Comment posted Senior opposition members of council not obviously keen to work by Crazy She-Bat.
My, how the worms have turned. Remember when the LibDems joined with the Alliance of Evil and they all couldn’t wait to get positions on these committees…
or was it just about the cash?
Argyll & Bute Council have advanced my cynicism to epic proportions 
Crazy She-Bat also commented
- I think the key word you used was “rewarding”
Recent comments by Crazy She-Bat
- Russell to make parliamentary statement on rural schools today
Mr Sneddon will need to complete a standardised financial statement on any closures he decides to put up against the new guidance, so no more rigging the figures to manipulate the outcome.Maybe we should get him to complete this for everything he tries to shut.
- Work underway on Inspiralba’s new Campbeltown play park: now name it
I don’t bash Councillors Simon, but recent events at Kilmory must have even the most discerning of people scratching their heads.Bashing Officers? The ones that deserve it? Every chance I get Simon
But you should know that already.Forgive me for trying to have a laugh.
- Work underway on Inspiralba’s new Campbeltown play park: now name it
They could build something like this on the grass at Kilmory and use it instead of the council chambers. Saying that, there are a few Councillors that might not be mature enough to use it.There are a couple of Officers that could be handcuffed to the roundabout and spun like they are on the waltzers until they puke.
Seriously though, well done to all those involved in this initiative and in raising the money in these hard times.
- Another untold story: Independence and The UK National Lottery
Well said Integ.Been avoiding commenting on this article because I do not want to be dragged into this Yes/No lunacy that has swept over the site.
The only decision I have made about Independence is that I am already sick of hearing about it.
I have expressed my disgust at the decision to not give the Lotto to Branson when they could have before on here, but IF – please notice I say “IF”, we become Independent, then doesn’t that give us the ability to correct that?
A non-profit Lottery, meaning all profits go to good causes? What if one of those causes was also the NHS? Taking the 5% of Camelot and 5% of the government – or even more?
I for one would start buying lottery tickets again if I knew that was what my money was supporting.
- Russell welcomes reopening of Sandbank post office
Thank you Fletcher and for the record as many of you might know, since I have said it a number of times before –I have NO political allegiance.
In the last local election, my top 4 votes went to Independent Councillors – for the record.
And as for keeping my comments to myself? Yes, this site is all about the ability and right of the readers to contribute, but does every flippin article need to revolve around bashing Mike Russell?
Seriously, it’s getting to the stage that there is no point in reading new articles or comments because you can guarantee that its going to be making the same SNP/Michael Russell bashing stuff rehashed.
This crap is not turning me into an SNP supporter, but it is really starting to scunner me. Surely there are more interesting things going on in Argyll and Bute that we can talk about?
Saying about commenting on the other stories was simply a suggestion, not me telling anyone what to do – hence the sentence finished with a question mark.
Re: “Crazy She-Bat” I have been known to completely out of my tree (most of the time) however, when the wind is in the right direction, I have moments of complete lucidity. Crazy She-Bats are also known for getting bored when people keep banging on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on………………
powered by SEO Super Comments
My, how the worms have turned. Remember when the LibDems joined with the Alliance of Evil and they all couldn’t wait to get positions on these committees…
or was it just about the cash?
Argyll & Bute Council have advanced my cynicism to epic proportions
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
These are unpaid positions, as we understand it, although, presumably, expenses are paid.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“These are unpaid positions” are councillors not paid.
Expenses, say no more.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I don’t think that I’d want to be at the forefront of yet more criticism after being relegated to the position of opposition. Time for them all to take a back seat and watch how easy the new administration find things.
Let the fun begin!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
So what you’re saying is they should say ‘we are not going to fulfil the role we have been elected to fulfil unless we get to be in charge.’ Sounds to me like a pretty appalling attitude for an elected member to adopt.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I wouldn’t start crowing just yet newsie. There are potentially a few years(?) of this administration to go. I’ll betcha on two things – you’re going to get a far more effective opposition than you’ve ever seen on the previous council, and, there will be fractures in the ‘rag-bag alliance’* because of the ambitious and able being held back by the less-than-able-but-party-apparatchiks. And that’s without mentioning the serial flippers who have sold their principles for positions and money.
We’ll see shall we?
ps did you get your media accreditation yet???
pps When do you start your campaign to get private roads and water works adopted by the SNP-led rag bag alliance*?
*copywright newsie.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Why the clamour for a position on the Planning Committee? Could it be that sitting on it is a more rewarding experience than on other committees?
Perhaps many of the others are too boring – or complicated.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think the key word you used was “rewarding”
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Newsie just how you equate your fatuous claim to integrity (“Whether or not we are always ‘right’, we are always working to be honest, objective and evidenced in what we say”) with your unsubstantiated claim that “Councillor Vivien Dance, reputedly hanging out for the bestowal from Buckingham Palace of Deputy Lord Lieutenant…? Mmm?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Councillors sitting on the Planning Committee probably feel in a more powerful position than sitting on some of the other committees.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think that CSB got it right… “I think the key word you used was “rewarding”
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Simon
Right to point out the in-accuracy of reports on the royal campaign of Lord and Lady Dance – the royal wee understands an OBE would be acceptable to.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yes, ‘rewarding’ was the key word.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It is factually correct to say they are unpaid places because sitting on, or not sitting on, these committees makes no difference to the salary of a Councillor (unlike some other posts which do receive an additional premium).
That said I am of the opinion that the standard councillor salary is paid for fulfilling the role of a councillor and part of that role should be to take a place in one, or more, of the necessary committees/groups etc. Any councillor refusing to take on a role should be asked to explain why they are doing so and if that explanation isn’t appropriate then they should be asked to reconsider their position as a councillor.
I do think we need to differentiate pay from expenses though. Councillors rightly receive expenses for personal cost incurred carrying out their duties. If what they claim for is within the rules set out by the Council then I have no problem with that whatsoever. There will undoubtedly be occasions where a councillor (and I mean in any council) fiddles their expenses, just as there are employees in just about every business in the country who will do likewise and what we hope is that the appropriate processes are in place to catch material breaches (and minor ones to too if possible) and then appropriate action is taken.
Whether all the journeys etc are necessary is a different discussion and brings us back to issues such as video conferencing.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
When paying for expenses should we be looking for “Best Value”, car sharing and using public transport. Video conferencing would open up the democratic process to the people and an audit trail of participation of elected and paid members of the council. Has there been a fees-ability study done on this.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
John,
I find it hard ot believe anyone would disagree that councillors (and all public sector staff) should be looking at ways of reducing expenses. Car sharing is an obvious one and I would hope that every public sector body promotes it (many have car sharing schemes established within the workplace). Video conferencing is another obvious area to explore and it has been discussed on here before, and suggested by some councillors. I would hope to see this progressed.
Public transport obviously depends on geography and timetable limitations, something which is a big factor in A&B. There will be many times where the additonal time lost using public transport outweighs the additional cost of taking a car instead of the bus.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“There will be many times where the additional time lost using public transport outweighs the additional cost of taking a car instead of the bus.”
Totally agree with what you have stated, an individual transport vehicle will always be more flexible than public transport and may be more appropriate at low volume times. If public servants had to rely more on public transport,would this not have a positive effect on improvements on the system which many of us have no option but use. Video conferencing would seem to be a very positive option.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Is not about time that these members of the “Old Regime” started serving the people of Argyll and Bute and put their own narrow self interest on the back burner. I see Ellen Morton in a letter in the local paper is claiming credit for the money raised for Mary’s Meals by the School dinner system effort throughout the area. Shame on You!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0