Comment posted Post-election: what now? by BFOandC.
I think many people, myself included, aren’t too worried about what arrangements the politicians come up with as long as what Argyll & Bute really needs from its Council is delivered. So, whether a minority or coalition administration, it should be judged on how it delivers on the key areas.
For me the Council should be:
Open in approach to all its business – This would include the streaming (as far as possible) of all council meetings and the accurate minuting of all meetings. It should include an acceptance that as many decisions as possible should be taken, after reasonable discussion, by the full council and that all meeting papers should, as far as possible, be publicly available. It should also foster a spirit of openness amongst its staff in their approach to the public they serve.
Efficient in its use of the (relatively) scarce resources – In the modern economic climate true efficiency includes cutting down on needless travel and a careful assessment of recruitment to ensure that the Council can provide adequate staffing for those roles directly involving serving the public, especially those services directed to those in most need.
Have clear targets which would measure success for each part of the Council – Everybody, at every level of the council, should know what these targets are and have ownership of them and the Council should welcome and reward positive suggestions for how any service could be delivered in a more truly efficient manner, whether these suggestions come from staff or service users. These targets should, ideally, grow from staff and service users’ experiences, rather than being imposed in a top down manner.
Promote true accountability – It is essential that those paid for giving advice to the council, whether as senior staff or consultants, should realise that the accuracy and quality of their advice will be assessed and if it is found wanting will have an impact on any monies/benefits paid to them. The numerous errors in advice to the Council and accompanying huge wastes of money have to stop.
Those would do for starters!
Recent comments by BFOandC
- So it is to be an ‘in or out’ EU referendum – with imponderables
For me this is final proof that Cameron has no real interest in maintaining the Union. If the SNP were writing his script it couldn’t work out better for them.So he ‘insists’ on a one question referendum meaning the stark choice is between the status quo or independence. Then, shortly after the SNP have seemed to be taking damage over the issue of Scotland’s membership of the EU post-independence, up pops Cameron and puts EU membership in doubt even if Scotland remained in the UK.
So, any Scot who wants more powers devolved from Westminster and also wants to know they will be in a state which is a member of the EU will have only one sure choice in the referendum.
- EC President’s ruling on membership not a real issue
It seems quite clear that if/when Scotland regains its full independence it will have to apply (as a ‘new’ state coming into existence) to become a member of the EU. We can argue about how willing the EU might be to welcome Scotland into the fold, but the reality is that their ‘welcome’ will depend on what the precise conditions of membership are when agreed.
Therefore post a ‘successful’ referendum there will have to be a detailed negotiation with the EU to decide those terms and agreement will need to be reached before independence comes into effect.
One question: will the electorate be asked to approve whatever those terms turn out to be? - Russell back in the bathtub, now trying to sink Keith Brown’s boat
Sorry but I’m not dealing with issues of rights and wrongs here nor what MR should or should not have done. All I wanted to point out was that Mr Ramsay had both recorded and distributed his recording. That fact is now at least recorded and accepted by you. - Russell back in the bathtub, now trying to sink Keith Brown’s boat
Sorry, I really don’t think anything I said was misleading. The facts (not opinions) are:
Mr Ramsey made and distributed a recording without others at the meeting knowing about it.
MR intervened because a recording had been made and distributed.
Those are the facts. - Most constructive move yet from the slomo pro-union side
I wonder whether if, nearer the time, it looks like the referendum could give a majority for independence we might see an ‘agreement’ between the main Westminster parties that if Scotland rejected independence they would hold a ‘Devo-max’ referendum a few months later.I have never understood why the majority of the Westminster parties should have allowed themselves to be put into a position where the Scottish People are to be offered either the status quo or independence.
I suppose it depends on whether they think that the majority of those unhappy with the status quo will vote against independence. But is still seems to me a very risky approach for the union parties to take.
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An excellent analysis. It is intersting to note that the “administration” chooses the chair of the Area Committees regardless of the political make-up of these.
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An interesting premise. With the SNP as a minority adminstration forming policy but with actual decisions having to find consensus amongst at least a majority of councillors this would indeed produce benefits for the citizens of Argyll.
First the SNP: they have the benefits of party discipline, the ear of Government and because they work for the party rather than themselves will be better at pushing forward plans suitable for the whole of Argyll rather than just their own wards. With the backing of the SNP’s national “machine” they will be much better at keeping the non-elected officials to account as they are not mutually dependent on each other.
