Support and fund mobility services
- 5 Signatures
Mobility services are vital for access to shops, services and community life. Without secure financial support, they face closure—putting equality, mobility and inclusion at risk.
Shopmobility Aberdeen has provided essential services since 1992, supporting disabled people, older adults, and those with temporary mobility challenges. They offer mobility scooters, wheelchairs, a wheelchair-accessible car, and volunteer companions to help people live independently and access their communities. The charity also provides long-term equipment loans for those recovering from injury or surgery. Currently, Aberdeen City Council provides vital support, but this funding alone is insufficient to guarantee the service’s future. Shopmobility Aberdeen is the only organisation offering long-term equipment loans in the North East and the only scheme north of Glasgow to hire out their wheelchair-accessible car.
The charity receives the majority of its funding from Aberdeen City Council.
Strengthen veto powers when assessing Business Improvement District proposals
- 174 Signatures
For a BID ballot to be successful, the aggregate of rateable values (RVs) in respect of which votes in favour of the BID proposal have been cast must be higher than the aggregate of RVs in respect of which votes against have been cast. This means a BID company needs yes votes from high RV properties.
If a BID is established, it is developed, managed and paid for by businesses through a compulsory BID levy. There is therefore an obvious incentive for a BID Company to simply offer a reduced levy to high RV properties in exchange for their vote in the ballot. The practice of levy persuasion will allow a levy structure to pass at ballot (especially with low turnouts) which is proportionately high for the lowest RV businesses.
Consequences of a disproportionate levy structure can include forcing small businesses to close. In view of disproportion occurring, current legislation allows local authorities to veto a ballot based on a disproportionate levy structure. However, it does not provide local authorities with specific examples or tolerances for them to properly carry out the guidance.
Introduce mandatory latex labelling for food products sold in Scotland
- 183 Signatures
Food packaging containing latex, mainly cold seal used in chocolate, ice-cream and biscuits should be labelled. The latex can transfer onto the chocolate, ice-cream and biscuits causing reactions that can be severe. I was told by Cadbury that latex is not included in the 14 allergens so they legally don't need to include it. 1-6% of the population has a latex allergy so we need this information to prevent our allergy getting worse.
The cold seal issue has been known since 2006, but nothing has been done about it. Some companies like Mars use a non latex version. People like me have been having "random" reactions for years and not realised it was the cold seal in Cadbury chocolate. I now know to avoid it but others don't as there is no warning on the packaging. The only way to avoid a latex allergy getting worse is to avoid latex which is impossible if we do not know it could be there.
It seems there are little or no repercussions for organisations who do not comply with the Commission’s recommendations for improvement. In our case, this relates to the duty of candour. The Commission lacks the powers to take organisations to task. My late wife entered the mental health service after suffering a psychotic episode she was referred by a doctor to the Health and Social Care Partnership for an urgent assessment by two nurses which took 14 minutes before she was sent home. Two days later she took her own life after receiving no treatment. Even though documents proving how long she was there were provided.
The NHS Trust spent the next four years lying to not only our family but also to the Mental Welfare Commission, the nurses And Midwifery Council. This is why the Commission needs more powers.
Immediate ban on the sale and use of Disposable (Instant) Barbeques in Scotland
- 2,087 Signatures
In the past 5 years, there has been a rise in irresponsible outdoor access, which combined with climate change, has increased wildfire risk significantly. This spring/summer has been one of the warmest and driest on record and we have already seen several major wildfires. The Isle of Arran wildfire destroyed 27,000 trees. The Glen Finglas (Trossachs) wildfire destroyed several hectares of woodland (directly caused by a disposable barbeque). And more recently, one of the largest wildfires in Scottish history in Dava / Lochindorb with 11,800 hectares lost.
Along with campfires, disposable barbeques are the single biggest ignition risk for a wildfire. The heat transferred when placed on the ground can cause peat, heather and/or grass to burn which can start a fire. They are also a nightmare to dispose of and cannot be recycled. There are several safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives for those wishing to have a barbeque outdoors.
As climate change progresses, the continued use of disposable barbeques poses an increasing threat of causing wildfires, which continue to cause devastation to our communities and wild places across Scotland.
