heart for Clydebank, which is extremely exciting.”

Provost Douglas McAllister, Vice Convener of Planning, added: “John Brown’s shipyard built some of the world’s most famous ships and now we are set to breathe new life into this key site. Bankies have a strong affinity with the yard and I’m delighted that we will now be opening it up for the whole community to enjoy. As well as creating around 1,000 homes across the whole development, which will improve local housing opportunities, it will also provide a state-of-the-art care home and health centre for the people of Clydebank. This is going to be a fantastic development and I can’t wait to see it moving forward.”

The former John Brown Shipyard was bought by Clydeside Regeneration in 2004. However, due to difficult market conditions, the owners were unable to attract the investment to fund the necessary infrastructure works.

In July last year the Council agreed to invest £15m to fund this work in order to kick-start the development of the site. In return the Council will recoup its investment from a share of the financial benefits of any future land sales at the site, and in the economic benefits this would bring to the area.

Funding for Community Groups

Community groups in West Dunbartonshire have benefited from more than £170,000 in Council grants to run community groups and facilities for vulnerable and disadvantaged residents.

The money was used for running costs including staffing, training and equipment as well as community events, gala days, rent for community venues and a caravan for holidays for disabled children.

In 2015/16, 27 groups received £67,364 of voluntary grants from West Dunbartonshire Community Volunteer Service (WDCVS) under the Community Chest, Cultural and Playscheme, with a further £104,060 paid out to 51 organisations under the Social Transport Grant Scheme.

Councillor Kath Ryall, Convener of West Dunbartonshire Council’s Corporate Services Committee, said: “This money has been a lifeline for community groups that deliver important services to some of our most underrepresented residents. As a Council we are dedicated to tackling discrimination and involving underrepresented groups, and some of these organisations have a vital part to play in helping us achieve that. I hope we can continue to work together going forward to ensure all our residents enjoy the best possible quality of life.”

Vice-Convener, Councillor Tommy Rainey, added: “This money helps to sustain the great work carried out by these groups which is clearly making a difference to the lives of many residents across West Dunbartonshire. I am delighted we are able to help so many deserving groups which in turn are helping to make West Dunbartonshire a great place to live and work.”

Denny Tank visit with David Mann Director SMM and Anne Hoben Manager Scottish Maritime Museum – Denny Tank

More Community Capital Projects for 2016-2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

In February this year the Labour Administration committed another£1m towards Community Capital Projects. Details of the additional projects are set out below:

Vale of Leven:

• Mollanbowie Estate – £40k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Balloch Park Slipway – £100k. This is the most used site in West Dunbartonshire. The site is now over 10 years old and much of the equipment is in need of replacement.
• Riverside Estate – £50k. New site taking into account additional new properties built in this location.
• Dillichip Park – £80k Creation of a skate park. There are no properties within the immediate vicinity which would mean that there is unlikely to be opposition to this proposal.

Dumbarton:

• Castlehill – upgrade MUGA’s – £80k. The two MUGA’s are now over 10 years old and are in need of resurfacing.
• Westcliff upgrade – £40k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Brucehill upgrade – £40k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Bellsmyre Nursery – £60k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Silverton Milldam – £60k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Bowling upgrade – £30k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.

Clydebank:

• Faifley upgrade – £40k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Goldenhill MUGA – Old Tennis Courts – £150k creation of an all-weather sports area to meet demand in this area.
• Whitecrook Park Upgrade – £50k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Yoker Boundary Upgrade – £50k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Crown Ave/Second Ave – £30k Dev. £30k. Extension to existing facility with match funding from the housing developer.
• Community Park HCI – £15k dev. £30k. Extension to existing facility with match funding from housing developer
• Drumry Environmental Improvements & Play – £70k. Community Centre external improvements to improve access and play value experience.

