Dumbarton Councillor David McBride has submitted a Motion to West Dunbartonshire Council meeting to be held on 25^th January; detailing Labours Employability Programme; and inviting  all elected members to contribute their ideas and suggestions in order to improve on Labours plans. Councillor McBride said: ‘I was really pleased that the SNP Council had finally accepted that there was a crisis in unemployment in West Dunbartonshire and that all elected members had a duty to do something about it. The purpose of my Motion is to share our ideas with other Councillors and to give every Councillor the chance to contribute to tackling unemployment in our area.’  On 15^th December the SNP Administration put forward their DRAFT Budget for public consultation which included plans to invest £2.5 million to tackle the unemployment crisis. The SNP plan was to create 250 jobs and 200 Modern Apprentice places. In addition they were hoping to increase the number of internal Modern Apprentices employed by the Council. Councillor McBride added: ‘I was fairly impressed by the SNP proposals but I still believed that they were not being ambitious enough for West Dunbartonshire. Labours Employability Programme will maximise match funding opportunities and has the potential to create over 1,000 job placements’  The Employability Programme is broken down into a number of specific projects. The characteristics of each project are defined and a financial resource allocated. This modelling has helped to identify the number of job placements which each project could provide and has helped to identify match funding opportunities. The idea of this approach was to try to cater for as wide a group of unemployed people as possible. There will still be a key focus on youth unemployment but the job placements will be open to other unemployed people in West Dunbartonshire.  Councillor McBride said: ‘Although we have designed specific models for each project we have also ensured that sufficient flexibility has been built in to the Employability Programme to give the Council’s Employability Team as much freedom as possible so that they are able to respond to employers specific requirements and any identified need.’  The UK Coalition Government has also woken up to the unemployment crisis and has committed £1 billion to their Youth Contract http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2011/nov-2011/dwp132-11.shtml which is designed to tackle youth unemployment throughout the UK. As a result of Barnet consequential Scotland is expected to receive around £30 million each year for the next 3 years which can be invested as directed by the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government had also announced its £30 million ‘Opportunities for All’ scheme http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/13091128/2 and West Dunbartonshire is expected to receive around £1m from the fund as it has one of the highest levels of unemployment. Labour Group Leader Councillor Martin Rooney said: ‘Labours employability programme reflects Labour values. It provides a range of opportunities for all unemployed people; it provides flexibility for the Employability team to respond to individual needs; and it ensures that there is an element of fairness throughout the different projects as the modelling for the projects is based on a wage rate of £6.20 per hour which is above the National Minimum Wage. The models will of course be affected by a number of different factors in the employment market but the Councils Employability Team already have the skills and experience to overcome these challenges.’    A copy of Councillor McBride’s Motion is reproduced below. 

West Dunbartonshire Council will hold a series of public meetings to give members of the public the opportunity to review the Council’s budget proposals and suggest savings options.  The Budget included spending £2.5 million of reserves on a plan for a one year job creation project. The primary focus of the Job Creation project will be on supporting small businesses and the voluntary sector, encouraging them to take on young unemployed workers. Labour Group Leader Marin Rooney said: ‘The SNP have finally acknowledged the crisis of youth unemployment in West Dunbartonshire but their plans are not as far reaching; innovative or as developed as Labours Employability Programme. Labour Councillors are planning to create 1,000 job placement and training opportunities for unemployed people. In 2009 the SNP introduced a range of charges on elderly; disabled; and hard working families, to raise £2m per year and build up a war chest of £7,477,610 for the Local Government Elections.’ The SNP plan to use the Council reserves in 2012 but will leave a black hole in the Council’s budget in 2013. The SNP plan will result in a budget gap of at least £3,688,590 in 2013/14. Councillor Rooney added: ‘The SNP are keen to tell us what they are going to spend but they have not provided any details of what the increases in charges will be or what services they will have to cut to fill the £3.688 million budget gap in 2013/14.  Labours budget proposals demonstrate our greater ambition for our citizens.’

SNP introduced new charges to raise £2m 

The SNP administration imposed service charges on vulnerable West Dunbartonshire residents in October, 2009. Many were elderly and disabled people who paid more than one of the charges. The charges amount to a mandatory service tax and had a devastating impact on the most vulnerable people in West Dunbartonshire. The new charges included:

• The SNP  introduced a new service charge for 2,500 elderly residents for the Care of Garden Scheme which had traditionally been provided free;
• The SNP introduced a new service charge of £15 for each Domestic Bulk Rubbish uplift which was traditionally provided free;
• The SNP imposed a new service charge of £1 per meal for Home Care to 570 housebound and elderly residents;
• The SNP introduced a new service charge on Day Care of £2.50 per trip for the 160 pensioners and adults with learning difficulties using day care facilities, this  raised £104,000 per year; 
• The SNP introduced new service charge of £20 per week for 240 Housing Support Services clients including people with learning disabilities; mental health problems; people with acquired brain injury; and people with physical disabilities.
• The SNP introduced a new service charge of £5 per week for ‘privilege seats’ on school bus contracts affecting 61 pupils.

