Comment posted Looks like a council reshuffle by Simon.
Personally Neil, I don’t think Newsie will contact Louise.
FA have been very supportive of Louise since she announced her candidature – somehting of an embarrassment to have her announce she won’t be standing again after only a few months in post.
Simon also commented
- Neil – certainly not calling you a liar.
TrebleT “The new administration should make life as difficult as possible for messrs Loudon and Sneddon” what a petty, vindictive and disgusting thing to call for: tantamount to encouraging bullying and victimisation.
- Seems strange to me too Phil. But since the original article asnd most of the other contributions on here are sheer speculation – Neil’s claim is certainly not out place.
- Phil, see post No5 from Neil above.
- Crazy “Why on earth should she resign? She’s got 4 years to make a difference” – the REAL question is ‘why on earth did she stand? Why on earth did she take on a portfolio and three months later decide she is not going to stand again?
And of coursae Crazy she won’t make a difference, she has decided already she has no committment – she’ll just take the money for four years and go….
- You’ll not going to welcome it but I agree with you Integrity.
But, most the others on here don’t want to hear anyone saying anything that will get in the way of their mean little prejudices. So expect some of the boo-boys and girls coming right back at you.
Have a nice day
Recent comments by Simon
- White smoke rises from Councillor Duncan MacIntyre’s chimney as two-man College of Cardinals settle a deal
J – well let’s be honest they SNP are doing it at a national level – so why not a local level??? - White smoke rises from Councillor Duncan MacIntyre’s chimney as two-man College of Cardinals settle a deal
Quite right Nick. Makes you wonder why Newsie claimed it was McCuish who removed the moratorium? - School closures: Russell commits to centrality of educational benefit – without clarifying the current meaning of the term
What’s the population increase amongst those of school age in Islay? Tiree? Bute? Cowal? - Russell to make parliamentary statement on rural schools today
Here is the Education Secretary’s statement made at Holyrood today.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-22885333
- Strachur Post Office under threat of closure
Dunoon Lad – apologies – I stand corrected.
( see Newsie that’s how you admit you’re wrong….)
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Louise Glen-lee will not be standing at the next election so she will obviously be in a awkward position when it comes to planning or advising us on projects for the mid to long term.
Locally in Oban we have had over five years of nothing from the Chord fiasco. £6.9 million which could of been used for economic develpoment has been sitting gathering dust.The director in charge and the local councillors owe us all an explanation.Argyll can,t afford to stagnate like this for years.
Cheers Neil.
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Neil, “Louise Glen-lee will not be standing at the next election” – she’s hardly in the door for Gawd’s sake.
Who says she’s not standing next time?
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The gab from Oban is its a management re-shuffle oot the door for Sneddon and her laddie Loudon. Jump or be pushed Roddie’s the boy to do it.
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“oot the door for Sneddon and her laddie Loudon.”
This simply doesn’t make sense.
If you had said ‘oot the door for Loudon and her laddie Sneddon’ that would make sense. It would be complete nonsense – but it would have the saving feature of at least making sense.
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Same idiots, different jobs?
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For Simon.
The lady herself told me a couple of weeks ago.Its not a secret.I just think it will prove difficult to convince people about what you want to do if you are not going to put yourself forward for re-election after such a short time in the council.Must be a bit strange for Donald Melville who would have certainly been elected if Louise had indicated she was only going to serve one term or even not stood.Strange appointments in the light of her personal plans.But I am sure Louise will explain she,s pretty straight.
Cheers Neil.
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How long is a ‘term’ in council lingo then?
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Sorry, phill. We took a little licence with this in making it something of a school term report.
Properly speaking, a ‘term. for local authorities is the period they are elected to serve before the next election.
Lynda
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Thanks for that Lynda. I was referring to Neils ‘one term’ rather than your own recent heading.
So if the above is correct Louise will stay on for 4/5 years. Think a statement of confirmation or denial is needed from Roddy/Louise to end speculation about a well thought of politician.
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Thanks Neil – strange appointments indeed.
This, and if newsie is to be believed (which you’ll appreciate given her track record is never automatic) a council re-shuffle in August!! Only some 3 months after being formally elected!!
This smacks of sheer rank amatuerism and a distinct lack of leadership and ability on the part of the SNP-led coalition.
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“This smacks of sheer rank amatuerism and a distinct lack of leadership and ability on the part of the SNP-led coalition.” what garbage on taking over any company/corporation you set up your initial team you place your best choice of people in the area you think they will do best, however after a period of time you may have to move people or introduce new people with the skills to overcome the faults you have found.