You have mentioned their other advantage: Cllr McCuish. I think Roddy is exactly the man for the job of bringing the disparate political sections in Argyll together around common cause. I like his self-deprecating manner, sense of humour and easy way with people. That bodes well.
The tight SNP group can run the actual posts and ensure we never have the sort of situation where an elected spokesperson is excluded from the plans of the non-elected officials.
I would, however, also like to see the SNP administration bring in another couple of councillors from without the group, partly to keep a sense of perspective. Cllr Freeman would make, I would suggest, an excellent deputy leader of the Council.
Demolition of the Executive meetings to be replaced by full council meetings where all councillors get their say would ensure that the decisions of the Council are properly democratic.
Of course, minority administrations are vulnerable to coups so I think there would need to be agreement from some of the other groups to support them for the length of the life of the Council (as the Greens did for the SNP) while not being actually part of the ruling administration. That is a tricky sell for Cllr McCuish but I believe it is possible.
Interesting times then but what we really do not want is the Alliance forming the administration again. Their rejection was not as absolute as I would have liked but the results are pretty clear as to what the electorate in Argyll have chosen as the way forward.
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All good ideas, and I wonder if it would be too much to hope for government legislation so that never again could a relatively small cabal freeze out so many of our elected representatives from participating in our council’s business. The primary schools destruction scandal should be a warning to everyone – that old quote in defence of Mussolini, that he made the Italian trains run on time, is worth remembering. Any idea that efficient management with the minimum of discussion is preferable to democratic decision-making has proved very misguided.
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I think many people, myself included, aren’t too worried about what arrangements the politicians come up with as long as what Argyll & Bute really needs from its Council is delivered. So, whether a minority or coalition administration, it should be judged on how it delivers on the key areas.
For me the Council should be:
Open in approach to all its business – This would include the streaming (as far as possible) of all council meetings and the accurate minuting of all meetings. It should include an acceptance that as many decisions as possible should be taken, after reasonable discussion, by the full council and that all meeting papers should, as far as possible, be publicly available. It should also foster a spirit of openness amongst its staff in their approach to the public they serve.
Efficient in its use of the (relatively) scarce resources – In the modern economic climate true efficiency includes cutting down on needless travel and a careful assessment of recruitment to ensure that the Council can provide adequate staffing for those roles directly involving serving the public, especially those services directed to those in most need.
Have clear targets which would measure success for each part of the Council – Everybody, at every level of the council, should know what these targets are and have ownership of them and the Council should welcome and reward positive suggestions for how any service could be delivered in a more truly efficient manner, whether these suggestions come from staff or service users. These targets should, ideally, grow from staff and service users’ experiences, rather than being imposed in a top down manner.
Promote true accountability – It is essential that those paid for giving advice to the council, whether as senior staff or consultants, should realise that the accuracy and quality of their advice will be assessed and if it is found wanting will have an impact on any monies/benefits paid to them. The numerous errors in advice to the Council and accompanying huge wastes of money have to stop.
Those would do for starters!
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Clearly , the main divide in politics in Argyll and Bute is between a nationalist group intent on breaking up the United Kingdom representing one third of council seats and a non nationalist pro Union alternative representing two thirds of council seats .
Any Unionist aligning themselves with the SNP will find themselves suckered into a dead end and certain defeat at the next round of elections .
For the sake of our futures and that of our children the 23 non nationalist councillors must work together and control the levers of power .
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Islay for now,
So wrong, wrong, wrong, on all counts !
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Wonder if Islay for ever has anything to do with Islay. Doesn’t sound like an Ileach’s opinion.
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I would hope Sally Loudon would be the first to depart Kilmory once the dust has settled.A lot of local painters and decoraters are struggling for work so let them take over her job.Better results and would also save money.
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It has obviously escaped Islay for ever’s notice that at the latest Scottish Election the nationalist candidate took over half the vote and I know at least two of the independent councillors who support independence. There are very probably more.
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The balance of power in Mid Lothian Council is held by an Independent councillor who has previously financially supported the Scottish Tories to a substantial degree but was forbidden permission to stand as a Conservative -but not a Unionist – candidate. Peter de Vink stood as an Independent and won and now appears likely to work with the SNP group to control Mid Lothian.
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