Notes: 

The projects for 13/14 and 14/15 were:

• Moss O’ Balloch infrastructure upgrade – £80k, improve drainage on Moss O’ Balloch.
  • West Thomson Street play area – £150k, of which £125k was developers match funding.
  • New sports pavilions, Dumbarton Common & Singers Park – £350k, of which £150k was match funding from sportscotland.
  • Faifley Knowes playpark – £75k, of which £10k was match funding from Save the Children.
  • Breval Crescent playpark – £60k.
  • Milton playpark – £40k.
  • Dalmonach Park upgrade – £75k.
  • Rosshead all-weather sports pitch refurbishment – £45k.
  • Community Greenspace project, Old Kilpatrick – £40k.
  • Dalmuir Square upgrade – £40k.
  • Tontine Park play area – £60k.

The projects identified for 2015/16 were:

• Wylie Park play area – £80k.
• New Street playpark – £40k.
• Thistleneuk play area – £60k.
• New Bonhill playpark – £120k
• Whitecrook skatepark – £75k
• Moss O’ Balloch drainage – £40k
• Brown Street playpark – £75k
• Argyll Park 3G pitch – £500k
• Outdoor gym equipment -TBC
• Overburn Crescent play – £60k
•  East End Park 3G Pitch – £500k
• Inler Park play area – £75k
• Tullichewan – £90k
• Christie Park – £30k (plus Developer funding)
• Castlehill – Play area – £100k
• Linnvale Open Space – £100k
• Goldenhill Park – £120k
• Stark Avenue – £40k
• St Helena – £80k
• Dumbarton Common – £80k
• John Brown 3G Pitch – £550k

Notes:

1. The Labour Administration is also looking at a new 3G Pitch at Mountblow Sports Centre. This would require an allocation of around £500k. This additional investment would create the only fully publicly accessible all weather facility in the Clydebank area.
2. The Council is currently commissioning a condition survey on the existing changing pavilion.
3. Where possible external funding or developer funding is sought to enhance the scope of the projects.
4. Link to Levengrove Park bid: https://wdclabourgroup.wordpress.com/2016/03/12/progress-on-levengrove-park-renovation-bid-to-heritage-lottery-fund/

 

Response to Community Empowerment Act

Community Planning West Dunbartonshire has produced its response to the Community Empowerment Act (Scotland) 2015.

The Scottish Government is consulting on the guidance and regulations associated with the Act.

Each set of draft regulations and guidance is specific to a section of the Act. (i)Asset Transfer draft regulations; (ii) participation draft regulations; (iii)community planning guidance; and (iv) regulations and land reform as impacted on by the Community Empowerment Act.

A copy of the Community Planning West Dunbartonshire response to the Community Empowerment Act is set out below:

Part 2 – Community Planning

General Questions

Are there any equality issues we should be aware of in respect of local outcomes improvement plans and locality plans?

Do you agree with the principles for effective community planning? Is anything missing?

Do you think there are common short- or medium-term performance expectations which every CPP and partner should be expected to meet? If so, what are they?

All partners agree with the overarching principles for effective community planning.  However, there is also agreement that any guidance and regulations should not be too prescriptive.  In line with the spirit of the legislation, there is a desire for as much as possible to be left to local discretion – reflective the overall empowerment agenda.

There is a concern locally, expressed with most clarity by colleagues in the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) that this legislation does not align to the Joint bodies Act in relation to the links with general practitioners/ clinicians and the terminology around localities.  This may cause difficulties locally in a number of partnerships as it causes confusion and conflict with the existing legislation.

In practical terms, there are ongoing difficulties across community planning partnerships about how best to approach the challenges of evidencing the approach to joint resourcing.  The shift in focus from where the money is spent / located to what is delivered on is welcomed, focusing on assets employees etc. rather than just the financial investment of partners.

While it I helpful to have common measures to allow sharing of best practice and review of performance, it is felt that prescribing common performance expectations and targets weakens the ‘local’ element of this approach.  The use of the community planning outcomes profiles prepared by Improvement Service allows for sharing of innovative approaches in a ‘benchmarking’ type discussion without setting hard targets for local issues.

