One of the Scottish Parliament’s final responsibilities before the end of the session is to debate the Scottish Government’s budget in the face of the huge cuts being threatened. It will be a real challenge for Scotland to find a better way forward than just handing on deep cuts to our public services, the approach already chosen for England. But Patrick Harvie MSP and I believe that Scotland wants a more progressive approach, one which protects the most vulnerable and creates a fairer society.

The evidence from around the world has never been clearer – equality is better for everyone. It makes society healthier, happier, safer and greener. I have campaigned against cuts already facing Edinburgh; cuts to sports facilities, to lollipop people protecting school children, and to the charity Blindcraft, giving blind people job opportunities. I have supported them through a combination of lodging Parliamentary motions to raise awareness of these unfair cuts, putting questions to the Government and meeting with the people or facilities most at threat. To see these motions search for my name here. Patrick has recently lodged two motions about the impact of the UK cuts agenda on welfare and housing benefits, and also on how the cuts will unfairly affect women. To see them search for his name here.

Both Patrick and I support the students who are protesting against education cuts. We encourage the constructive anger felt by this generation, and urge them to keep making their voices heard, and to build solidarity with other areas that are facing similar cuts.

So we the Green MSPs are not only opposing the UK Government’s cuts; we’re not only trying to shape an alternative Scottish budget which will protect public services, one which raises revenue using the existing powers of the Scottish Parliament; we’re also speaking up for the values of a better society which will put the emphasis on health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee has approved a business case for a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Initiative to fund a major expansion of Buchanan Galleries, build a new 1500 space car park and undertake public realm works.

The business case identifies a funding gap of £56m that the developer can’t come up with themselves.  These millions are to be paid upfront by Council borrowing and the debt intended to be paid back over 25 years by additional business rates generated by the development. This is a high-risk strategy in uncertain economic times.  Securing unnecessary debt on Glasgow’s hard-pressed tax payers is deeply irresponsible, especially while people are being asked to accept cuts to vital local services.  It’s time Glasgow City Council started putting people ahead of private interests!

As part of the plans, Buchanan Galleries would be allowed to go ahead with plans to demolish the Royal Concert Hall steps, to create a more prominent entrance into the shopping centre.  This will prove deeply unpopular with many Glaswegians.  Yes, the steps need to be better maintained and accessibility should be improved.  But there is no case other than that driven by Buchanan Galleries own commercial interest, to justify the removal of this popular and fun public space.

As a Glasgow MSP, I will raise this matter immediately with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust, and ask them to reject outright Glasgow City Council’s irresponsible plan for TIF borrowing.

In September 2010, Glasgow City Council approved its Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.  The Council hopes to make changes in many areas of its work that will lessen the impact on Glasgow of already-occurring climate change, as well as changes that will reduce Glasgow’s own carbon emissions which contribute to the climate change problem.

Education and awareness, energy, resource management, which goods and services the Council buys, transport, culture and natural heritage, water and planning – Council activities in all these areas have an impact on climate change.

Here are a few examples of actions identified by the Plan – introduce a mandatory checklist of renewable energy technologies for all new-build and refit work to Council properties; establish “recycling workplace champions” for Glasgow City Council; continue to enforce engine idling prohibitions.

As a Glasgow MSP I am very keen to see Glasgow City Council stick to the timetable it has set itself, and I intend to hold the Council to account. The Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan is a good start, but we could do so much better! I’d like to see much more ambition built into the Action Plan.

Our city’s whole economic agenda needs to be re-written for the age of climate change, but we’re a very long way from achieving that. Right now the City Council is still investing in high-carbon transport projects while bus services are being cut around the city; their approach to planning and economic development is increasing demand for energy and transport when we should be reducing them. Many homes are paying huge energy bills for heat that just leaks out from our windows and walls, when they could be generating their own green power. There are huge opportunities for a better quality of life if we support local economies and reduce waste and pollution, but the track record is pretty dire so far.

Glasgow has many people and community groups who are trying their best to reduce their own emissions, and to challenge the shallow consumerist values which dominate so much of our lives. They know that a clean, green Glasgow would be great for all of us – but to achieve this, we’ll need a more radical and visionary approach. I’ll be sure to update this website from time to time with a report on how the Council is doing!

Glasgow’s City Plan is a document that provides the basis for the Council to make decisions about what planning applications are appropriate to approve and in what areas. For example, it zones some sites for housing, for industrial development, or as protected greenspace.

The City Plan is the “Local Development Plan” for the Glasgow local authority area, and it’s a legal requirement for the Council to have it in place. The plan currently in use is City Plan 2, which was adopted in December 2009. City Plan 2 will be replaced by a revised and updated version, City Plan 3, and this is currently under development at Glasgow City Council.

