Comment posted on The shape of the new council by Robert Allan
First class selection and the point that Ann Horn should have a depute is a sensible suggestion. Her work load will be considerable, and she is the person to bring much needed effective change to this aspect of council activity.
The balance appears to be just right and should ensure the new council administration goes from strength to strength.
We need to give Roddy McCuish and the rest of this new administration the time to get the council moving forward. A realistic observation must be maintained, not just reaction to the problems of the past. We all hope we can see quick effective action as soon as possible but this must be tempered with time to create the new atmosphere that is required within the council.
Robert Allan also commented
- Simon – just as bitter as usual. At least this group of councillors are expected to bring change and hopefully improvements to the folks of Argyll and Bute. We can only judge by performance. The outgoing regime despite the same allowances and payments did little or nothing for this area, actually took retrogressive actions and wasted monies for little or no apparent reason. I am sure if you gave up the amount of time that this new administration will need to and did some of the traveling that they do, you would expect nae demand recompense. Irrespective of political background or persuasion councillors should be given stipends and allowances, we as an electorate just need to be more selective as to whom we select to represent us. If you dislike Mary Jean Devon and James Robb as much as you seem to why did you not stand for election give us your background and let us vilify you?
Recent comments by Robert Allan
- Council issues prompt response on Martha Payne’s NeverSeconds clampdown
Today the Daily Record had the cheek to say the headline in the Saturday Edition was “lighthearted” calling for the Dinner Ladies to be sacked. Typical of a paper that associates itself with the Labour party and the lack of real concern they have for the working people of this country. Alastair Campbell stated a recent birthday honours list award, should not have been accepted. He should try telling those in his own party who have fallen over backwards to accept peerages in the House of Lords where they can attend and collect the stipend without even having to remain in the chamber. Good socialists like Lord McConnell, Lord Reid, Lord Robertson, Lord Foulkes and Lord Prescott not to mention a few.
Keep up the good Work Roddy McCuish at least you are honest in your endeavour to protect both the ladies working in the school as well as the nine year old girl who was trying to do what was best. - Council issues prompt response on Martha Payne’s NeverSeconds clampdown
Mr Fraser as George Bernard Shaw said, “Those who can do. Those who cannot teach”. Just about sums you up.
Your bitter and twisted, biased point of view does not do justice to the tremendous amount of good this incident has accomplished. Pupils, parents and teachers talking about nutrition, and diet, not to mention the unfortunate children of Malawi who will benefit from the funds raised.
Eat your heart out Mr. Fraser. - Martha Payne and NeverSeconds hit fund raising target: new kitchen for Mary’s Meals
Argyll is not large in population, and is unable to help the world. Possibly though, we could “adopt” through Mary’s meals this little part of Malawi and have some sort of relation between them and our schools here, not just from a fundraising point of view, but also across the broad spectrum of child care and education. It would teach us all if we could “adopt” somewhere where we can really make a difference. - Martha Payne and NeverSeconds hit fund raising target: new kitchen for Mary’s Meals
It has been worth all the embarrassment and ramifications to get the result for Mary’s Meals that Martha has achieved. If it helps to get a coherent and functional communication department at Kilmory and further steps in the direction of an open and honest council then it is a double positive. - Council issues prompt response on Martha Payne’s NeverSeconds clampdown
I thought Councillor McCuish was refreshing honest about the situation and only 3 weeks into the job, has handled it as well as could be expected. As usual the experts with an axe to grind should have stood as candidates in the election if they are as clever and perceptive as they try to appear.
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First class selection and the point that Ann Horn should have a depute is a sensible suggestion. Her work load will be considerable, and she is the person to bring much needed effective change to this aspect of council activity.
The balance appears to be just right and should ensure the new council administration goes from strength to strength.
We need to give Roddy McCuish and the rest of this new administration the time to get the council moving forward. A realistic observation must be maintained, not just reaction to the problems of the past. We all hope we can see quick effective action as soon as possible but this must be tempered with time to create the new atmosphere that is required within the council.
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PEAR SHAPED – LOL
According to report Walsh’s comment of “embarrassing” hit home as McCuish was unprepared and out of his depth at his first meeting. Seems he had to be rescued by officers all the time as he had no understanding of his brief. 6 months now probably too optimistic. The turn-coat Tory picks up his additional twenty pices of silver.
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The only person who should be “embarrassed” is Mr Walsh. Previously leading this council area to the brink of destruction.
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Sour grapes, Arnie..
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Arnie, do you only have one comment to make? Could you not have reworded it even a little bit since 8.18am?
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Arnie is that not virtually the same comment you made on the other thread?
Robert is right – grapes, not pears. Big soor ones.
Your comments don’t seem to be making any particular argument, but are just bitter personal digs. How personal are we getting here? To feel so vehemently, it would suggest you are incredibly close to the situation… perhaps that of the now ousted administration… perhaps even its leader… perhaps finding a little more time on his hands now… and realising he has finally lost… and that his salary is going to drop SIGNIFICANTLY.
Just a theory
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No idea what the ‘embarassing’ story is but would be willing to wager it is being blown out of all proportion by some bad losers.