Timescales

Do you think the statutory guidance should require CPPs to review and if necessary revise their plans after a specific period of time in every case?

How soon after year end should CPPs publish progress reports on their local outcomes improvement plans and locality plans? (options are 4 months, 6 months or other)

It is felt that a regular reporting and review period for Local Outcome Improvement Plans would be welcome.  As with the new legislation of the Community Justice Act, it would be realistic to expect a review and update of local plans in a 5-year cycle, or more often if locally determined.

A realistic reporting timescale for year-end reporting would be no later than 6 months after the end of year being reported.  This would fit with existing reporting cycles locally and other arrangements.

Localities

The proposal is that only a maximum population permissible for a locality is prescribed – do you agree and what are your reasons?

The proposed maximum is 30,000 residents, with a possible exception to designate a local authority electoral ward as a locality even where its population exceeds 30,000 residents.  Would this prevent a CPP from applying a reasonable approach to locality planning?  Would reducing the maximum size have an impact?

Again there are issues in relation to the existing Joint Bodies legislation – which clearly defines localities.  Further legislation should not be defining localities in contradiction to this, particularly as HSCPs will be a key partner in delivering the Community Empowerment Act.

If terminology is changed to reflect that CPPs are working in communities/ neighbourhoods rather than localities that would allow a more comprehensive local approach to be taken.

While we agree that working with communities neighbourhoods to develop specific ‘locality’ plans to address local issues requires these communities / neighbourhoods to be a size that people recognise we feel that this will be dependent on a range of factors.  A maximum size may be helpful as long as it is not prescriptive – allowing CPPs to work in much smaller geographies where this makes most local sense.  We also feel it is important to note here the pressure that working in small localities may present a significant challenge for national partners.

Part 3 – Draft Participation Requests

General Questions

Should there be a standard format for participation requests?

What information would be needed to consider participation requests?

Is it reasonable to expect public authorities to respond to requests within 14 days?

How should the use of PRs be promoted and supported?

What would need to be considered when assessing PRs and how long should this take?

Community Planning West Dunbartonshire feels it would be necessary to have standard format and process for participation request to allow these to be appropriately managed and responded to.   There would be a need in each CPP to agree on how these requests would be managed for the partnership – centrally to individually by the partner agency.

A standard format for requests would allow a core set of information to be gathered, however, the feeling locally is that the example form requires to be enhanced to be more useful locally.  While all agree that there needs to be a standard timescale for responses to requests that 14 days is too tight.  The suggestion locally is that this is in line with the complaints and FOI process times of 20 days.

Requests should be promoted in the same way as other engagement and involvement opportunities via websites and social media. This would be supported by local partnership working with community organisations.  Our local approach to engagement and involvement should ensure that local groups and organisations are involved in delivering improved outcomes as standard.

Part 5 – Asset Transfer

Asset register

What should and shouldn’t be included in the register?

How should it be published?

What information should community bodies be able to request when looking at asset transfer?

All partners locally feel that all assets, including land, should be published on the register and felt that this should already be in place.  The register should be available on the community planning website and individual agency websites as well as available as a hard copy in libraries and key buildings.

In order to support community organisations when approached, an asset transfer the register should contain information about the liabilities and condition of each entry, as well as details of the likely operational costs of running the asset.

Community organisations when applying for an asset transfer should be required to evidence the sustainability and resilience of their business plan for the use of the asset.  There is also a need to evidence the benefit this will provide to the local community and the outcomes being focused on through the business plan.

Review and Appeal

Should Scottish ministers appoint independent review panels?

Is 6 months a reasonable period to make a decision on a review?

There is consensus locally that there is a need for an independent review process for the asset transfer approach, and that a 6-month timescale for review is appropriate.  However, there is a view locally that this process should be linked to the role of the ombudsman rather than a new process/ body being established at additional expense to the public purse.