I have no problem with re-shuffles
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You are correct in your above point Keith re reshuffles, but i think the problem is that does anyone know if there has actualy been a reshuffle?
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At least Louise Glenn-Lee saved us all, albeit temporarily, from another amateur (in my opinion) – Melville. You are aware of my views on his behaviour that I have personally witnessed and which, I believe, would be wholly detrimental to our community. He has demonstrated that he does not recognise or support the views of his local community when they are at odds with his own.
Has Louise given any reason why she’s leaving? Missing the Oban Times perhaps?
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Lowry “Melville. You are aware of my views on his behaviour that I have personally witnessed”. Nope.
Pray tell…
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I made comments on this site about his selection as candidate during the elections. They were not well received by some however I have evidence for everything that was said.
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So, from what I am reading here, no-one is quite sure if this is a cabinet reshuffle OR (I’m on my knees praying now) the well-deserved and long-awaited firing of the numpties Sneddon and Loudon.
Can someone please clarify? I might need to go and buy champagne and party poppers before the shop shuts.
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CSB. Wishful thinking. With you there
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I’ll be in the queue at the shop with you Crazy She-Bat x
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Best you buy party-poopers Crazy.
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Mrs A just got back and confirmed that Loudon and Sneddon are going. Mull meeting decided it and Roddie told Loudon earlier this week. Widely known in Kilmory Castle. Details being worked out but if they don’t go they will be pushed.
Staff morale has soared as the news has spread. HAPPY DAYS -nice to see Mrs A so cheerie.
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Better start praying that good people ‘fill the vacuum’ – whether or not they’re recruited from within the existing organisation.
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Have to say I am sceptical about this (sorry CSB!) Loudon maybe as her removal is within the powers of elected members but they have no authority to remove Sneddon from post.
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not even for gross incompetence?
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No. A director is an employee of the Council. if there is gross negligence then it is a matter for the Council’s usual disiplinary procedures to deal with.
Councillors cannot make a decision to removed anyone except the Chief Executive.
There will also be a considerable cost involved unless the removal can be justified as a sacking on the grounds of gross negligence (or some other ‘offence’ which is punishable by being removed from post as per contractual terms and conditions.
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*Does naked cartwheels around the room*
WOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Are we throwing them a leaving party? Or just throwing them? LOL
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Long gone are the days when an employee could just be “thrown” CSB. I believe that Integrity is correct and only the CE can be removed by council decision.
PS I take it that your “naked cartwheels around the room” refers to the CE and not yourself in pleasure mode…?
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Barmore2, we do the naked cartwheels thing in Luss every Sunday after church in the carpark LOL
A sight to behold. Unfortunately, we’ve not scared any tourists off yet, just made them laugh
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Where does this leave hatchet-face Carole Walker, and the long-suspended communications manager, and the rest of the assorted hangers-on and apparatchiks who thrived under Sally’s reign? Will the new broom make a clean sweep?
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How much will the golden cheerio package cost?
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Mrs A parting comment was the staff will organise a collection no matter what it cost.
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just asked on the A&B website if its true so we can arrange the farewell party!!
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as I said to a friend of Sneddon, the hatchet man getting the axe is just justice…
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You’ll not going to welcome it but I agree with you Integrity.
But, most the others on here don’t want to hear anyone saying anything that will get in the way of their mean little prejudices. So expect some of the boo-boys and girls coming right back at you.
Have a nice day
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sorry Simon, does this mean that all the people that fought hard to save the schools from closure aren’t allowed to enjoy the thought that some highly paid council employees may no longer be required because this is a “mean little prejudice”?
Let me point out, personally its cold bloody fury at the nasty tricks brigade getting away with it for so long at great expense
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Keep to the faith – all in good time -what goes around, comes around.
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dont count your chickens before they are hatched
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If Louise Glen-Lee is not standing at the next election in May 2017 she should now do the honourable thing and resign as an Argyll & Bute councillor.
However I do not expect this as she will be quite happy to receive her councillor’s salary and generous expenses for the four and three quarter years.
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The silence is deafening.Why?
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Why on earth should she resign? She’s got 4 years to make a difference, to serve the community. Just because she only fancies one term? (at the moment).
You’re off yer nut!
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Has Cllr Lee actually stated at this point she will not stand again and if so why at this early juncture?
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Crazy “Why on earth should she resign? She’s got 4 years to make a difference” – the REAL question is ‘why on earth did she stand? Why on earth did she take on a portfolio and three months later decide she is not going to stand again?
And of coursae Crazy she won’t make a difference, she has decided already she has no committment – she’ll just take the money for four years and go….