Increased Service Charges

In addition to the new charges the SNP Administration increased charges for other services as follows:

• The SNP increased the service charge for community alarms to £2 per week for 1,490 elderly and disabled people;
• The SNP increased the service charge to £2 per meal for 200 elderly and disabled day care clients;
• The SNP increased the service charge on residential accommodation for older people with savings by a whopping £67 per week;
• The SNP also increased service charges for sport and leisure; outdoor education; burial and cremation costs; and increased the service charge to community groups using public buildings.

SNP Increased Education Charges In 2009 

West Dunbartonshire primary school pupils were among the groups targeted for increases in charges by the SNP Councilors in their mini budget in 2009. 

• The SNP increased the service charge on Breakfast Clubs by 150% for 1,220 primary school pupils. Over the 38 week school year a parent with one child will have to pay out £47.50, that’s an increase of £30 per year and larger families were disproportionately affected by these significant increases;
• The SNP increased the service charge for school meals for primary 4 to primary 7 and all Secondary School pupils by 16%;
• The SNP increased the service charges to nursery children to generate an annual increase in income of £238,176.25 affecting 407 children;
• The 50% discount for a second child was also removed by the SNP Councilors;
• The SNP increased out of school service charges to generate an additional income of £89,819.

SNP Cuts 140 Teachers 

The SNP led Council has cut 140 teacher jobs over the past 4 years despite the SNP Council Leaders public commitment to protect services. Councillor Rooney said: ‘Cutting teacher numbers will not help to improve attainment; or increase educational opportunities and outcomes for our young people.’

SNP Cut Jobs & Service in 2010  

The SNP had cut 187.5 jobs in 2010. The 2012 draft budget has another 43 jobs including:

• Three part time music teachers
• Eighteen Admin/Clerical staff in schools
• Eight staff involved in gully cleaning; leaf clearing; grass cutting and planting 

The Draft Budget book includes £2,489,000 of reductions: (i) £2,037,000 during 2012/13 and (ii) £425,000 during 2013/14. The detail is as follows: 

• Employability Service Redesign £140,000;  
• Internal Audit Restructure £47,000. 
• Review of Finance and Resources staffing structures: £234,000 in 2012/13 and a further £65,000 in 2013/14;
• HROD – review of staffing structures £74,000;
• Review of Legal & Admin staffing structures  £132,000;
• Restructure of Quality improvement Team £52,000;
• Restructure of Educational Psychological Services £50,000;
• Reduce Music Instruction by 3 part-time posts £38,000 in 2012/13 and a further £23,000 in 2013/14;
• Reduce admin/clerical in schools £232,000 in 2012/13 and a further £139,000 in 2013/14;
• Reduction to Workforce Development Grant £50,000;
• Market Test Care Provision around Models of care and level of charges. £225,000 with a further £225,000 in 2013/14;
• Delay filling of vacant mechanic posts £55,000 and a 20% reduction in Driver Services £4,000;
• Save £250,000 through rationalisation of gully cleaning; summer bedding provision; provision of winter bedding displays; reduction in open space grass cutting; leaf clearance frequency; remove half-moon edging from SLA; and remove 20% of shrub beds.

The Councils programme of budget consultation meetings are outlined below:

• Clydebank High School,Monday 16^th January, 2012, 7pm to 9pm
• Vale of Leven Academy, Tuesday 17^th January, 2012, 7pm to 9pm
• Dumbarton Burgh Hall, Wednesday 18^th January, 2012, 7pm to 9pm

A petition has calling for SNP Councillor Ronnie McColl to resign from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board following his support for the Cabinet Secretary’s decision to permanently close the Christie Ward. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, gave approval to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plan to permanently close the Christie Ward and transfer in-patient mental health services to Gartnavel two weeks ago. However, at the board meeting on 18 October 2011, rather than support the communities which he is supposed to represent, Councillor McColl backed his political masters in Edinburgh and agreed to the closure of the Christie Ward at the Vale of Leven Hospital. Leven Councillor John Millar said: ‘I was shocked to learn that the Council Leader had gone against public opinion and had supported the closure of the Christie Ward. I cant imagine what all the thousands of people who campaigned for years to retain services at the Vale will make of his decision.’ Many community activists had made compelling arguments for the retention of the mental health services and do not believe that the closure of the Christie Ward is in the interest of patient well being or the interests of the local communities. Dunbartonshire MSP Jackie Baillie has criticised Councillor McColl’s the decision to close the Christie Ward and has called for Councillor McColl to resign from the NHS GG&C Health Board for failing to stand up for West Dunbartonshire’s interests. Councillor Millar added: ‘I was particularly annoyed by Councillor McColl’s claims which implied that the Christie Ward was a waste of money and that patients would get a superior service at Garnavel Hospital.  I can only infer that his support for the Vale of Leven Hospital was at best superficial.’ Links to the Lennox Herald article and a Petition are below:  

