Boost for crofting from budget

The news that the Scottish Government is to increase funding to the Scottish Crofting Commission was welcome by members of the the Comhairle's crofting committee this week.

New appointment for SNP Group

Western isles council SNP group welcomed the appointment of an SNP councillor as chair of the important Joint Consultative Committee for Local Government Employees.

10 Lessons for Councillors who don’t like the Status Quo

I heard that the Comhairle was looking to approve its new Corporate Strategy for our Islands last Thursday.  I tuned into themeetings to listen in. I was expecting a lot of debate and some good questions. But everything seemed to go through on the nod.Were my expectations too high? Have I missed something? Dothe real discussions take place somewhere else?  Who knows?

Selling off the family silver

Western Isles council SNP Group have expressed disappointment over comments made at the Point and Sandwick Trust's  Annual General Meeting held last month.  It is understood that the Chairperson, Angus Mccormack spoke of his hope for a deal between the French multi-national company EDF, Stornoway Trust and local Crofters for a lease agreement to enable EDF to build a large-scale Windfarm  on Point and Sandwick's common grazings.

SNP put forward radical change at council

A. Local Democracy and Empowerment

 

The Comhairle will: -

Proposals on corporate strategy

We, the Western Isles council SNP group, are pleased to bring forward proposals for consideration to the Comhairle's corporate strategy 2017-22.

This series of meetings may be the only opportunity to make contributions to the strategy, the group believe that only radical change can transform our islands rather than managing decline.

Councillor Donald Manford stated: we must learn to do things differently - we cannot continue do the same things and expect different outcomes. Our proposals will reconnect the islands and develop community empowerment beyond tokenism.

By setting up locality planning bodies with delegated powers across the Hebrides, we will support communities shape their own future.

Key proposals:

Line by line examination of council expenditure

Radical review of management structure

Democratic female representation

Transminch link

Create a research hub based around energy and engineering

Work with partners to achieve the relocation of some government administration functions to the Outer Hebrides

Reintroduction of itinerant teachers



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Arnish & Apprentices

Western isles council SNP group leader Gordon Murray has welcomed the events over the last few days which have seen the future of Bi-Fab secured.

open letter to council leader regarding Stornoway Primary

Dear Roddie,

I write to you regarding the ongoing issues relating to Stornoway Primary school which you will be aware of having been present at the committees where it has been discussed.

Windfarms, Crofting Communities and Crofters.

For the last three centuries and more, these Islands (and much of the highlands) have been ruthlessly, or at times, benignly, exploited for profit - from the debilitating wretchedness of the kelp industries to land clearances for the creation of sheep farms, from the erosion of our fishing industry by default to the more recent non-realisation of any real economic benefit from the 1970’s/80’s/90’s oil related businesses that were engaged in support of the exploitation of North sea oil. 

Crofting and wind energy policy

1) The SNP Comhairle Group wholeheartedly supports Crofters in their aspirations to own and operate Wind Energy Companies which pertain to their grazing rights.

Research & Development potential for the Hebrides

Last week Stornoway North SNP councillor Gordon Murray called for a report be brought forward to the next Sustainable Development committee on the subject of Research and Development on the islands. 

Stornoway Primary road safety issues to be reviewed

SNP councillor for Stornoway North Gordon Murray welcomed the commitment at Education committee last week to have a full review of road safety and traffic issues around Stornoway Primary including Perceval Road.

Western isles council SNP group welcome education announcement

Last week, the Scottish Government announced radical new plans to give more powers to schools to best improve education standards.

Western Isles SNP group education spokesman, Councillor John Mitchell commented:

I am somewhat encouraged by this new initiative as - for most of my 42 years in education- I believed that the ever-increasing number of " suits " - the so-called experts in education - did little to improve the overall standard of education. I have always believed that real improvement in education standards are only possible from the bottom up -  not from the top down which, unfortunately, has been the norm.

Accountability inevitably moves downwards as well and there will be even greater responsibility and pressure  placed upon the Senior Management Team in each School as well as the workers at the " chalk face " - sorry " white board ".

Having said all that there are a number of other complex factors which will contrive to drive down standards of education - not the least of which is the year on year reduction in real terms of the financial support from Westminster via Holyrood which inevitably impacts on Staffing / class sizes and available resources all of which are no supporters of raising attainment levels. Maybe a shift in priorities when we become an independent country will help to alleviate this challenge !                                                                         Also there are society pressures - not the least of which is the move away from personal and interactive communication as more of our youngsters stare at a largely non-interactive screen for large chunks of the day. Not so easy to see a solution to that one. 

For all that - I do believe that John Swinney's recent pronouncements are a step in the right direction.

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SNP councillor continues fight for Stornoway Primary

At last week’s education committee meeting Councillor Rae Mackenzie asked for a report on the provision of Primary and Nursery education at Stornoway Primary in terms of accommodation, facilities, projected rolls and demands of pre-school education.

