Comment posted Arrangements for Argyll and Bute local election on 3rd May 2012 by Simon.
Cllr Freeman “Simon, you are correct” . Thanks for that.
“It is clear that your ConDemAll administration……”. My ConDemAll administration??
Nothing to do with me. 
Simon also commented
- Neil – looks like Cllr Freeman is hoping you’ll join his sect/gang/group if you get elected that is…… (haud oot fur Deputy Leader…..)
- Thanks Ken – I had doubts about the post from Simple….
And Cllr Freeman allow me to re-phrase your pretentious prose “Argyll & Bute Independent Councillors Group we are truly independent and free to vote as we wish…50% voting for it and 50% voting against it.”
ie, you voted against it and the other one voted for it. Some group….
- Yes/No Trebel T he posted about libraries in “Helensborough”
- Integrity? Do those in Administration in UK or Scottish Govts or any other Council show their budget to the opposition before the budget meeting?
Glad to hear you’re not an elected member….
- Integrity – you do you make me smile with your rather poo-faced pronouncements.
If you are going to talk aobut sheep – then surely the real sheep are those (baa, baa, baa) opposition membbers who voted with Tricky. Are you an elected member Integrity? How did you vote?
Only three voted against and rumour has it two of them have been booted. Baa, baa.
Recent comments by Simon
- Update on SNP meeting
Jamie Black “a small cruise ship appears to be aground off Oban”Is it a small SNP cruise ship that has recently had several captains and a revolting crew????
How appropriate if it was……..
- Update on SNP meeting
Newsie “There is likely to be a vote for council leader between the SNP’s novice councillor Sandy Taylor and Councillor Dick Walsh”
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) Sandy Taylor:) :) :) :) Cooncil leader :) This is a joke Right???:) :) :) Sandy Taylor:) :) :) :) :) :) - SNP tightens party grip on local councillors in further chaos
Dave – “Words fail me.This is all complete and utter nonsense”.Well there’s two points immediately spring to mind from your statement:-
1. Given their nasty vicious civil war, the mess they’ve made of things and the shambolic behaviour of all concerned – to be honest ANYTHING is believable about the SNP in Argyll and Bute right now. Anything that is except words like professional, collegiate, unity, discipline, putting constituents first, etc etc.
2. “Words fail me” – well quite frankly that’s an unexpected bonus - SNP meeting on Monday may be testing time for mega-coalition proposal
Graeme, “I think you’ll find that the individuals mentioned will be considered past their sell-by date and divisive”Well actually the recent evidence suggests that that statement could apply to most SNP Cllrs, your ex-leader, the constituency chairman, the local MSPs and yourself….
- SNP meeting on Monday may be testing time for mega-coalition proposal
Guess the identity of the “Third Party”. It wouldn’t be an ex-senior Cllr (now no longer a member of the SNP) but very likely to be re-instated very soon would it??I’m trying to be circumspect about his identity but if it is him (and I think it’s a him) then it would have the added benefit that the SNP wouldn’t have to throw out all the “Vote Mike” badges they have in stock when McKenzie is de-selected……
powered by SEO Super Comments
I note that in Stirling, Labour and the Conservatives have reduced the council budget (SNP minority).
Can we take it that they thought they have been given too much money from the Scottish Government? What service will be removed or reduced as a result?
Each prospective candidate standing for the May elections can now be asked if will also reduce their council budgets similar to Stirling and with the inevitable reduction in council services eg school closures, social care etc.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Argyll & Bute SNP sacked Leader and Deputy at a meeting this weekend.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’ve no idea who Simple Simon is. He is either better informed than me (which wouldn’t be hard) or he is at it…. I daresay time will telll.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Just like you Simon but not as clever. SNP go into election in chaos. Leader and Deputy voted against budget so sacked for doing their job. They don’t have anyone who is a patch on Walsh. With Neil McIntyre a candidate and other respected independents standing Walsh has no worries….I daresay time will tell!!! (silly face)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I hope this isn’t the start of a sorcerer’s apprentice-style splitting & multiplying to an infinity of Simons
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
So do I Tim. Multi-personnae is really not my scene despite what “doc’s” paranoia tell him…
What’s your take on the Simple’s report on the SNP coup d’etat??
