Comhairle nan Eilean Budget meerting

Amendment proposed by Susan Thomson, seconded by Rae Mackenzie

 

The Council agrees not to implement the following savings proposals:

·        No.3 Bus station (£60k)

·        No.5 Community Transport (£120k)

·        No.30 Libraries (£20k)

·        No.37 Special Education Transport (£30k)

The above to be funded by increasing the assumption on savings through the non-filling of Vacant Posts from £300K to £530K, with the caveat that no ASN post be included in this number.

Voted for the amendment 

Cllr Kenny Macleod (Convenor)

Cllr Susan Thomson]

Cllr Grant Fulton

Cllr John Norman Macleod

Cllr Iain M Macaulay

Cllr Gordon Murray

Cllr Rae Mackenzie

Cllr Frances Murray

Voted against the amendment

Cllr Paul Steele (Leader)

Cllr Duncan Macinnes

Cllr Iain A Macneil

Cllr Kenneth Maclean

Cllr Iain M Macleod

Cllr Mustafa Hocie

Cllr Uisdean Roberston

Cllr Robert Mackenzie

Cllr Angus Morrison

Cllr Ranald Fraser

Cllr Norman Macdonald

Cllr Donald Macsween

Cllr Donald Crichton

Cllr Calum Maclean

Cllr Malcolm Macdonald

Cllr Angus McCormack

Cllr Norman T Macdonald & Cllr Finlay Stewart

At the same meeting a motion to protect the evening bus service for parts of Lewis was unanimously accepted using Crown Estate funding

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Welcomed changes at the SNP Western ISles

Statement from Western Isles SNP 

We held a successful EGM of the newly formed Western Isles Constituency Branch 3.th August Thanks to all who attended and contributed either in person or online.

The new Committee is as follows:

Cllr Susan Thomson, Chair

Angus MacDonald, Vice Chair

Cllr Frances Murray, Secretary

Cllr Kenny MacLeod, Treasurer

Hamish Budge and Rhona Lawson, Organisers

Equalities, Ishbel Murray

Membership Secretary, Margaret Martin

Complete folly to vote labour if poverty in the islands to be addressed

Comhairle an Eilean SNP Group leader, Cllr Gordon Murray has stated that "It would be complete folly to vote for British labour in the Westminster elections, if we are to address poverty in the islands."

"With the latest announcement from the British labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer of keeping the cap on child benefit to two children, we cannot possibly expect labour in its current form to address poverty issues especially child poverty in our islands."

"According to The Guardian newspaper, it (the cap) has affected an estimated 1.5 million children and research has shown that the policy has impoverished families rather than increasing employment."

"I would urge you to vote SNP to ensure these policies are rightly challenged and shown up for what they are - making the rich richer at the expense of the poor."

Comhairle cuts funding to Additional Special Needs / Library Service beating SNP Group amendment to protect

 SNP Group amendment

1)      To remove the link with the timetable in secondary staffing reduction as this work has not yet been completed; to reduce the proposal to 2 posts across the 4 schools (£100k);

2)      Do not implement the reduction of ASN support (£100K); and

3)      To await the results of the Library Service review before making any recommendation of savings (£100k).

With any shortfall to be funded from the savings accruing from industrial action by teachers.

Proposed by:  Cllr Frances Murray

Seconded by:  Cllr Gordon Murray

Voted for amendment to prevent cuts to ASN & Library services

Cllr Susan Thomson (SNP)

Cllr Grant Fulton 

Cllr Ranald Fraser 

Cllr John N Macleod

Cllr Donald Macsween

Cllr John A Maciver

Cllr Calum Maclean

Cllr Iain M Macaulay

Cllr Gordon Murray (SNP)

Cllr Rae Mackenzie (SNP)

Cllr Frances Murray (SNP)

Voted to cut ASN & Library Services

Cllr Kenny Macleod (SNP)

Cllr Paul Steele

Cllr Duncan Macinnes

Cllr Kenneth Maclean

Cllr Iain Macneil

Cllr Iain M Macleod

Cllr Moustapha Hocine

Cllr Uisdean Robertson

Cllr Paul Finnegan

Cllr Robert Mackenzie

Cllr Angus Morrison

Cllr Norman Macdonald

Cllr Donald Crichton

Cllr Malcolm Macdonald

Cllr George Murray

Cllr Finlay Stewart

Council tax freeze amendment by Comhairle SNP Group

 

The Comhairle, recognising the real hardship being faced by many members of our community who work hard to strive for their families to have a warm home and decent wholesome food on the table, wishes to support them and for that reason will not add to their financial burden by increasing their council tax for 2023-24 to be funded from uncommitted reserves.

Proposed by Cllr Susan Thomson

Seconded by Cllr John A Maciver

Voted for amendment, council tax freeze

Cllr Susan Thomson (SNP)

Cllr John A Maciver (SNP)

Cllr Rae Mackenzie (SNP)

Cllr Gordon Murray (SNP)

Cllr Frances Murray (SNP)

Voted to increase council tax by 5%

Cllr Kenny Macleod (SNP)

Cllr Paul Steele

Cllr Duncan Macinnes

Cllr Kenneth Maclean

Cllr Iain A Macneil

Cllr Iain M Macleod

Cllr Moustapha Hocine

Cllr Uisdean Robertson

Cllr Paul Finnegan 

Cllr Grant Fulton

Cllr Robert Mackenzie

Cllr Angus Morrison

Cllr Ranald Fraser

Cllr Norman Macdonald

Cllr John N Macleod

Cllr Donald Macsween

Cllr Donald Crichton

Cllr Calum Maclean

Cllr Iain M Macaulay

Cllr Malcolm Macdonald

Cllr George Murray

Cllr Finlay Stewart

SNP Group in a bid to freeze council tax and protect funding for Additional Special Needs

 At the budget setting meetings this Wednesday (22nd Feb 2023), the Comhairle SNP group have lodged two amendments.

The first amendment, proposed by Cllr Susan Thomson and seconded by Cllr John A Maciver, aims to freeze the council tax and not to increase.

Group leader, Cllr Gordon Murray stated: "With the cost of living crisis, energy prices rising exponentially and the rents in social housing increasing by 6%, it is important for us as a council not to put more stress on household budgets especially the low-income earners."

In a second amendment, the SNP Group wish to protect ASN and also protect the library service.

Cllr Murray stated : " In times like these we should be protecting our most vulnerable and not cutting the ASN service."

"Also, the library service is a much valued service in the community and one that is worth protecting from a reduction in funds."

  

Bid to stop croft tenancies being taken to pay for care falls at first hurdle

A bid by two SNP councillors to stop the Comhairle taking croft tenancies into consideration  when assessing for care was foiled at the Sustainable Development committee this week.  

Cllr Gordon Murray had requested a notice of motion with Cllr John A Maciver so that the issue could be debated when the report was presented at a later committee.

Cllr Murray and Cllr Rae Mackenzie put forward the amendment to have a report on crofting and care charges but the committee rejected the amendment.

After the meeting, Cllr Murray stated: "Although this committee has rejected it, we have another chance to get this very important issue on the agenda. This will be coming up at full council on Wednesday 28th September. We would urge members of the public, who believe the practice of taking croft tenancies off families to pay for care should be stopped, contact their councillor and support us in at least having the debate and getting a report to a future meeting."