If you want to talk about petty embarassing moments in the chambers lets recall Cllr Marshall strolling in late to the Council meeting where Sandy Longmuir tore the council figures apart then challenged Sandy about his credentials. Safe to say we chuckled form the viewing gallery when Sandy obliged him.
I am optimistic that this new administration will be welcoming to external challenge and be more than prepared to amend council papers where errors are highlighted. Something the previous administration, and the current CMT, were never prepared to do. To err is human, what defines a person is how they manage the error.
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Well done ForArgyll for such thorough and quick reporting. All eyes will be on this new administration and it looks good to me with good ‘attitude’.
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Congrats to the new council and I wish them good luck – becvuas ethey might jus tneed it.
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It’s a sure bet that all councillors in all councils need all the luck that they can get, when you look at the increasing social and economic challenges facing them.
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Good luck to the new council.
Now, can someone – anyone – tell me how many people under this regime are getting additional repsonsibility payments compared to the previous administration?
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For Simon, there is no change in the allowances. Just the same as the ConDemAll administrtaion. The legislation restricts the number and total amount.
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Thanks Cllr Freeman – I appreciate that. One of the ‘like’ ticks is from me.
So, I guess the fact that the new admisitration has exactly the same number and total amount (of allowances)as the previous admistration really just exposes, yet again, Newsie’s biased blog.
If she keeps inventing rubbish stories like this (you must remember the never-ending ‘rag-bag alliance’, ’30 pieces of silver’ and ‘noses in the trough’ crap) she’ll get her press accreditation in no time….
Have a nice night and sleep safe in knowledge that you have a new Council.
ps You’ll be pleased to learn that the Samaritans have been stood down.
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Simon – distributing responsibility payments as a form of patronage to councillors who are then expected to toe the line and flip-flop on demand is rather different to allocating responsibility payments to those who are expected to successfully rise to the challenge of their extra responsibility – and I very much hope that time proves we’re in the latter scenario now.
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Well Robert, we’ll see what we’ll see.
Remember you have those two serial flippers Mary-Jean and Robb on board. And of course the whole snp group who were in the admistration with Tricky and Co.(before mike russell told them to get out…)
From the look of things all those who jumped into the SNP-led rag-bag alliance have been rewarded with special repsonsibility posts. I’ll say one thing for them – they’ve got their noses in the trough early this time…
Have a nice evening.
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Evening? – way post your bed-time, and no arguing now.
We can talk about reformed flip-floppers in the morning.
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Simon – just as bitter as usual. At least this group of councillors are expected to bring change and hopefully improvements to the folks of Argyll and Bute. We can only judge by performance. The outgoing regime despite the same allowances and payments did little or nothing for this area, actually took retrogressive actions and wasted monies for little or no apparent reason. I am sure if you gave up the amount of time that this new administration will need to and did some of the traveling that they do, you would expect nae demand recompense. Irrespective of political background or persuasion councillors should be given stipends and allowances, we as an electorate just need to be more selective as to whom we select to represent us. If you dislike Mary Jean Devon and James Robb as much as you seem to why did you not stand for election give us your background and let us vilify you?
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Have to admit, I thought he was being fairly tame with his comments tonight.
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Simon seems to have forgotten that many members of the previous administration did a complete somersault on their previously stated and widely supported position in order to grab the extra shekels. Many voters did not forget however, and the only surprise is that several of these unreliable specimens managed to get re-elected.
On the other hand several of this new progressive administration gave up substantial extra payments and high positions on the last ruling administration on a matter of principle.
Extra allowances for extra resposnibility is hardly a surprising component of councillors remuneration.
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Actually, I am all in favour in paying councillors a decent allowance and extra for additional resposibilities.
What I was doing of course was comparing and contrasting newsie’s treatment of councillors’ allowances in the previous adminstration with this new one.
I recognise that there is a financial cost to democracy – regardless of who is in power. And unlike newsie (and some of the more vociferous on here) I don’t choose to rail against councillor’s allowances if the elected administration is not my first choice.
Have a nice day.
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Sorry Simon, we have consistently said that councillors must be paid a decent rate for the job we expect them to do. £16k a year is derisory. And we said that when the previous administration was in operation.
All we are interested in in competence and integrity in all quarters.
While one would hope to see integrity whether or not people were paid at all, no one is entitled to expect or demand high levels of competence and dedication on low pay.
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How many DaveMH?
Given there were 9 Senior Councillors.
Two Bute SNP councillors! Dep Leader and Dep Provost.
Any others?
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Simon Councillors are now paid wage.
This has been the case since the 2007 election.
ABC has a Leaders fixed wage(£31/32k) based on the size of the Council and the total budget.
There are 9 Senior Councillors(£24/25k) usually including Senior Opposition leaders based on the results of the Councillor groupings.
The remaining 16 Councillors are paid a set wage(£16/17k)
Additional expenses are reimbursed to all Councillors.
Councillors in each Ward should meet with officers to agree how they will represent the people in each Ward.
This information and agreement to be communicated to the people.
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Apols first line should read ‘a’ wage.
Typing practice required!!
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