True?
Untrue??
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Simple Simon has posted before as Kintyretoo.
Is this a case of “Imitation is the sincerist form of flattery”? or will we go for more descriptive names? I could be Out on Licence Crazy She-Bat. We could have Simple Simon and Not So Simple Simon, but I fear how long Integrity: Not in the ConDemAll’s name would become
On the SNP – a wee reshuffle might be a good thing. Bring through some of the younger more dynamic candidates.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Simple Simon & Simon – what is it about Councillor Walsh that you both find so appealing?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Scruff – I really think you should ask that question of the SNP group, Argyll 1st and the other ragbag of opposition splinter groups/sects that voted for Walsh’s budget…..
Anybody know if the SNP knight of the long knives is true or not? If so who is the new Leader??
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Simon – Play the game, it was an easy enough question, what is it about Councillor Walsh that you find so appealing?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Can’t say I am clued up on that is, or isn’t happening , in the SNP party however I am not all that bothered to be honest. These are local elections which, for me at least, means votes should be cast based on who you feel will best serve your local community whilst finding a balance between that and their wider council responsibility. If somebody feels their local SNP candidate (or any other candidate) will, or won’t deliver that then they should vote accordingly and give scant regard to who the leader of the group is.
I also note that Simple Simon appears to be making the assumption that Neil MacIntyre (and other independent candidates) will pin their colours to the Alliance of Independents purely because they are standing as independents. I think maybe the Simpler version should have the decency to allow these candiates to decide what their intentions would be should they be elected rather than making an assumption on their behalf and promoting it on here. I have no idea what they would do and wouldn’t dream of claiming otherwise.
Last I recall there are a number of non party aligned councillors who are part of the opposition rather than part of Cllr Walsh’s ‘independent’ group. A group which is as ‘independent’ as Jim Davidson was socialist! We all saw quite how ‘independent’ they were when Cllr Freeman was chucked out for not toeing the ‘non whipped’ line and we all saw how ‘independent’ they were when, en masse, they voted to take schools toward closure despite individually giving assurances to local communities that they would fight tooth and nail for their local school. There is nothing independent about them, it is just a smokescreen they hide behind.
Ultimately this sort of two faced behaviour resulted in Alison Hay’s vote collapsing at the last election and here is hoping it has a similar impact on the votes cast for the other ‘independent’ sheep. Whether SNP councillors replace them, or other properly independent councillors replace them is neither here nor there to me.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Integrity – you do you make me smile with your rather poo-faced pronouncements.
If you are going to talk aobut sheep – then surely the real sheep are those (baa, baa, baa) opposition membbers who voted with Tricky. Are you an elected member Integrity? How did you vote?
Only three voted against and rumour has it two of them have been booted. Baa, baa.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Simon
So you think the sheep are those who voted for a budget set by someone they are in opposition with rather than adopting the more school playground approach of sticking their fingers in their ears and opposing for the sake of opposition that you seem to think constitutes good politicking.
Maybe it shouldn’t be Simon and Simple Simon but rather Simple Simon and Simplest Simon.
No I am not an elected member. Hoewever if I was and I had had no time to review the budget properly then I would have refused to vote either way. If I did feel I had the time to properly review it I would have voted according to my opinion of it. Not rocket science is it. It also makes no difference as the administration’s budget is always going to get voted in through anyway. Even if half the administration didn’t like it it would still get voted through – that is where your Old MacDonald accusations are better suited.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Integrity? Do those in Administration in UK or Scottish Govts or any other Council show their budget to the opposition before the budget meeting?
Glad to hear you’re not an elected member….
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
At local government level it would be incredibly rare for the budget to be shared in advance (largely due to fear of it being as a political weapon) however just because others don’t do it is a pretty feeble reason to say that we should just accept it as a standard practice that can’t be improved upon. If we can get to a position where agreement can be reached on a compromised budget then there would be nothing to gain from using it as a political weapon.