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Phil, see post No5 from Neil above.
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Cheers Simon, and I am sure Neil info will be accurate, but i dont understand why she (the member)would let this come out in the manner and forum we have received it.
By the way I think she will have enought time in a single term to do much go
od, but will have lost ground by early ‘announcement’. I can hear a denial being issued shortly.
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Seems strange to me too Phil. But since the original article asnd most of the other contributions on here are sheer speculation – Neil’s claim is certainly not out place.
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For Simon.
I Hope you are not calling me a liar.
If you want to do that please have the decency to do it with your full name.Louise follows the site and if she wants to deny what she told me I am sure she would have.
Why not contact Ken I am sure he will confirm what Louise is doing.I enjoy your banter and value your arguments but if you want to get personal and question other people,s integrity then front up.
Cheers Neil.
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Can someone please explain where the problem is for a councillor only wanting to serve the people for one term. Correct me if I am wrong but the people who vote determines who gets in, so the councillors are only guaranteed one term. In my opinion a dynamic councillor can achieve more in one term than a long serving one. A one term councillor can follow the heart as they do not need to play the political party game, if fact they can serve the people and not the machine.
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I agree that a councillor can make a telling contribution in a term, but the way this current topic has been put in the public domain leaves more questions than answers.
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…Or, they can vote with their mates, make decisions that have long term effects but just walk away without being around when the pain sets in.
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“…Or, they can vote with their mates, make decisions that have long term effects but just walk away without being around when the pain sets in.”
Very good point, or their mates in opposition get in, just like the factory making mince pies, different wrappers for different retailers, but they are all full of mince.
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Glen-Lee spends more time working for Mike Russell than being a councillor. Not hearing much from the turncoat Tory Kelly on all this. Just keep taking the hush-money Donald.
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There’s BAD news from kilmory castle. Integrity and Simon were right. Loudon has backed Sneddon and put daft laddie McCuish in his place. He won’t sack Loudon now but this will split the coalition. Mrs A says depression spreading amongst staff as news comes out. Staff think this lot are as spineless as the last.
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This is not a big surprise and I wouldn’t be so hasty as to say it is about being spineless. It is phenomenally difficult to sack someone for issues surrounding incompetence, especially if appropriate action hasn’t been taken to try and address the incompetence first. Employers have a duty (and rightly so) to try and manage poor performance in such a way where the priority is to improve it rather than jump straight to dismissal.
Given how much protection Loudon got from the previous administration (and vice versa) it is very unlikely that she has ever been subject to any sort of proper performance review where the outcome was that improvements are required. Without these steps/stages having been taken, and reached, in the past it is near on impossible for a new administration to come along and dismiss someone.
In my opinion this is actually correct. As much as I strongly suspect Loudon is not a capable Chief Executive it is appropriate that an organisation has the right policy and procedures in place to manage poor performance and an incoming administration cannot ride rough shod over those and justify it on the grounds that the previous one turned a blind eye to things that should have been addressed.
What this new Administration should do (and maybe are) is make it clear to Loudon that previous things that happened are no longer acceptable and put in place a performance review process for her which, if she doesn’t meet the required standards, would then enable measures to betaken at a later, and correct point.
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There is nothing ‘daft’ about Concil Leader McCuish, believe you me.
Call me an old fashioned rugby player but team spirit, from both sides, exacted a cost on those who deliberately played the player and not the ball in my day.
Apology, PLEASE, Arnie?
Let’s give support and look for the fix and help rejuvinate A and B staff moral.
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The new administration should make life as difficult as possible for messrs Loudon and Sneddon. Eventually the “penny might drop” and messrs Loudon and Sneddon will realise that there is no future for them in Argyll & Bute Council.
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Treble T: what a sad comment to post man! perhaps you are made from the same mould as loudon and sneddon
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Neil – certainly not calling you a liar.
TrebleT “The new administration should make life as difficult as possible for messrs Loudon and Sneddon” what a petty, vindictive and disgusting thing to call for: tantamount to encouraging bullying and victimisation.
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Isn’t it also called Karma?
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All newsroom has to do is contact the SNP. to confirm Louise,s
position and then we can move on to the next story.
Neil.
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That would be a good idea as this has been a very slipshod turn of events and i think the public will appreciate clarity Neil.
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sorry Neil but would it not be up to you to supply confirmation of this persons position? it was you who posted the elements of a conversation. thus it is you who have made the claim
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I dont for one minute doubt Neil’s posts, but there must be some confirmation or denial either officially or not.