Should Ronnie Resign: http://www.jackiebaillie.co.uk/petitions

Lennox Herald Article: http://www.lennoxherald.co.uk/dunbartonshire-news/dunbartonshire-news/dumbarton-news/2012/01/06/christie-ward-row-continues-114557-30052659/

Teacher numbers in West Dunbartonshire have been cut by almost 140 in the last four years despite the SNP Council’s public commitment to maintaining teacher numbers and reducing class sizes. The main reason for the reductions has been a number of restructures and cuts such as the removal of the Early Intervention and a review of teachers carried out by a consultant on behalf of the SNP Administration. As well as the review, SNP budget decisions have seen specialist teacher numbers being cut such as music teachers and alterations to staffing formulas have also reduced the number of teachers in schools.  Labour Group Leader Councillor Martin Rooney said: ‘The focus of the previous Labour Administration was to improve the quality of the educational environment for pupils and staff and we delivered this primarily through the building of four new Secondary schools.’ In addition to the new Secondary schools the previous Labour Administration had set aside funding to build a new St. Eunan’s Primary School using PPP funding; and a new Bonhill Primary and Goldenhill Primary School using the Schools Fund which was built up over a number of years. The next major challenge for West Dunbartonshire Council was to drive forward improvements in attainment. In 2007, Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, Labours Education spokesman at this time, and Councillor Rooney met with HMIE inspectors as part of the review of our Education Authority by HMIE and both Councillors stressed the importance of raising attainment in order to improve the educational outcomes and opportunities for West Dunbartonshire pupils. Their viewpoints were reflected in the final report from HMIE. Over the past four years opposition Councillors have been calling for action to be taken to improve attainment and this culminated in the recently agreed Attainment Strategy. The attainment Strategy will employ five teachers specifically to help schools raise attainment levels. Councillor Rooney added: ‘We have had some of the most severe cuts in teacher numbers in Scotland and our pupil attainment levels have suffered as a result. The idea that the SNP cut of 140 teachers did not have an impact on educational outcomes is simply not credible.’

Lennox Herald Article Teacher Numbers Cut by 140: http://www.lennoxherald.co.uk/dunbartonshire-news/dunbartonshire-news/dumbarton-news/2012/01/06/west-dunbartonshire-council-reduces-teacher-numbers-114557-30054171/

Attainment Challenge: http://www.westdunbartonshirelabour.org.uk/2011/09/council-gets-set-for-attainment-challenge/

Class Sizes: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-16056744

Bog Standard Schools: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16419415

Herald Article – Job Losses: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/education/teacher-jobs-still-being-lost-despite-deal.16242027

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels: 

• Level 7 Advanced Higher at grades A-C
• Level 6 Higher at grades A-C
• Level 5 Intermediate 2 at grades A-C; Standard Grade at 1-2 (Credit)
• Level 4 Intermediate 1 at grades A-C; Standard Grade at 3-4 (General)
• Level 3 Access 3; Standard Grade at 5-6 (Foundation)

Clydebank High School

4^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/4thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8314136

5^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/5thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8314136

6^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/6thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8314136

Dumbarton Academy

4^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/4thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8304130

5^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/5thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8304130

6^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/6thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8304130

St. Peter The Apostle High School

4^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/4thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8300135

5^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/5thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8300135

6^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/6thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8300135

Our Lady & St. Patricks High School

4^th Year Results http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/4thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8304238

5^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/5thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8304238

6^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/6thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8304238

Vale of Leven Academy  

4^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/4thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8304831

5^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/5thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8304831

6^th Year Results: http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/6thyear.asp?iSchoolID=8304831

Scottish Government Statistical Bulletin Dec 2011: 

 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/920/0123828.pdf

Links to previous Labour Group Website  Postings:

 http://www.westdunbartonshirelabour.org.uk/2009/12/west-dunbartonshire-second-bottom-of-school-league-tables-2009/

http://www.westdunbartonshirelabour.org.uk/2011/09/council-gets-set-for-attainment-challenge/