Better and more efficient politics is surely something we should all strive for. At a time when savings are being targeted by reducing service provision what sensible argument is there for wasting council officers time having them assist in the preparation of multiple budgets when we all know full well that opposition ones are nothing more than paying lip service to a process.
At national level there is a lot more access to draft budgets and a lot more debate over them with that debate actually being of some use as at least both sides have had the time to properly consider and form their opinion/argument.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Simple Simon – Simon’s unable to tell me what’s so attractive about Councillor Walsh, and is now asking repeated questions which have already been answered.
Can you tell me why Councillor Walsh should get my vote?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Is the candidate Neil MacIntyre the same one as a Neil MacIntyre who posted on another topic on ForArgyll that libraries were still open in the rural area around Helensburgh and Lomond. According to Councillor Freeman this information is incorrect.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yes/No Trebel T he posted about libraries in “Helensborough”
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think that it is time that Simple Simon went to the fair (with his double act Simon) rather than trying to spread a load of rubbish on FA.
By stating that Cllr Robert MacIntyre and Cllr Isobel Strong were sacked as Leader and Deputy Leader of the SNP Group at the weekend, he (or she) has confirmed that they do not have a clue what they are talking about. The only other possibility is that he/she is one of tricky Dicky’s ConDemAll pals who just agree with everything that Dick tells him/her to agree with.
I can confirm that I spoke with Cllr Robert MacIntyre within the last 15 minutes and he has confirmed that Simple Simon’s statement is a load of rubbish and that there has been no change in the SNP leadership.
I can also confirm that Integrity? Not in the ConDemAll is certainly not an elected member whereas the same cannot be said about Simple Simon and Simon.
I am glad to say that within the Argyll & Bute Independent Councillors Group we are truly independent and free to vote as we wish. That can be seen from the fact that we were split on the administration’s budget with 50% voting for it and 50% voting against it.
Unlike the Alliance so called “independents” who just do as they are told, we put our communities and the people who elect us to represent them first.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
When we saw the comment that started this chain, we immediately enquired of the situation from the SNP group. They confirmed that they did indeed have a group meeting at the weekend but categorically deny that they sacked anyone – and affirm that and their Leader is Councillor Robert Macintyre and their Depute Leader, Councillor Isobel Strong.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Newsie
Are you telling me that Simon got this information from a ‘reliable source’
Heaven forbid.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I can confirm that rumours about Cllr Robert Macintyre’s political demise are wholly without foundation! Silly unfounded conjecture from a simple anonymous cypher who hides behind a simpleton’s pseudonym.
Can a Jambo from Bute who likes his cricket really be tagged Trotsky? Seems unlikely.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Thanks Ken – I had doubts about the post from Simple….
And Cllr Freeman allow me to re-phrase your pretentious prose “Argyll & Bute Independent Councillors Group we are truly independent and free to vote as we wish…50% voting for it and 50% voting against it.”
ie, you voted against it and the other one voted for it. Some group….
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Simon, you are correct. It is clear that your ConDemAll administration is far from happy that you did not get unanimous agreement for your budget.
Apart from considering the wider implications for Argyll & Bute, I also considered the implications for my own area and for the communities within my ward that I was elected to serve. Included in the comments I have passed to the media on the budget are as follows:
I noted with concern that a number of totally misleading statements have been made by the Council’s administration that I rejected a range of proposals contained within their budget that would have benefited my constituents. This is certainly not the case.
As the minutes of the Council meeting confirm, I welcomed many of the proposals contained within the budget but, as the budget did not have to be agreed for another four weeks, I asked that the Council continue consideration “so as to try and allow a budget to be brought forward that all members could support”.
The minutes also show that I stated that “While a number of positive proposals within the administration’s budget are welcomed, there are a number of areas of concern”.
Although this was clearly an election budget, amongst the areas of concern that I highlighted were insufficient funding for road repairs and maintenance and insufficient funding for the proposed new Helensburgh Swimming Pool and Leisure Facility.