The councillors used to use this site to their advanyage in the past so its so strange there is littel or no comment from any off them on any subject now.
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Phil: at no time was I implying Neil was making anything up, I simply pointed out that he is the person bringing elements of a “private” conversation into a public arena.
But we must remember that our councillors are nothing more that trainee polimagician’s and as such are just playing a role (acting), yes when they talk to you they are just people like you and I, but then they revert back to their smoke and mirrors and do nothing to improve matters for the local people.
The worst part of this whole matter is these people even though they are locals as members of the SNP farce are working to a globalist set agenda, well shame on them every one of them from Roddy to Louise are happy to sit back and support institutionalised paedophilia covered up by salmond’s administration (Hollie Gregg)
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Personally Neil, I don’t think Newsie will contact Louise.
FA have been very supportive of Louise since she announced her candidature – somehting of an embarrassment to have her announce she won’t be standing again after only a few months in post.
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Just for fun [moderated]
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Iain
Roddie is a great laddie but hardly a match for Loudon and Sneddon. He is just the front man – others are running the show for the SNP. Even when he delivered the wrong mail he always had a wee story. Roddie running the council don’t you be daft. See you at the game – just leaving now.
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”a great laddie”, now that’s better Arnie.
If, as you say, Mrs A is ‘cooncil’, then you well know what the alternative will be.
So a bit of positivity Arnie (and Mrs A too) and let’s get behind Counsil Leader Roddie and the COALITION (NOT SNP ALONE) and make it happen for Argyll and it’s people.
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I didnt vote for him but Cllr McCuish is a very honest and capable individual and by no means daft.As far as i can see works hard and is the most approachable membver we have had for many years.
He will be keen to put this one to bed (the Cllr Lee story)
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I for one will be delighted if it’s confirmed that Louise G-L is not standing again. She is well known for her self serving attitude and we need members who genuinely are there to put their constituents’ needs first.
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FAO Keith and Simon.
How do you suggest getting rid of messrs Loudon and Sneddon at NO extra cost to the council taxpayers of Argyll & Bute.
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Don’t be concerned about the cost as vast sums have been squandered already under this stewardship and more will follow. So any cost will be a bargain in the long term.
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Treble T; if a “person” had all the facts about these peoples actions then you could use an “Affidavit statement of facts” and a “notice of understanding” upon their failure to comply with the terms of this process they would have no option but to leave.
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Sorry to bring this debate down to a real problem – given that the Council intend to spend £4M of our money on pontoons in Dunoon, what exactly are the pontoons for?
Argyll Feries contracted to us the existing linkspans, if they cannot do it then they should forfit their contract, is that not reasonable?
I believe there is also an investigation underway that could lead to a criminal prosecution for the way the existing ferry service has been operated. Is that correct?
So why should Argyll and Bute Council be spending our money trying to convert wrong into something … well just cover it up I suppose.
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Keith.
Alternatively messrs Loudon and Sneddon could be encouraged to apply for jobs elsewhere and be given “glowing references”.
Unfortunately with the internet I am sure that every local authority in the UK now know what a “good job” they have done with Argyll & Bute Council.
If the other local authorities previously did not know about messrs Loudon and Sneddon they will certainly know by now thanks to the Never Seconds fiasco.
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Perhaps they come as a package!
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I never thought such a simple bit of news like Louise not standing for re-election would have the SNP in such a mess.
I think she obviously hadn,t told anyone so this little story looks likely to run for a while yet.Very strange way to operate but I am sure somebody from the SNP will enlighten us all about Louise,s position eventually.If not there will be plenty of local meetings to fire in the questions.Pretty daft to try and deflect something like this but maybe thats the game they want to play.Not a lot of credibility in that and I am sure Roddy will not be happy at the way this been dropped on him, he deserves better from his fellow councillors.
Cheers Neil.
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The answer to Treble T should have been that Loudon and Sneddon should have been charged with disciplinary offences in the past ( Loudon with allowing Sneddon to withhold information on schools from the Education Convener, and Sneddon with doing it – as well as other things like employing a consultant who writes a note saying that matters should not be left to Councillors, and being unaware that her Communications Officer was running a discreditable operation, Spygate )
Whether they can be so charged at this late date is doubtful and if the result is that there is a disgracefully large settlement bill, then this will have to be put down to those who so decided in 2011
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I think you will find Gerry that Spygate was a figment of Newsies somewhat fetid imagination and i suspect she is now fully aware of that fact hence the lack of anything new being reported on it by FA because they have got it so spectacularly wrong.
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For Gerry.
