SOMETIMES we’re all too quick to count down the days that we forget to make the days count.

As the school holidays are now over I hope that everyone enjoyed the summer holiday period.

Whereas the last six weeks have been a holiday for school pupils, the summer recess has been a steep learning curve for many new councillors – and indeed those who have been there for a while – as we learn more of what the coming year has set out in front of us.

As we move forward into the new council session, it’s now time that political groups start setting out what their vision for the future of Inverclyde is.

My group have a very ambitious programme for what we want to deliver over the next five years and beyond.

Inverclyde now has four independent councillors that will want the best for their local community, but what is their view, and, indeed the view of the other political groups on education, on roads, on jobs, on our local economy?

Where should we be prioritising investment in the years to come that will benefit all of Inverclyde?

I am very hopeful that we can all work together to take on board the best ideas we all have to get the best outcome for Inverclyde.

Summer may just be over but already we have started the process of setting next year’s budget. It is undeniable that as we live through the uncertainty of Brexit and continuing Westminster cuts to Scotland’s budget, uncertain times also lie ahead for Inverclyde.

In the run up to the council election we were repeatedly told that Inverclyde faced cut backs of over £20 million and that Scottish Government funding grants were draconian.

The reality is that for every single year since Inverclyde Council was created, we have had a budget surplus – that is we have underspent the money available to us.

That of course creates a problem when councillors over the coming months will set out to explain why service cuts are required.

As Inverclyde’s population continues to fall, Inverclyde has less money to spend on services, but we still of course need to deliver the same amount of these.

I suspect that in the coming months the doom and gloom that was predicted before the election will not come to pass, and the gap between how much we spend compared to how much money we have to spend will be as much as half of what was widely circulated previously.

What is important is that you make your voice heard on any proposals put forward.

As time goes on the council has relied more on consulting with people via social media and online.

Social media is a great new way to instantly communicate with people but for me it can never replace the old fashioned way of actually getting out and about in the communities we serve.
Today I’ve been pounding the streets of Gourock seeking people’s views on speeding and traffic.

People often say that they only see their councillors when there is an election on. This is an opinion over the coming years I want to work to change.

There are 22 elected councillors in Inverclyde, some picured here, and if you are reading this and you don’t know who your councillors are then that is something we need to work on to improve.

Whether it is on massive decisions like the council’s budget or more local issues such as anti-social behaviour or parking, I’ll be making sure that SNP councillors are actively asking you for your opinion on how to improve your area.