This afternoon, I participated in the latest meeting of the Balgay Stakeholders' Group that brings Friends of Balgay, local councillors and City Council Environment Department officers together to discuss issues at Balgay Park, Victoria Park and the surrounding area.
We had an extremely productive meeting, discussing amongst other issues - improvements to the Rose Window, including new planting and a commemorative plaque, very good progress on dealing with potholes on the roadway up to the Mills Observatory and plans to improve the Rose Garden.
After this, I attended an exhibition by Whiteburn Projects on development proposals for the former Parkview School at 309 Blackness Road (see right) - this was very well-attended by local residents.
I then held my weekly surgeries at the Mitchell Street Centre and Harris Academy and thereafter took part in tonight's Dundee City Council committee meetings.
At City Development Committee, I expressed concern about the narrow footpath that has been created at the front of the development on the former Homebase site at Riverside Drive - it is not wide enough given the very busy road and I sought assurances that the department that this will be looked into.
At Policy and Resources Committee, I moved deferral of any decision to replace the civic cars. The council had sought prices for a 3 year lease but I felt that getting costs of taking leases over 4 or 5 years would make sense. I am pleased that committee agreed to this and the matter will be reconsidered with this additional information in two weeks' time.
I also spoke about the concerns regarding high interest rate lenders and supported the council's moves for Dundee to be UK City of Culture in 2017.