City Council Committees 22 November 2010

I was at the meeting of the Education, City Development and Social Work and Health Committees this evening. Prior to the start of the committee meetings tribute was paid to Brian Allison who is retiring this week as the Local Government editor DC Thomson. I have known Brian for a number of years and have always found him to be good to work with, he will be missed from the corridors in the City Chambers and Tayside House. I wish Brian all the very best for his retirement.

The Education Committee had a long debate about the proposals to relocate Eastern Primary adjacent to Grove Academy I was pleased that the Administration eventually gave into the concerns of local Ferry councillors such as my colleague Laurie Bidwell and Bailies Scott and Wallace. Road safety is obviously very important and we should be very concerned about it. I was happy to support progress on Harris Academy's refurbishment.

The City Development Committee agreed to look at design and engineering for a new station concourse at Dundee Railway Station.

The Social Work and Health Committee looked at the important issue of children in residential care. It also looked at reports on the quality of private and voluntary sector care homes. The quality of these is important, we should be giving the best to the elderly and to vulnerable adults.