http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/news/west-dunbartonshire-council-unveils-its-senior-team/

The cuts are the result of the SNP budgets between 2008 and 2011, but do not take account of the impact of the jobs being lost as a result of the recent SNP budget which included further restructures and deletions of posts. 

Commenting on the job cuts Labour Group Leader Councillor Martin Rooney said: ‘I highlight the SNP job cuts at every opportunity but even I was surprised by the cumulative effect this has had on the total number of council jobs.’  The details of the reductions are outlined below along with the 2007 and the 2008 figures which reflect the previous Labour Administration budgets as the first SNP budget was agreed in 2008. 

• 31st March 2007 – 6,491
• 31st March 2008 – 6,496
• 31st March 2009 – 6,121
• 31st March 2010 – 6 ,481
• 31st March 2011 – 5,986
• 31st March 2012 – 5,811

The full impact of the 2012/2013 budget will not be known until 31^st March, 2013. In addition the Council is in the process of transferring staff to the Leisure Trust and has further plans to transfer staff as part of the SNP plans to cut council housing. Labours Corporate Services spokesman Councillor Patrick McGlinchey said: ‘It’s shocking that the SNP have axed the workforce by 10% over four years and have further cuts in the pipeline for this financial year. This has had an impact in the quality of our residential care services for older people and in part must be a factor in our relatively poor performance in our secondary school attainment levels.’  

The SNP led Council has switched the focus away from school attainment on to ‘Positive Destinations’ which can mask what is actually going on in our schools. Councils have become more effective at measuring where school leavers go on completion of their secondary education and changes to the definitions of training to include young people taking part in ‘Activity Agreements’ has led to an improvement in the numbers moving on to ‘Positive Destinations’.  Councillor Rooney said: ‘It is good that we are better at recording where our school leavers move on to, and the Activity Agreements have helped to engage and encourage those young people who have had become disengaged with aspects of the formal learning in our secondary schools. However, we can’t lose sight of the fact that those who achieve best in schools go on to university and obtain better qualifications and skills that help them to get more rewarding and fulfilling careers. It is vital therefore that we support all of our pupils to achieve more when at secondary school.’    

Following continued scrutiny by Labour Councillors, the Council has now set up a ‘Raising Attainment Strategy’ that will drive up performance in all our secondary schools. Councillor Rooney said: ‘The Strategy will ensure that each of our secondary schools has a detailed plan in place to raise attainment. It also encourages sharing of best practice which should help to improve outcomes for the pupils.’

At the budget in January Labour Councillors put forward proposals that included an additional £120,000 each year towards raising attainment initiatives, compared to a one-off £80,000 put forward by the SNP. Councillor Rooney said: ‘The Raising Attainment Strategy needs to be properly funded in order to allow the development of a range of initiatives to meet the individual needs of each school. Funding therefore needs to be sustainable if we really want to bring about the required improvements.’

Parents want their children to have a positive experience while at school and most are keen to ensure that they get involved in other school activities and develop their particular interests further, becoming fully involved in the school experience. But when all is said and done, every parent wants the best for their child. Councillor Rooney said: ‘I left school with few qualifications but I went on to study for six years with the Open University and gained an honours degree in social policy. My oldest son attended the Vale of Leven Academy and has gone on to university along with many of his school friends. I want to ensure that my youngest son and his school friends have the same opportunities and driving up attainment levels is a key priority for me as a parent.’

