Yesterday, I held my weekly Monday surgeries at Harris Academy and the Mitchell Street Centre. With the school holidays about to take place, these were the last of my surgeries until the schools return in August but I can be contacted at any time via my e-surgery (e-mail esurgery@frasermacpherson.org.uk or phone 459378).
Later yesterday, I attended the final council committees prior to the summer recess, at which:
* At Education Committee, I queried the process of reviewing the quality of education provision for young people being educated at home, questioned how soon the City Council may be able to upgrade further schools across Dundee and made the point during a discussion about procurement of school transport that the City Council must look in the future to make best use of its own fleet of mini-buses.
* At City Development Committee, I welcomed use of Vacant and Derelict Land Funding to not only provide the long-awaited footway across the rail lines between Seabraes and Riverside (already agreed) but also to upgrade the area to the west of the former Homebase site on Riverside Drive.
Much as I welcome expenditure and improvements at our schools in the West End, I queried the expenditure of £29 000 on the formation of two cleaners' cupboards - asking if they were possibly being upgraded with golf leaf paint! I have been assured that I will be given full details of what the £29 000 would actually be spent on, as this seems an incredible amount of expenditure for only two cupboards.
I also asked for the detail as to how the Business Gateway Re-contracting contract (some £3.3m over 3 years) would be performance monitored.
* At Social Work and Health Committee, I praised the Community Payback Scheme for the way it has been well-managed and undertaken various useful projects across the West End.
* At Policy and Resources Committee, I welcomed a very good report on a Dundee festivals and events strategy for the next five years and sought assurances at the involvement of community festival groups such as WestFest.