Each year, recess is traditionally the time elected members go on holiday to relax but for me this is a time to get things done in our community.

I have been doing extensive walkabouts with officers and setting up priorities for the coming year and this also provides me with time to catch up with some of our amazing local community projects and people, because without them and all the hard work of staff and volunteers we would all be worse off.

I am pleased to have spent some time at the DRC Youth Project’s new fantastic hub as this really is a transformative location and our young people have embraced it.

Despite all the amazing local community work and positive aspects of my role, one of the hardest elements of being a councillor is dealing with the tragedies in our community and how they effect all of us.

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Margaret Meldrum recently passed away after being hit by a quad bike as she walked along her street. We need to do more to safeguard our streets and I will be urging Police Scotland to become more proactive in road policing in our area going forward.

Last week I also attended the funeral of Trevor McGrath, a local man who was once the Helensburgh man-of-the-year for all his extensive community work. I met Trevor in 2017 as he was the chair of Ellerslie Homeowners’ Association, and through our various work I came to think of him as a personal friend. He would even check in on me if he hadn’t seen me in the community and earlier this year, when I myself was dealing with some health issues, he was always on the phone ensuring I wasn’t working too hard.

Our community is fluid and dynamic but this is because of people like Trevor and Margaret. We will miss them and they leave a void in our lives but we must remember the impact they had on us and celebrate their lives going forward.

My deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of both Trevor and Margaret.