The SNP are to change their policy on Modern Apprenticeships after concerns were raised about the discriminatory nature of its recently announced ‘Opportunities For All’ policy. The original SNP policy which is being delivered by Skills Development Scotland, restricted training opportunities for Modern Apprentices to 16 – 19 year olds. However, other parts of the UK have ensured that the Modern Apprenticeship scheme is open to all 16 – 24 year olds.  Following concerns raised by Councillor Martin Rooney about the discriminatory nature of the policy, the SNP have announced plans to extend the scheme to include 20 – 24 year olds. Councillor Rooney said: ‘I have been flagging up the discriminatory nature of this policy locally and two weeks ago I got the Council  to change their advert to include all 16 – 24 year olds. I also raised it at the Lomond Ward hustings meeting last week when I pointed out that the SNP leaflets were all discriminatory on age grounds as they were restricting learning and training to 16 – 19 which is where the Scottish Government had targeted resources through Skills Development Scotland.’ Labour MSPs were set to question the restrictions on Modern Apprentices imposed by the SNP policy in Parliament following a recent letter to all MSPs from SNP MSP Angela Constance, which informed them of the restrictions.  Councillor Rooney added: ‘I was really surprised that the SNP had unwittingly placed unnecessary age barriers on the Modern Apprenticeships scheme but I am delighted that they have now realised their mistake ’  The SNP campaign materials in West Dunbartonshire and the Skills Development Scotland website still promote the SNP policy ‘Opportunities for all’ which restricts the Modern Apprenticeship scheme in Scotland to 16 – 19 year olds. In February, SNP Councillors in Glasgow also voted against the Glasgow Guarantee which was targeted at 16 – 24 year olds. Also Skills Development Scotland Website – Opportunities For All: http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-services/services-for-individuals/opportunities-for-all.aspx

• Nor does Councillor McColl tell you that he only went to ask for more money following an outcry from Labour Councillors.  
• Nor does Councillor McColl tell you that even with his claimed ‘success’, there are further cuts to this budget of almost £1.5 million in the next two years. 
• Nor does Councillor McColl tell you that he has, in effect, negotiated a DECREASE of a whopping £6 million in funding for the most vulnerable people in our society, those with Learning Disabilities and Older People.

 This is claimed as an SNP success but it’s really just smoke and mirrors. These cuts are SNP cuts and the buck stops with the SNP and Ronnie McColl.’  The details of the funding reductions were made available to Councillor Rooney in April. Details can be found below:

Details have just been revealed of the SNP Council External Traineeship Scheme; to recruit 200 Level 2 Modern Apprentices.   The SNP scheme is targeted at young people in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance. 

• Roads x 4
• Business Administration x 30
• Hospitality x 24
• Care x 20
• Leisure x 6
• Green-Space x 16

It is envisaged that the Council will continue to support the Employability Programme in future years to ensure that we give future generations of young people the opportunities they need to kick start their careers.  

Notes:

1.       Labour External Modern Apprenticeship Scheme would have provided 73 Modern Apprentices based on a rate of £6.20 per hour.

2.       The SNP have decided to fund the 200 Traineeship places with a pay rate of £2.65 per hour. This option was recognised in the Labour Employability Programme but it was not funded by Labour as it was felt that it would not incentivise young people and other, more sustainable alternatives were available. 

3.       A copy of Labour Employability Programme is reproduced below.

The Council’s Internal Modern Apprentices were originally advertised with an age limit of 16 -19. This was wrong and a new advert was printed in the Clydebank Post and the Lennox Herald last week with a closing date of Wednesday 11^th April.

•  In construction we are looking for 5 roofers; 2 plumbers; 2 painters; and 1 electrician. This is a 4 year apprenticeship.  
• In construction technical we need 4 Modern Apprentices (surveying and planning) 3 year training.
• The biggest group is in Business Administration where we need 28 Level 3 Modern Apprentices – this is a two year training course.  
• In Health & Safety we have one job and the training is 2 – 3 years.
• We also have three vacancies for the two year Contact Centre Professionals.
•  We only have one vacancy in Youth Work – which is a two – three year course.
• There are two Modern Apprentices required for vehicle mechanics – which is a 3 – 4 year apprenticeship.
• Finally there are 5 green-space apprenticeships available – which is a three year course. 

The internal Modern Apprenticeship Scheme pays rates agreed with the Council’s recognised Trades Unions, ranging between £6,700 for Business and Administration Apprenticeships and £11,500 for Construction Apprenticeships. These rates are the year one starting rates and the rates increase over the period of the Modern Apprenticeship.  The Council has an excellent reputation with Skills Development Scotland and provides high quality training for our internal Modern Apprentices.  Councillor Rooney added: ‘This is a great opportunity for our young people to gain work experience and a recognised qualification that will increase their prospects of gaining permanent employment and improving their life chances.’ 

To find out more go to:

http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/UniversitiesColleges/16640/learnerfunding/highereducation

Ward 4 Kilpatrick: Councillor Douglas McAlister and Councillor Lawrence O’Neill; 

Ward 5 Clydebank Central: Councillor Patrick McGlinchey and Dr. John Mooney; 

Ward 6 Clydebank Waterfront: Councillor Gail Casey and Kath Ryall. 