He said that for years parents, parent councils, teachers and local councillors had been highlighting the worsening overcrowding situation and the lack of a proper gym, changing facilities, storage , too few  classrooms and a decent pitch.

Cllr Mackenzie highlighted  that he had been told that £2million had been spent on the external fabric of the building in the past but that had not brought one square centimetre of extra space within the building.

He continued, “When Sandwickhill School was closed and there were 300 pupils in Stornoway Primary, all sorts of promises were made to the Sandwick community that the pupils would be going to better facilities. This was not true. The pupil numbers are now at 433 but expected to rise to 460. In addition the nursery has 122 children registered for the nursery nearly 600 at present but with the increase in childcare hours from the Scottish government in 2020, this will substantially increase.”

Rae Mackenzie also stated that since the Sandwick community were made promises, in 2010 well over 120 houses will have been built opposite Parkend and many will have young families.

He asked “ Where are these children going to go? Are they going to be crammed into an already over-crowded school? I think the council should look at the reopening of Sandwickhill School?”

Finally, Councillor Mackenzie said “I know what the situation is in Stornoway Primary – The staff are fantastic but they are working under circumstances that are getting more cramped by the day. Urgent action needs to be taken.”

a real chance for change at Comhairle

The SNP Group in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are actively pursuing a real opportunity to bring about change to local politics following their election last Friday.

Councillor raises concern at lack of apprenticeship opportunities at Arnish

Concern about the lack of apprentice opportunities at Arnish fabrication yard have been raised by Stornoway North Councillor Gordon Murray.

Depopulation is on the menu

Decision-makers, public sector chiefs and senior councillors at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are taking a unique approach to the serious of issue of the depopulation of the islands. 

how your councillor voted - council tax rise

How your councillor voted on council tax rise

Councillors who voted for raising council tax

David Blaney
Ronnie Mackinnon
Neil Beaton
Uisdean Robertson
Andrew Walker
Catherine macdonald
Dj MacRae
Angus Morrison
Norman macdonald
Cudig macleod
Roddie mackay
Charlie Nicolson
Angus Mccormack
Angus Campbell
Norman macleod
Zena Stewart
Alasdair macleod
Donald Crichton
Catriona Stewart
John mackay
Alistair maclennan
John n macleod

Voted against council tax rise

Donald Manford
Donnie Steele
Kenny macleod
Rae mackenzie
Gordon Murray
John a Maciver

SNP councillors reject council tax rise plans

The SNP Group at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have rejected plans to impose a 3 per cent council tax rise on the people of the islands.

Cllr Donald Manford put forward an amendment to the Comhairle’s motion at yesterday’s (Tuesday) budget setting meeting, seconded by Cllr John A Maciver, which proposed no increase in council tax.

Cllr Manford said: “The Comhairle are imposing this additional burden on households when people are already struggling to make ends meet.  The fact is that the council does have funds available due to underspends which should be used to provide the services which are the responsibility of the council to provide.

“The extra money provided by the Scottish Government far exceeds the money which will be gained by the rise in  council tax.

“The Western Isles may have the lowest level of council tax but it also has the lowest average wage in the country and the SNP group feel this additional burden on the community is unnecessary"

Cllr Manford added that constitutional constraints at the Comhairle were designed to thwart debate and that although the SNP Group had managed to submit an amendment to the council tax plans, it had not been done in the way we would have wished.

The Group’s amendment also proposed a report be brought before the Comhairle on the reintroduction of an air service between Barra and Benbecula – the two issues were included as one amendment due to constitutional rules regarding the suspension of standing orders.

Cllr Manford said he was aware that many councillors would have supported the proposal had it been in a single amendment but due to constitutional constraints this had not been possible.

The amendment was defeated, however and councillors voted 22 -6 in favour of the council tax rise.

Nevertheless, a report on the potential for a Barra-Benbecula service is to be brought back to councillors at a future meeting in response to the SNP Group amendment.

SNP Councillors alarmed at lack of plan for Hillcrest redesign

Concerns over the lack of a firm plan for services for vulnerable children in the Western Isles were raised by the SNP Group in yesterday’s (Tuesday) Comhairle meetings.

How your councillor voted on Hillcrest

Voted for the cut to Hillcrest

David Blaney
Ronnie Mackinnon
Donnie Steele
Neil Beaton
Uisdean Robertson
Andrew Walker
Catherine Macdonald
DJ Macrae
Angus Morrison
Cudig Macleod
Norman Macdonald
Angus Mccormack
Charlie Nicolson
Angus Campbell
Roddie Mackay
Norman Macleod
Catriona Stewart
Donald Crichton
Zena Stewart
Alasdair Macleod
John Mackay
Alistair Maclennan


Voted not to cut Hillcrest

Gordon Murray
Rae Mackenzie
John A Maciver
Kenny macleod
Donald Manford