Comment posted Post-election: what now? by Ken MacColl.
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.
Recent comments by Ken MacColl
- The Stones, The Stars and Professor Thom
Genuinely sorry to miss this talk but Putechan Lodge is a long haul from Oban!
Professor Sandy Thom is the grandfather of my sister-in-law and was a genuine polymath-with wideranging interests and considerable expertise in engineering, mathematics, astronomy, sailing and almost any other field that attracted his interest.He was truly “a living example of the power of a flexible mind and a versatile disposition.”
During the war he worked on the aereodynamics of fighter aircraft.
Only after retiring from the Professorial Chair of Engineering Science at Oxford did he devote his undivided attention to one of his many other interests, the locatin and distribution of megalithic monuments across the west coast of Scotland and further afield.He worked closely with Marion Campbell in Mid Argyll. He is considered to be the father of archaeoastronomy.
If you are able, go to the talk and enjoy.
Then support the campaign to safeguard the Sighthill Stone Circle. - Disappointing stunting from Michael Russell
And, W.S., if you reveal your name, will we be entitled to make assumptions or presumptions about your ethnicity -as if it should matter? - Another question for Andrew Mitchell
Were it not for whistleblowers and serious investigative jounalists-for too few around at present-we would know far less about those entrusted with our government. - Campbell Cameron: Saying Yes
Pot, kettle , black….responding to Gus mackay is rarely a productive exercise but could I suggest that while the march was in support of Independence for Scotland, those who carried placards stating “YES” were in support of that cause.
My family had a long tradition of active support for the Labour party in Argyll and I recall how my father used to explain to me when I was a child the importance of countries like India and Ireland gaining control over their own destiny. Mind you he also spoke about the obscenity of nuclear weapons and the massive importance of the NHS and the principle that care should be free at the point of delivery.At that time the abolition of the House of Lords was a stated aim of the party.As a working class boy who got to university he would have been appalled at the notion of the Labour Party introducing student fees. I suspect that he would not have been singularly unimpressed with either Blair or Brown.
Devolution, even in times of financial stricture, has mostly worked well for Scotland and it has worked best in those areas where services, like Health and Education are in our Holyrood’s control and our own priorities are able to be addressed – contrast those with the chaos under Westminster control! The progression to independence is part of the process started in 1999 and perhaps the most significant factors of Saturday’s rally were the contributions from Dennis Canavan, Ruth Wishart and the growing Scottish Labour for Independence movement. - Campbell Cameron: Saying Yes
I am the bloke in the blue fleece and I am entitled to look older than Campbell Cameron for the simple reason that I am considerably older.Campbell is as hale and hearty as ever.
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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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