Having spent much of the last week catching up on local issues and doing a huge load of e-mails and letters dictation over the past couple of days, I can genuinely say I am back on an even keel with constituents' issues and local matters, but what a job! That teaches you for having a holiday!
West End issues highlighted recently have included reports of more graffiti on utility boxes in particular but also on buildings - particularly hightlighted in Bankmill Road and Fleuchar Street; speeding concerns again in Magdalen Yard Road (following a minor accident at junction with Taylor's Lane whilst I was away - a constituent kindly contacted me about this) - I am again raising this issue with the Planning & Transportation Department - I have arranged for speed surveys to be carried out here in the past and its clear that there is a real issue here.
Also, chasing up Network Rail regarding their commitment to replace the unsightly blue boards in Riverside Approach. And ... still work required to be undertaken at Seabraes (such as graffiti removal)
Had a useful meeting with the Council Leader this morning; also spoke with the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) - in particular, I am keen to see the Council assist with the promotion of basic bank accounts for Dundee citizens currently without access to a bank account - the Council has met with its bank recently about this & I am keen we promote the matter in the months ahead. Additionally, with news that the Bank of Scotland & the Royal Bank have agreed to several hundred new free-to-use ATM machines across Scotland, aimed at communities where a free-to-use facility is not available, I am keen to see Dundee get a share of these machines. My colleague Cllr Helen Dick in Strathmartine Ward has already lent support to the campaign to get a free-to-use machine in Ardler (click on headline above for more information).