Yesterday, after my two Monday weekly ward surgeries at the Mitchell Street Centre and the West Park Centre, I attended City Council committee meetings.
At Policy and Resources Committee, I again raised concerns about the extent of Fire and Rescue service resource being drained by unwanted fire signal calls from non-domestic properties. I was pleased that the Fire and Rescue Service is working on an action plan to hopefully address this.
I also commented, in a debate over the unfortunate reduction and removal of police counter services at several police stations in the city that the ability of councillors to influence this matter locally was removed by those who supported the removal of local police forces like Tayside Police that had locally accountable police boards to ensure the needs of citizens locally were paramount. I warned back in 2011 that the centralisation of police services into a single police force would have detrimental effects and the loss of local police counter services now highlights this.
This morning, I had a meeting with the Director of Housing and senior housing staff regarding my concerns and those of the sheltered tenants at Morven Terrace and Ancrum Place about the Housing Department's decision to 'decommission' two sheltered properties and turn them into "amenity housing" (non sheltered housing for the over 50s).
I highlighted the tenants' concerns and the lack of consultation over this at Morven Terrace/Ancrum Place and, this afternoon, at a packed meeting of tenants I organised, the City Housing Manager and the Team Leader in house letting met with myself and the tenants to discuss all the concerns, give the tenants assurances and ensure the Housing Department responds to tenant concerns.
This evening, I attended a lengthy and positive meeting of Harris Academy Parent Council. Mr Thewliss, Head Teacher, gave a detailed report on the very encouraging 2013 examination results, a discussion on the school's website, and I updated the Parent Council regarding school crossing patroller provision.