There will be various opportunities for members of the public to say what they think about what’s proposed in City Plan 3. The best way to be kept in the loop is to email the Council’s City Plan team at cityplan@glasgow.gov.uk and ask to be put on the e-mail list.

Planning decisions in Glasgow are also guided by a wider twenty-year strategy called the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Strategic Development Plan. This covers the local authorities around Glasgow as well as the city itself. It aims to provide a clear long-term vision and plan for where development is required.

For free, impartial advice and information on any aspect of the planning system, you can contact Planning Aid for Scotland on 0131 220 9730

Last week I spoke to demonstrators outside Holyrood who were protesting against the cuts to education and the Tory/Liberal coalition’s decision to treble tuition fees, which is bound to have a knock-on effect in Scotland.

It was a busy crowd, but you can just about see my wee baldy head behind a flag while I’m speaking!

Today it was Robin who spoke to the students, having joined their march on the Royal Mile.

The students who are protesting throughout the UK are doing something immensely important, and it goes way beyond the short term impact of the headlines. By turning education into a mere market commodity, the UK Government is causing immeasurable damage to our society which will be felt for generations to come. The anger being shown about this is entirely justified, and I hope that over the coming months it continues to be channelled into peaceful but forceful campaigning. I’m proud to support those who are leading that effort.

This blog post details my work done within the Scottish Parliament.

Here is the most recent motion that I have lodged in the Parliament:

S3M-07896 Robin Harper (Lothians) (Scottish Green Party): Being Young Being Heard, Citizens Advice Scotland— That the Parliament welcomes Citizens Advice Scotland’s (CAS) most recent research report, Being Young Being Heard, outlining the impact of the recession on young people living in Scotland; commends CAS for undertaking what it considers to be this important piece of research on the problems faced by young people; notes that young people in Scotland are having to cope with serious issues such as debt and unemployment; is concerned that young people are three times more likely to be unemployed compared with the rest of the working-age population; is particularly concerned that during the recession East Lothian saw an increase of 172% in young people claiming Jobseekers Allowance, the largest increase in Scotland; is further concerned that the average debt held by young Citizens Advice Bureaux clients in Scotland is £10,000 and that these debt problems are often instigated by unemployment and in-work problems faced by young people; considers there to be an urgent need for programmes that assist young people with their problems, and would welcome new and improved policies and practices that benefit young people across Scotland.

Below are other recent motions:

S3M-07786 Robin Harper (Lothians) (Scottish Green Party): Unemployment Services in Edinburgh— That the Parliament notes with concern the news that the Scottish Government is planning to cut almost half of its budget for employment programmes in Edinburgh; notes that this would be in addition to the cuts already experienced by the City of Edinburgh Council; recognises that this funding, which historically has come to the Edinburgh Partnership, is used to support the Joined Up For Jobs strategy and to fund specialist programmes designed to fit the needs of local communities and priority groups; believes that the removal of these local services would impact greatly on those living in the most disadvantaged areas of the city and severely reduce the opportunities for unemployed young people and those who have experience of homelessness or addictions; recognises that, on 20 January 2011, members debated the need to provide opportunities for young people through establishing a microcredit scheme, and considers that such a scheme would greatly complement the retention of Edinburgh’s existing unemployment services.

S3M-07587 Robin Harper (Lothians) (Scottish Green Party): Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh— That the Parliament considers the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh to be one of the city’s historic, architectural and cultural assets; notes the plans by the City of Edinburgh Council for refurbishment of the Assembly Rooms and that this includes converting the lower floors of the building to shops and a restaurant; is concerned at the apparent lack of public awareness of this scheme until very recently; understands that the council planning committee voted not to allow discussion on the planning application for the scheme; notes that a decision on the scheme will be taken by the City of Edinburgh Council on Thursday 16 December 2010 and that, if agreed, the final approval would have to be given by ministers, and recognises the Save the Assembly Rooms campaign, its website at www.savetheassemblyrooms.com and its petition, which now has around 6,000 signatories.

S3M-07326 Robin Harper (Lothians) (Scottish Green Party): River Basin Management Plans— That the Parliament notes the progress being made in reducing flood risk as a result of the Flood Risk Management(Scotland) Act2009; further notes that the act is designed mainly to make sure that those at risk from flooding are kept aware of the dangers and up to date with events; notes that, under the terms of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003, river basin management plans should by now have identified and begun to implement what soft engineering options are available in upriver catchment control of the water environment, and urges the Scottish Government to review and comment on what progress has been made through river basin management plans to provide long-term embedded reduction in flood risk.

To see previous motions search for my name here

The most recent written questions which I asked the Scottish Government were on Marine Environment and can be seen is you search for my name here, as well as other written questions.

For more information on me see my MSP page on the Scottish Parliament website.