Newsletter for MPs, SMPs, and Dumfries and Galloway Councillors

On Addressing Double Standards in Governance

Dual Standards in Capital Spending: A Stranglehold on Dumfries?

The decision to allocate capital spending towards a Nith Bund, once again disrupting Dumfries Town for an extended period, highlights troubling priorities. This move comes during a time of poor trading and when vital investment is desperately needed elsewhere — in national education improvements, local business development, and critical upgrades to transport and communications. Redirecting funds away from these essential sectors raises serious concerns about the rationale behind such spending decisions.

On everyday governance and standards of duty of care.

The Council's policy on requiring permits for cafes to place chairs and tables on pavements is a sensible step for pedestrian safety. Yet, glaring inconsistencies remain. Garage owners regularly park customers' cars on roads without oversight, disregarding visibility, speed, access, and pedestrian safety. Despite the risks, the Roads Department, Community Safety Officer, and local police refuse responsibility, highlighting troubling double standards.

Council Staffing and Street Cleaning Discrepancies

In 2016, the Council employed 5,353 officers. Today, that number has grown by around 1,000. Yet, paradoxically, spending on street cleaning per 1,000 residents has dropped to one of the lowest rates in Scotland. This decline comes despite staff costs remaining below budget, with the overall budget being three times lower than Scotland’s benchmark. How can increased staffing coexist with declining public services? Judge this against the Dumfries Town Board survey 2024 which placed Street Cleanliness as a top priority .

Community Asset Team Leader quote, "Unfortunately, we are unable to allocate any additional resources to the cleansing of the High Street at this present time." 24/01/25

Policing Inconsistencies and Community Safety

This month alone, I reported 15 incidents of cyclists riding illegally without lights, yet there has been no follow-up from Police Scotland. When accidents occur, residents are often asked to provide evidence, despite police inaction. My wife was struck by a cyclist without lights, and I narrowly avoided a similar accident. According to a Chief Constable’s representative, officers routinely issue verbal warnings to cyclists without recording them. Meanwhile, a nearby attempted robbery involving scooter riders saw no visible police presence, even after an appeal for witnesses.

Supporting Our Aging Population

UK Pensions Minister Torsten Bell recently highlighted the importance of supporting pensioners. The report "Making Dumfries and Galloway the Best Place to Grow Old" calls for a shift in attitudes towards aging. Yet, we face troubling contradictions. An MP recently expressed a wish that a voter might not live to see the next election—a stark contrast to the values we should uphold.

Ongoing Issues Affecting Older Residents:

WASPI Compensation Delays: Women affected by changes to the state pension age are still waiting for justice.

Inheritance Tax on Farmers: Older farmers face potential financial strain when passing on family assets.

Winter Fuel Payments: Cuts to these payments put older people at risk during colder months.

State Pension Uncertainty: Threats to the triple lock system breed insecurity among pensioners.

Social Care Crisis: Inadequate funding leaves many without the care they desperately need.

Healthcare Delays: Lengthy NHS waiting times disproportionately affect older residents.

Erosion of Benefits: Changes to pension credit and other supports are placing added pressure on older workers. My wife is eating 43 weeks for a consultants appointment - I have to open cans, bottles, packages, boxes and do anything that involves hand usage due to Dupuytren Contracture.

NI Changes and Flawed Impact Assessments

The Government’s impact assessment on National Insurance (NI) changes claims there are “no direct equalities impacts” since Secondary Class 1 NICs are levied on employers, not individuals. Yet, this fails to reflect the real-world consequences we’re witnessing.

A clear example of this impact is seen at The Usual Place, a social enterprise dedicated to providing employment and training opportunities for young people with additional support needs. The recent NI changes have strained their ability to maintain staffing levels, directly affecting both employment opportunities and the vital social benefits the organisation provides. This highlights how policy decisions, even those aimed at employers, can have far-reaching consequences on community-focused initiatives.

Education Standards: The Dilution Debate

With ongoing staff shortages, there’s talk of making apprenticeships more accessible by relaxing Maths and English requirements. While addressing skills gaps is crucial, this raises concerns about the long-term impact on education quality.

Consider the evolution of Scottish whisky as a metaphor:

Cask Strength Whisky: Like old qualifications—pure, potent, and uncompromised.

Bottled Strength: Standardised qualifications made more accessible, akin to whisky diluted to a standard proof.

Further Dilution: Some qualifications, like over-diluted whisky, have lost their essence, becoming a shadow of their former selves.

While accessibility is important, we must ask: how much dilution is too much? At what point do we sacrifice the integrity and value of our qualifications?

Conclusion

We must hold our institutions accountable, ensure consistency in policy enforcement, and prioritize the needs of our communities—especially our most vulnerable. Let’s strive for a Dumfries and Galloway where safety, fairness, and quality aren’t compromised.

And of course one further small issue of importance, I will leave to your own description!