HighlandCutsWatch website launched

Highland Labour MSPs Peter Peacock, Rhoda Grant and David Stewart are launching a HighlandCutsWatch website as part of their campaign against the Highland Council cuts in vital public services.

The MSPs have created the website – www.highlandcutswatch.org.uk – to allow Highland council tax payers to monitor the cuts to their services as a result of the Highland Council budget.

Rhoda Grant said,

“Education is to be the focus of the first site and it will provide parents with information about the cuts and a means for people to register their interest and report how the cuts are affecting them.

“After years of building up education services and seeing class sizes fall at key stages of school, we are seeing all that progress beginning to be put into reverse.

“It is becoming very clear that teachers jobs are to go and many of the most experienced teachers are to be paid off and newly qualified younger teachers employed because they cost less.

“We will see an increase in posts frozen and cuts in visiting teachers and specialists support to school.

“As if that were not bad enough, the Council is determined to reduce pre-school spending, cut the number of janitors and school cleaners and raise the price of a school meal.

“And it is all so unnecessary.

“At the same time as vital services are cut and jobs are lost, the Council is banking a cash stash of £17 million. A small proportion of that would keep all our education services intact.”

The MSPs have written to every parent council in the Highlands about the cuts to school budgets and to alert them to the EducationCutsWatch web site.

The site not only gives information, it links to an e-petition which parents, grandparents and any other concerned individuals can sign.

Rhoda Grant concluded:

“The Council hoped to get all the bad news out over a few days around their budget decisions, but the effects of these cuts will last all year.

“The site allows us to keep on top of monitoring the Council and bringing maximum pressure to bear to reverse their damaging decisions.

“My colleagues and I will be working with our Labour Councillor colleagues on the Council who tried to stop the cuts.”

Councillor Jimmy Gray leader of the Labour Group on Highland Council welcomed the launch of the sites.

He said:

“This will help us monitor this short-sighted and unambitious SNP Independent Council and highlight the decisions the Council has made.

“If everyone with a concern demonstrates that concern it becomes difficult for the Council to continue with their public service cuts agenda.

“I encourage people to visit the site, keep up to date with the full effect of what the Council are up to and register their protest.”

The Future of the Schools Library Service in the Highlands

 Deirdre Mackay, Scottish Labour Councillor for East Sutherland and Edderton, has written a report on the future of the schools library service in the aftermath of budgets cuts made by on Highland Council.It can be downloaded in PDF format at :

http://www.deirdremackay.org.uk/dmschoollibraryservices.pdf

Her website address is :   http://www.deirdremackay.org.uk

Councillor Jimmy Gray, Leader of the Labour group on Highland Council, comments on the education cuts in Highland Council’s budget

11 February 2008

“We would urge councillors to fully examine the very serious implications of this budget.

“In signing up to the Concordat there are many challenges which will come up over time and which are not being addressed in this budget.

“As an immediate example the Council is committed to reducing class sizes year on year and potentially providing free school meals in the next few years.

“Not only does this budget fail in this but is moving away from it.

“In fact, we are looking at potentially fewer teachers, support staff, dirtier classrooms and more expensive meals than we have currently.

“This is not progress.

“I would encourage all local councillors to examine the effects on their own individual schools before voting for this budget.

“Given the lack of time councillors have had to examine the figures I would urge everyone to ensure they understand the cost to jobs in our most vulnerable sectors which are hidden in the ‘efficiencies’ which are being sought.”

HIghland Council Cuts : Motion tabled in the Scottish Parliament

Parliamentary Motion tabled by Peter Peacock Scottish Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands in the Scottish Parliament (February 2008)

Title : Cuts in Highland Council services

That the Parliament deplores the cuts in vital council and voluntary sector services being made by Highland Council as a result of the priorities for spending of the SNP Government; notes these cuts are taking place at a time when the Scottish Government has the largest budget for public services since devolution and twice that Donald Dewar had only a few short years ago; further notes in particular that Highland Council plans to build up financial reserves while cutting services and shedding jobs and questions whether the single outcome agreement with Highland Council to deliver SNP manifesto commitments will now do so, in particular with regard to class size reductions, and urges the SNP government and SNP/Independent led Highland Council to reverse the planned cuts.