As the public are aware, our roads are in a deplorable state and the fact that our area only received 14% of the funding available is unacceptable, especially when we have the busiest roads in Argyll & Bute.
I have argued for capital funding to be allocated towards the new Helensburgh Swimming Pool and Leisure Facility for some time now and raised this issue again with the Council Leader and Cllr Morton only three days before the Council meeting. At that time they refused to say if they would make funding available.
We know that the Campbeltown pool cost £10 million 5 years ago and a facility of a similar standard in Helensburgh would now cost £11 million. Unfortunately only £7.5 million has been allocated to the Helensburgh facility. There are now serious concerns over where the other £3.5 million is going to come from or is Helensburgh going to get a second rate facility?
Cllr Duncan MacIntyre has the nerve to state that I voted against proposals that included investment in Rosneath and Luss Primary Schools within my own ward. I will certainly accept no criticism from him or any of his administration colleagues who, just over a year ago, wanted to close 26 schools across Argyll & Bute, including those at Rosneath and Luss. It was only as a result of the fight put up by myself and other opposition councillors, along with parents and communities that Cllr MacIntyre and his colleagues were forced to withdraw their flawed school closure proposals.
One final area of concern was that the administration decided to rob the schools and waste management smoothing funds of £14.5 million. This will mean that the Council Tax payer will now have to fund large annual payments of £1.6 million on average over the next three years and similar large payments for years after that. It is clear that it will be the Council Tax payer who will bear the brunt of these costs. The Head of Strategic Finance confirmed that these annual payments will equate to the loss of approximately 130/140 jobs.
It was for these reasons that I asked the Council to consider continuing the budget so that further consideration could be given to these areas of concern.
I hope that this will help to clarify the situation with regards to the Council’s budget and the misinformation being peddled by Cllr Duncan MacIntyre and his ConDemAll colleagues.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Cllr Freeman “Simon, you are correct” . Thanks for that.
“It is clear that your ConDemAll administration……”. My ConDemAll administration??
Nothing to do with me.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Just passing on a bit of office gossip. In the s**t for using shared email – got my own now.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
For Integrity and Simon.
Enjoy your posts on here but just to clear this one up.
I think my regular questions on here about a councillors cowardly attack on big George tells me about the quality of some of the councillors that are supposed to be representing us.They obviously know but would rather defend him.Well that is councillors from both sides so what does that say about them.Locally most people know my feelings about councillors MacIntyre and MacKay so working in the same group with them would never be on the cards if I was voted onto the council in May.As for Dick Walsh I don,t do the sheep thing so that would also be a non starter.
I honestly would not know where to start to try to give the council a name that we all could be proud of but if I am elected I will certainly give it everthing I have to improve things.I am certainly not perfect, I speak out when
I think things are wrong. I ended up in jail for a night and a £400 fine for opening my mouth when the good old police didn,t like it, good wee story for another time.So to wrap it up, if elected I Will work with any decent honest person to improve Argyll, the rest better be ready for a battle.
Power to the People.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Thanks for the clarification Neil. Ideally such clarification shouldn’t be necessary when standing as an indepedendent candidate however the attitude of the current administration makes a mockery of the term ‘independent’ and, as such, I think it is useful to know where candidates stand on the issue.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
For Neil MacIntyre. I share your views on the three councillors you refer to. Hopefully we may be able to talk after 3 May.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
2.
Simple Simon says:
February 27, 2012 at 8:48 am
Argyll & Bute SNP sacked Leader and Deputy at a meeting this weekend
Assuming that this is not true will very “simple simon” retract his/her statement.
A general plea -with election hype starting maybe FA can ask any current councillor or candidate to identify themselves to the public
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Neil – looks like Cllr Freeman is hoping you’ll join his sect/gang/group if you get elected that is…… (haud oot fur Deputy Leader…..)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What I would like to know is how Crazy She-Bat came by the following information in post 7?
“Simple Simon has posted before as Kintyretoo”
Raises questions of confidentiality and honesty on the part of the management possibly, or is she psychic?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0