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Working for you in Mid Fife and Glenrothes
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I was delighted to welcome Rev Alan Kimmitt of St Columba's Church in Glenrothes to lead the Scottish Parliament in Time for Reflection in May. In his thoughtful and funny speech, Alan invited members to reflect on how privileged we are to be able to work with and help our constituents. It was also great to have the opportunity to catch up with Alan and hear about the church's important work in and around Glenrothes.
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I was delighted to have been able to preserve the Markinch road sign, which pays tribute to the historical importance of the village. Under Fife Council plans, the sign was to be replaced with ‘standardised’ signage, removing reference to the village's status as ancient capital of Fife. I raised this matter with Fife Council directly and was pleased to see the decision overturned – with a new sign now being ordered in the same design. Our towns and villages have a rich cultural heritage, and it is vital that we embrace and celebrate it.
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Visit to Bonnybank Housing Development
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I was pleased to visit the newly developed Kingdom Housing Association site at Bonnybank, to see the investment that the Scottish Government have made in the community. The fourteen new homes, all for social rent, in the village of Bonnybank are part of a £2.1m investment - £1.1m directly from the Scottish Government. I was accompanied by Mr Bill Banks, Chief Executive of KHA, and Project Officer Ms Nicola Gartshore. I was pleased to see such a great investment in affordable housing in the constituency.
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New Funding for Levenmouth
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I welcomed the new investments in Levenmouth, which were approved by Council’s Area Committee last month. A range of projects have been recommended for approval to receive funding from the £10m Levenmouth Reconnected Programme Fund, £5m of which is provided by the Scottish Government. As this SNP Scottish Government brings back Leven’s railway after over 50 years, it is important that we invest in the local area as well. This investment will help provide better services, job opportunities and enhanced community projects for those living in Levenmouth.
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Local businesses are going to be essential in our economic recovery from the pandemic. As such, I was honoured to help officially open Home Sweet Home Estate Agent's new office in Markinch this afternoon. Scott and Franki have a great new office and I can’t wait to hear about their future successes.
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Independence Discussion Papers
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In June, the First Minister unveiled the first in a series of papers called 'Building a New Scotland' that will provide detailed information about Scotland's future before a referendum. It shows how comparable independent countries such as Sweden, Ireland, and Denmark create fairer societies and achieve economic success.
The provisional date of the independence referendum has been set as 19 October 2023. I am pleased that the Scottish people will have the opportunity to vote on Scotland's future, and I will continue to make the case for independence.
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Cost of Living Crisis - Getting Help
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The energy price cap rise this month has contributed further to the UK Government's spiralling cost of living crisis. I appreciate that this is an incredibly difficult time for many. I have included information below on available support and information which may prove useful. If you know someone who is struggling, please encourage them to get in touch.
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ScotRail in Public Ownership
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In my role as Minister for Transport I have overseen ScotRail's entry into public ownership, and have started the hard work of building a service that works for the people of Scotland and of course for my own constituents. Bringing ScotRail passenger services into public ownership puts passengers and staff at the heart of Scotland’s rail services and is an opportunity to deliver a railway which is for the benefit of customers, staff and stakeholders, not for shareholders' bottom line. This was a historic occasion and one that marks a key milestone in our ambitious Programme for Government to support a greener, fairer Scotland
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As Scotland moves towards Net Zero, it is vital that government and industry work together to decarbonise our practices. I was pleased to visit the site of the planned solar farm at Diageo's Leven site in June to see how they are contributing to this aim.
Work on the site is due to start next month and is expected to be completed in January 2023. I look forward to coming back for another visit next year when the farm is fully operational.
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Scottish Child Payment Increase
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I was pleased to share the news that the Scottish Child Payment has increased to £20 a week earlier this month. The Scottish Government introduced the Scottish Child Payment to help lift children out of poverty - with charities calling it a "game-changer". It’s now been doubled to £20 and by the end of 2022, it’ll be increased further to £25. This increase will help to support local families in these difficult times.
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Since restarting in-person surgeries in March, I have held a number of constituent advice surgeries throughout my constituency, most recently in Thornton, Leven and Glenrothes.
Surgeries are a key part of my role as an MSP and I am always keen to meet with constituents and discuss any issues – if you can’t make it along, you can contact me via e-mail. I will continue to advertise any upcoming in-person surgeries on my social media pages.
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Local Government Elections
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In the run-up to May's council elections, I enjoyed being out on the campaign trail once again. Unfortunately, thanks to back-room dealings between unionist parties, the SNP are now in opposition in Fife Council. Nevertheless, this election marked a historic landmark for the SNP, both in Fife and across Scotland. With 34 seats, the SNP was returned once again as Fife’s largest party and recorded their best ever result in the Kingdom. The SNP is clearly the party of choice for most Fifers, and our councillors will continue to work hard to represent their interests.
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Free School Meal Payments
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The Scottish Government's Scottish Child Payment bridging payment will shortly be paid to eligible families. This £130 per child payment is designed to help those who need it with the additional costs of the summer holidays.
You do not have to apply for this. If you are eligible the payment will be paid into your bank account on 29 June. Weekly payments of £11.50 per child will also be paid to eligible families, instead of Free School Meals, over the summer holidays.
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Levenmouth Rail Link - Active Travel
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In May, I met with I met with officials from Fife Council and Sustrans to discuss active travel link plans for the upcoming reinstatement of the Levenmouth Rail Link. Active travel is crucial as we move to a more sustainable approach to transport and I am keen to work with both parties moving forward in the planning process.
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Visit to Second Chance Kennels
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I was pleased meet meet Ena and Frank of Second Chance Kennels in Thornton this month. The kennels have been in operation since 1999 and have rehomed hundreds of dogs in that time. It was great to hear about the day-to-day running of the site and discuss the challenges of running a successful charity.
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Need my help?
If you’d like my assistance as your MSP on any matter then please don’t hesitate to contact my office to arrange an appointment.
☎️ 01592764815
📧 jenny.gilruth.msp@parliament.scot
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Homestart Glenrothes - Packed Lunches at 12pm