Has Jo Smith been found guilty in the Spygate investigation and where did you see the report I have missed it.Were you aware of your SNP councillor Louise not going to stand for re-election?
Cheers Neil.
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FA had Smith guilty based on what? Oh yes an anonymous source with an agenda to discredit the council by seeding disinformation (aka a big bunch of lies) into a rabid dog blog who wanted any excuse to attack council staff they feel had wronged them.
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This is flatly, demonstrably and mischievously incorrect on two counts.
Ms Smith was condemned by her own mouth. It was she who publicly described her online activities on the council’s behalf as ‘spy accounts’. Why would she have said that if she had not seen and intended spying in what she was doing? We condemn such a diseased mindset and will continue to do so.
For Argyll has never once suggested that Ms Smith’s activities had any focus on us. They may have done or they may not. We had and have no interest in whether or not they did. We are not the issue.
What IS the issue is the value-set and practice of a local authority official carrying out activities she herself regarded as spying on those whose larger interests the council and its officers are charged with serving and paid to serve.
We have said and hold fast to the view that, whether or not Ms Smith was guilty of any technical breach of conduct, she cannot conceivably return to her post and hope to be trusted – given what she herself said she was doing and which she was enthusiastically advocating to others.
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As i have said before, you are basing her admission of guilt on a somewhat ambiguous statement and have provided zero evidence of the existance of any spy accounts. It’s easy to take something out of context, although i admit the very term spy accounts does not look good. Set in context it may be completely innocent. Anyway no doubt it will all come out in the wash as my mother used to say.
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PS. Whatever happened to your initial source? And you call me a mischief maker.
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Well newsie looks like you got what you wanted
http://www.dunoon-observer.com/index.php/news/1-news/4729-council-communications-chief-sacked
But let me quote a proper journalist
NUJ Scottish organiser Paul Holleran told the Standard: “I am quite shocked to have been informed by Argyll and Bute Council that Jo Smith has been dismissed from her post as Communications Manager.
“Jo is disappointed the council has decided that she gave the impression at a conference that it was engaged in a form of covert surveillance, even though its own investigation report (carried out at great expense) says it, ‘has not uncovered any form of any kind of spy accounts or covert surveillance tactics having been considered, or requested, or sanctioned, or adopted, or put in place, or carried out by Jo Smith’.
“The council’s decision is based on the impression presented by an anonymous source in The Herald newspaper, which the council has so far been unable to identify as even attending the conference. The council has chosen to ignore witness statements from ten highly respected, named communications professionals who did attend the conference and who have said the article in The Herald was inaccurate and misleading.
Told you, as i suspected the whole Spygate thing was complete hogwash.
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I can’t agree with the idea that the administration should go out of their way to make Loudon and Sneddon’s lives difficult. Members and Officers are paid to represent , and work for, the best interests of A&B irrespective of who they need to work alongside or whether they are of the opinion that certain officers are fit for purpose. Even if they don’t rate a particular officer they still have a duty to work with them as well as they can.
Equally the senior officers have a duty to comply with standards, ‘earn their keep’ and meet with appropriate standards of behaviour etc (basically Nolan’s principles of public life). Personally I am in little doubt that Sneddon failed to comply with these principles during the schools debacle (in particular ‘openness’, Loudon failed miserably on ‘Leadership’ – a number of the administration failed on ‘selflessness’, and ‘openness’ and when it comes to ‘objectivity’ – well take your pick, it is like shooting elephants in a confined space, you can’t fail to hit them!
However that is behind us, as thankfully are the administration under whose careless, or deliberate, watch it transpired. This current administration has a duty to make sure things improve and take the necessary steps to make sure it happens. It won’t happen overnight as changing an organisational culture is a little like building a windfarm in Malcolm Kirk’s backyard, and the culture of A&B has been dug in for a little too long now to see instant results. It also won’t happen through casual persuasion or gradual influence, it is far too deep rooted a problem for it to be incrementally changed through nature and reason. Those people at the top of the tree who are predominantly responsible for the inset of these organisational behavioural issues need to be managed accordingly to help accelerate the change process. It is a massive task for Roddy McCuish, and the rest of the administration, but it is one they have agreed to take on and they will be measured against it in the fullness of time.
However I guarantee that things will happen in the short to medium term which make you think it is a case of ‘as you were’ because to change a leopard’s spots it is often worth shaving them!
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Nail on head there, Integrety.
Iain
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A simple answer to a question would be a great start.
Cheers Neil.
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http://www.dunoon-observer.com/index.php/news/1-news/4729-council-communications-chief-sacked
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