Notes: 

1. The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill was passed on 17 June 2015.
2. The intent of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act is to strengthen civic participation and the community voice.
3. This complements West Dunbartonshire Council strategic priorities and Community Planning priority outcomes.
4. The Scottish Government is consulting on various aspects of the Community Empowerment Act.
5. Consultations will close on the 20th June, other than the community planning specific consultation which closes on the 13th June.
6. Guidance and regulations are being prepared on each part of the Act and consultations have been launched.

 

https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/community-land-team/abandoned-land

https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/community-empowerment-unit/asset-transfer-procedures

https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/community-empowerment-unit/participation-request-regulations

https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/community-empowerment-unit/community-planning-guidance

New 3G pitches for Dumbarton and Alexandria

The Council has officially opened new sport facilities in Alexandria and Dumbarton after investing £865,000 to help hundreds of local young people and amateur athletes.

A full size 3G synthetic pitch has been constructed in Argyll Park, Alexandria, and a new, modern 3G pitch has also been installed at East End Park in Dumbarton to replace the existing facility.

The developments by West Dunbartonshire Council are part of a major programme of sporting investment in the area.

The new facilities, which officially opened this week, have also each received major external funding.

The £565,000 all-weather floodlit pitch in Argyll Park meets FIFA and IRB standards and has been supported by £250,000 funding from sportscotland.

The park is available for use both for games and training seven days week throughout the year. Dozens of bookings have already been made by youth and amateur teams from across the authority.

The state of the art surface at East End Park has been installed in a £300,000 project in that area with Cashback for Communities contributing £150,000 and the Scottish Football Partnership contributing £25,000. The Scottish Government programme which takes funds recovered from the proceeds of crime and invests them to benefit young people.

The pitch is available for use by the community including local sports teams seven days a week.

Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, Convener for Infrastructure and Regeneration, said: “These impressive new facilities will encourage participation and increase enjoyment of sport among residents of all ages.

“The facilities provide our amateur and youth footballers and rugby players with somewhere to train and play regardless of the weather and will increase the development opportunities our local grassroots clubs and groups can provide.”

Councillor David McBride, Vice-Convener for Infrastructure and Regeneration, added: “We’re committed to improving the wellbeing of our communities and we’re delivering on that front by investing in sporting facilities across our area. These new pitches in Dumbarton and Alexandria provide the best possible playing surface for our amateur and young athletes to enjoy their sport and I’m looking forward to the development of further new sporting facilities across our area.”

Work begins on new West Dunbartonshire high school

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work has officially started on a new £25million secondary school in Dumbarton.

Construction of the new Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School is expected to take 18 months with the first pupils set to be welcomed to the building in October 2017.

The three-storey school, which is being built on Council-owned land in Bellsmyre, will accommodate 1000 pupils and feature state of the art classrooms, an ICT suite, construction skills area, hospitality kitchen, outdoor teaching spaces and an allotment garden.

The facility will also include a floodlit all-weather sports pitch for football and hockey, three outdoors games courts, a fitness suite, gyms, games hall with retractable bleacher seating and a flexible social space incorporating a performance area. All of the facilities will be available for community use outwith school hours.

S1 pupils Michael Harkin; Erin Lynn and Evie McEwan joined Educational Services Convener Michelle McGinty and Depute Convener John Mooney to break the ground at the site and officially mark the start of work on the project.

Councillor Michelle McGinty, Convener of Educational Services, said: “This project is about improving the life chances of our children and young people and providing them with a school which will fully support their learning, attainment and achievement. In reality the whole community will benefit from the fantastic facilities which are being developed on this site.”

Councillor John Mooney, Depute Convener of Educational Services, said: “As a Council we’re committed to ensuring that our young people are educated in the best possible facilities. When the new Our Lady and St Patrick’s is constructed it will also complete the full regeneration of our mainstream secondary school estate moving thousands of pupils into buildings which fully support their needs and aspirations.”

Headteacher Christopher Smith said: “Our pupils, parents and staff are very excited about the work beginning on our new school campus at Bellsmyre. The new school and the new facilities will continue to support our work and the ambitions and high expectations that we have for every young person at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School.”