KILPATRICK WARD – About Douglas McAlister: Labour’s lawyer Douglas McAlister, first elected in 2003 as the councillor for Hardgate, has represented the three communities which make up the Kilpatrick ward – Duntocher, Hardgate and Faifley – since 2007.  A family lawyer, Douglas lives locally in the Hardgate area with his wife and two children. Douglas, who has built up a reputation as a real local champion, has a special interest in Education having brought the brand new Goldenhill Primary School into Hardgate and having played a key role in the delivery of the new Clydebank High and St Peter the Apostle’s schools. Douglas said: “If re-elected, I will continue to work with local groups to ensure that Duntocher, Hardgate and Faifley receive the investment needed to allow all three communities to flourish.”

KILPATRICK WARD – About Lawrence O’Neill: Lawrence, who is part of the team tasked with delivering Scotland’s first Commonwealth Games for nearly 20 years, is a real community man.  Lawrence lives in the Kilpatrick ward with his wife and two kids and has represented the communities of Faifley, Hardgate & Duntocher since winning a 2011 by-election. Lawrence, who sits on the West Dunbartonshire Strategic Board on employment and the Strathclyde Police Authority, believes that the Council should always be on the side of the most vulnerable, elderly and disabled within our own communities.  With this in mind, if re-elected, Lawrence is determined to re-introduce the Care of Garden scheme, abolished by the SNP, for all vulnerable, elderly and disabled residents.  Lawrence said: “The SNP have closed Faifley library, removed the grant from the Antonine Sports Centre, and are putting our community centers at risk.  Douglas and I will work as a team to reverse these SNP cuts which are ripping the heart out of the community we both live in and the affect that this has on all of our neighbours.” 

CLYDEBANK CENTRAL WARD – About Patrick McGlinchey: Patrick, who works as a researcher for the shadow Minister of State for Scotland, became politically active in his early 20s, while working as an advocate for families in crisis.  Graduating from Glasgow University in 2009 with an MA in Theology and Politics, Patrick has worked as a carer in a local children’s residential home, as a street-based youth worker in Clydebank and with Oxfam’s UK Poverty Program.  An opposition councilor since 2007, Patrick hopes that  - with your vote – Labour can regain control of West Dunbartonshire Council and get Clydebank moving forward again with more jobs, better housing and cleaner streets. Patrick said: “It’s time to clean up Clydebank.  If re-elected I want to see the council implement an action plan to clean up the streets of Drumry and Radnor Park.  I want to see real investment in the communities of Linnvale, Mountblow and Parkhall and I want a jobs plan for Clydebank.” 

CLYDEBANK CENTRAL WARD – About Dr. John Mooney: John Mooney is a Bankie through-and-through. Brought up in the Radnor Park area, John has been fighting on behalf of Clydebank residents for years both as a community activist and as a director with Clydebank Housing Association. John, who has a PhD in immunology and previously worked with the NHS, lives locally with his wife and young daughter. John said: “Two of my passions are helping people live healthier lives, and working for improvements in housing.  If elected as a Clydebank councillor I’ll draw upon my background with the NHS and in the social housing sector to make the communities of the Clydebank Central ward – Mountblow, Parkhall, Radnor Park, Drumry and Linnvale – better places to live, work and visit.”

WATERFRONT WARD – About Kath Ryall: Kath recently retired after 21 years as a UNISON regional organiser, covering many local authorities including West Dunbartonshire. Before that she worked as a social worker and a college lecturer. She has been active in the Labour Party and trade union movement for 38 years. She lives in Old Kilpatrick. Kath said: “West Dunbartonshire is a great place to live but we can do more to make life better for all our citizens. We need to make our area attractive to good quality employers by building on the skills base of our workforce and improving the physical environment. I’m delighted to be standing for the Clydebank Waterfront ward and look forward representing our communities if elected.” 

 WATERFRONT WARD – About Gail Casey: Gail has represented the Dalmuir and Waterfront wards since 2003. She is a hard working Labour councillor and attends Council meetings, Committees, Surgeries and Community Groups. Gail says: “I enjoy helping the public and have made many friends along the way. I also need to persuade and cajole politicians and managers to work together to achieve the best results for our people and communities.”