In Scotland, proposals to alter the Council Tax Valuation Band must be made within 6 months of becoming liable for a property. However, this rule is inflexible, and there is no allowance for late proposals even in cases of bereavement, serious illness, or other exceptional life events. I discovered, well after moving in, that my property is in a higher band than an identical neighbouring property, despite being less valuable. I submitted evidence and acted as soon as I became aware, but my proposal and subsequent appeal were dismissed purely on timing. This law disproportionately affects tenants, who are rarely told they can submit a proposal to alter the band or that such a strict deadline exists. In England and Wales, the system is more flexible and in certain circumstances allows band review requests to be made more than six months after starting to pay council tax for a property. I believe Scotland should offer the same fairness and discretion to protect people facing difficult circumstances from paying the wrong tax band for years without recourse.
Stop council tax debt collection
- 55 Signatures
We need an amnesty on council tax debt now to protect the people of Scotland.
People are living in fear of sheriff officers enforcing diligences such as wage arrestment, bank arrestment, benefit deductions or if they are a homeowner, sequestration.
People are losing their jobs and homes due to the harsh enforcement regime which is unlike any other debt collection.
Not only is the current system outdated and unfair, the aggressive enforcement destroys lives, exacerbates mental health issues and pushes children and families into poverty.
There have been calls from charities across Scotland to reform council tax as it is unfair, regressive and penalises people already struggling financially by demanding payment of a full year of tax in advance if one month’s payment is missed.
The Scottish Government has failed to address issues raised and local authorities are showing a blatant disregard by increasing council tax whilst removing their legal obligation to issue final demands before enforcement procedures commence.
Change.org link:
Ban ultra-processed foods in school meals
- 5,375 Signatures
The Perth and Kinross Council school menu relies heavily on ultra-processed products, particularly meat substitutes, while claiming to meet government regulations. I therefore believe these regulations need to be reviewed.
My children don’t eat processed meat substitutes, as we do not believe they are beneficial for the environment or for our children’s health and well-being.
There are days when no suitable meal is available for them at all. Even when a vegetarian option is offered, it often relies on highly processed substitutes. There are many nutritious vegetarian dishes that don’t require ultra-processed ingredients.
Unfortunately, many of the meat options on the menu are also heavily processed, raising further concerns about the overall nutritional value of these meals. For many children, a school lunch is the only hot meal they receive each day, and I believe the current menu is failing those children.
Furthermore, I believe ultra-processed foods have no place on a school menu and should be banned across Scotland.
Stop the use of prisons for punishment and focus them on public protection
- 12 Signatures
Our prison service is running at almost full capacity. We need to rethink who we jail and why. We know that using prison as a deterrence is not effective. We have to go back to the criminal law doctrines of *actus reus* and *mens rea* in establishing when prison is most needed. In most cases of *mens rea* being absent, prison is of little value. This is especially true of deaths caused by driving, whereby there was no intent to cause injury or death, and the standard of driving would not be deemed by the average person of similar ability and experience to lead to death.
Cases such as these pose little threat to the wider public. Thus prison is not being used for public safety. All we are doing is causing people to lose their homes and jobs thus creating bigger issues of unemployment and extra pressure on already stretched housing markets.
I urge the government to consider using prison as a very last resort in all circumstances.
Abolish the General Teaching Council for Scotland
- 57 Signatures
Many concerns have been raised about GTCS not meeting its principal legislative aims regarding:
- handling of safeguarding concerns which GTCS often dismiss as 'frivolous’, evidenced in the Professional Standards Authority’s review of the Fitness to Teach process.
- lack of action regarding credible concerns of potential widespread bullying of teachers by superiors
- concerns that the Fitness to Teach function was allowed to be weaponised unfairly against teachers
- concerns of potential collusion with one or more teacher unions to wrongly prevent or influence bona fide peer to peer teacher referrals
- Scottish Government responses to parliamentary questions, confirming awareness of specific concerns raised.
The GTCS is not supporting teachers’ professional development nor are they helping children to experience improved quality learning and teaching.
The government decided to replace Education Scotland and reform the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Now GTCS, which has presided over declining standards and serious concerns, must be abolished in the public interest to ensure that trust in teaching and their regulator is maintained.