Secondary School Teacher’s National Ballot

This provides an update on current developments at a national level and the potential for industrial action by Secondary School Teachers Trades Unions.

In December 2015, teaching union EIS announced that they had consulted their members on possible industrial action in response to workload concerns related to the new SQA qualifications.

Of those who participated 93% expressed support in principle for industrial action. On Friday, 13 May, EIS announced plans to hold a statutory ballot of members over these concerns.

It follows a review by a working group established by the Scottish Government to examine ways of reducing bureaucracy and extra workload linked to the new curriculum and qualifications.

The Assessment and National Qualification Working Group has since published an interim report setting out a series of recommendations to address concerns under four main headings:

• Changes to national qualification assessment requirements
• Quality assurance and verification
• Expectations on advice and good practice, and
• A new programme of engagement with teachers and schools.

Teaching unions have indicated that they do not believe it will make an immediate impact on workload concerns.

National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) began taking action short of strike from 12 May in relation to this issue.

The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) are also balloting members with a view to seeking a formal mandate for action.

Subject specific SQA guidance is set to be published at the end of May, and this also has the potential to have an impact on workload.

Ballot papers will be issued to EIS members over the coming weeks.

The EIS has stated that any action would stop short of a strike but would see teachers working to contract.

If support is given for the action, it is believed this would begin close to the start of the summer holiday period at the end of June and would likely impact on assessment and reporting related to the new qualifications.

This is a national campaign, and while as a Council we are already introducing a number of measures to reduce workload at a local level, we would not be involved in any local negotiations to influence the outcome of the ballot process.

If support is achieved for industrial action, it is believed this would begin at the end of June and would likely impact on assessment and reporting related to the new qualifications at our secondary schools.

Leaders Column the Lennox May 2016

 

 

It is extremely pleasing to see a number of key projects progressing across the area as we continue to build a better West Dunbartonshire.

Just last week work officially started on the new £25m Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School in Bellsmyre.

This state-of-the-art facility will take around 18 months to build and once completed will provide a modern, fit-for-purpose school for 1,000 pupils.

While it was a frustrating wait before funding from the Scottish Government could be confirmed, I am excited to now see the project on site.

As well as the fantastic teaching facilities, the new school will also include a floodlit all-weather sports pitch for football and hockey, three outdoors games courts, a fitness suite, gyms, games hall and a flexible social space incorporating a performance area.

These fabulous sports spaces will all be available for the community to use, which will play a part in improving the health and wellbeing of our residents.

Two other new sports facilities have also now opened to the public and are already being used by a number of teams throughout the area.

Argyll Park, in Alexandria, now boasts a full-size 3G synthetic pitch and the existing facility in East End Park, Dumbarton, has been upgraded to provide a modern 3G pitch.

The Council’s £865,000 investment in these facilities, which was complemented by a number of external funding sources, is part of a major programme of sporting investment across the area.

Further developments are on site, including a new sports facility at St Ronan’s Primary nearing completion, which continue to transform our communities.

In addition another £1m of community capital projects are being rolled out across the area and we are already looking ahead to other potential projects for 2017.

The dust is also just settling on the most exciting election fight for the Dumbarton constituency. This was as predicted the closest contested seat in the whole of Scotland.

The two main contenders Labour and SNP fought a really tough election, which in the end was settled by just 109 votes. Congratulations to both candidates for a great campaign.

Despite the Scottish Parliaments in-built, pro-independence majority, there is absolutely no possibility of another Referendum over the next five years as the previous White Paper was shown to be utterly flawed and instead of a potential surplus to fund all of the promises we ended up with a £15 Billion deficit.

However, one thing we can be sure about is the Scottish Parliament will be really interesting as the minority Scottish Government will be forced to deal with the Tories to get their budgets through, forced to deal with Labour to get progressive social welfare policies through and forced to deal with the Greens to ensure real progress on environmental issues.

Martin Rooney
Leader West Dunbartonshire Council