Supported by: Rhoda Grant MSP David Stewart MSP

Stop Highland School Cuts – online petition launched

12 February 2008

Peter Peacock, Rhoda Grant and David Stewart, Highlands and Islands Labour MSPs, are calling for parents and grandparents to sign an online petition to protest cuts to the education budget proposed by Highland Council.

Budget figures reveal an estimated cut of 50 teachers and 50 more support staff across the Highlands and Islands area.

“It is vital that we oppose these Highland Council school cuts. Our analysis has revealed the Council is making proposed ‘savings’ of £5.123m from the Education, Culture and Sport budget alone – this seems difficult to justify,” said Mrs Grant.

A change in formula for teachers in schools means that 45 per cent of rural primary schools across the area are placed in the danger zone when calculating how many teachers they are entitled to. In addition secondary schools face a 3 percent adjustment to their formulas.

“Adjusting these figures means schools need more children on the roll to secure teaching staff. This is in direct opposition to SNP Government claims that there should be year on year moves to reduce class sizes.

” The Labour members in the Highlands will be meeting with teaching unions as soon as possible to address this issue and the others which will bring about such disastrous cuts,” said Mrs Grant.

“The release of these figures on Friday has meant local councillors have had little time to consult and local people no opportunity to object. I would urge anyone concerned to sign the online petition and print it off to take to the school gates.

The petition can be found on www.davidstewart.org.uk  www.peterpeacock.org.uk  and  www.rhodagrant.org.uk

“We will fight these measures all the way and will be writing to head teachers and school councils to offer support. We must try to stop Highland Council from cutting our school budgets,” she said.

The petition can be signed at : http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stophighlandschoolcuts

Over 300 Council Job Losses Prediction

 5 March 2008

Over 300 jobs will be axed by Highland Council following their agreed budget cuts.

The prediction comes from Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Peter Peacock, following publication of some council job loss figures in council papers for today’s council meeting (Thurs).

Peter Peacock also cast doubt on the council maintaining its “no redundancy” policy.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Peter Peacock said: “Despite what is in the Council papers this week, the full scale of the job losses hasn’t been made known.

“They have only mentioned a theoretical total of full time equivalent jobs, but the number of post holders affected will be far higher because of the number of part time jobs that exist and will be affected.

“To admit there over 200 full time equivalent jobs going is bad enough, but that probably means there are over 300 jobs going in total, when you consider the part time employees.

“This mix of part time and full time jobs currently provide vital services to a range of vulnerable groups, so the effects will be very widespread and serious.

“You can’t remove 300 people who have been delivering vital services and not expect real damage to people’s lives.

Peter Peacock also raised questions about the Council’s redeployment and redundancy policy following publication of this week’s council papers.

He said, “The Council has been making a virtue of a no redundancy policy, but that now seems in doubt.

“It appears that those being lined up to lose their job will be offered another job, but if that does not compare to their current job, they could be given `contractual notice in accordance with the council’s redundancy policy.’

“So it appears some staff could well be being made redundant after all.

“If you are a trained and skilled librarian losing your job, as is the case, it is of little value to your clients or little comfort to you as an individual that you may be offered a job collecting council tax, or working in the roads department.

“You are neither skilled to do that, nor probably want to do that.

“So the council will be under using key skills people to deliver their services, or making them redundant.

“That is hardly a good use of people and is all so unnecessary, while the SNP Independent administration is busy sacking people and cutting grants to voluntary organisations it is banking £17 million of taxpayers’ hard earned cash in a reserve fund for a purpose no-one is very clear about.”

Written Parliamentary Questions tabled by Peter Peacock on the

22 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how the plans Highland council has to reduce teacher numbers fits with its commitment to reduce class sizes.

To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers it expects Highland Council to employ to meet its class size reduction pledges.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes support for the vital services provided by the voluntary sector in the Highlands should be rising or falling at present.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether meeting the provisions contained in the Additional Support for Learning Act are likely to be enhanced in the Highlands by Highland Council’s cuts in additional support for learning spending.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes the terms of the agreement for teaching in the 21st century will be met in the Highlands as a result of the recent budget decisions by Highland Council.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Councils are under any statutory duty to hold financial reserves of any particular scale.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is a matter for the discretion of a Council alone how much it holds in financial reserves, having considered any guidance or advice from the Accounts Commission.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it puts cutting taxes for business ahead of improving education and care services in its priorities.

Peter Peacock’s letter to School Boards on Council Cuts

Dear Chairperson

Council Cuts in School Spending

We are concerned about the level of the cuts to be made in Council spending on schools.

We have seen huge progress in our schools over recent years with the biggest recruitment programme of extra teachers in recent history, more support staff being recruited and an expansion in nursery education.

Class sizes have been cut at key stages of school and more was becoming possible.

Sadly we now face the prospect of teachers being offered early retirement to reduce spending, janitor posts being removed, devolved budgets to head teachers being heavily constrained and pre-school spending cut significantly.

All the progress of recent years is in danger of going into reverse.

In your school that may mean, during the course of the year, the loss of a teacher, or visiting teacher, or a member of school support staff, or posts that become vacant becoming frozen.

Many parents, grandparents and teachers have already expressed serious concern to us about what this might mean. We want to campaign with parents and teachers want to try and persuade the council and the government to change their priorities and keep the progress we were making going.

We have launched a special website www.educationcutswatch.org.uk where you can obtain information on the full level of the cuts. The site also sets out what representations we have already made on the issues to the Council and Government.

The site has links to an online petition for anyone with concerns to sign.

You can download a petition form for use in and around your school which you can return to us.

We will pass the petitions to Parliament, the Government and Council in due course.

You can also e mail us regarding any cuts your schools faces now or during the year and we will be happy to make individual representations and seek meetings with Ministers and the Council in support of your concerns.

You should feel free to notify us anytime cuts in teachers take place, if more classes are composited, if  janitorial or other posts are frozen or if your head teachers devolved school budget is cut.

Together we can perhaps get these disastrous cuts stopped. All our contact details are set out below.

Yours sincerely

Peter Peacock   Rhoda Grant   David Stewart

Peter Peacock’s Freedom of Information Request on Teacher Numbers

Mr A Dodds

Chief Executive

Highland Council

Glenurquhart Road

Inverness.

IV3 5NX.

27 February 2008

Freedom of Information (F.O.I.) Request

I would be grateful if you would advise me how many full time equivalent teachers were in post in each of the primary and secondary schools in Highland as of 14.2.2008.

I would also like to know the number of probationary teachers in each sector as well as the number of visiting specialist teachers and those located in special units as at 14.2.2008.

Finally, I would like the numbers of full-time equivalent education support staff (janitors, auxiliaries, classroom assistants, etc.) as at 14.2.2008.

I look forward to receiving your reply in due course.

Best wishes.

Yours sincerely

PETER PEACOCK, MSP

MSP says Education Cuts in the Highlands are a Disgrace

Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, is branding proposed cuts to teachers and non teaching posts in the SNP/Independent run Highland Council budget as a disgrace.

She commented: “And so it starts – the Scottish Government’s policy of passing the buck to local councils is launched.

“This real cost to our classrooms demonstrates the empty headline grabbing promises that the SNP make.

“They say they want to bring down class sizes, promise that money is being made available to do this, then set no targets and remove all ring fencing allowing Councils to do exactly as they please.

“I can not believe that anyone will think we need efficiencies on the chalk face of our classrooms in the Highlands .

“Indeed, constituents are already coming to us with cases of the chipping away of school teacher numbers and poor management support for our rural schools.

“Where is the promised move towards smaller class sizes?

“Coupled with a rise in cost in school dinners and music tuition this is a slap in the face for the futures of our young people in the Highlands ,” said Mrs Grant.

“It’s strange Highland Council’s administration is so keen to opt into the SNP policy of freezing council tax – but despite the increase to their budget they still require to make cuts.

“We all have to take care that crowd pleasing policies from the SNP don’t turn out to be expensive smokescreens for hidden costs and cuts in vital services,” she added.