At the committee series in April, the SNP group put forward an amendment to buy the mobile library vans ( a decision that had already had been agreed three years ago) - vans that are of huge benefit to those who are living in the rural areas of our islands.
The SNP lost by 24-7 , six SNP members out of the seven group members (one was absent) and Cllr John N Macleod voted to keep the vans out of service redesign and actually go and buy the vans with the money budgeted. By putting it into the service redesign, mobile library vans are up against other competing priorities and the whole service is under threat.
It appears that some of the 24 members who did not support the SNP group amendment were awaiting on a decision at this series of meetings in the form of a report. This report has not come back in the form that they had expected. The question is , what will they do?
SNP Group leader, councillor Gordon Murray stated : "The only option now for those councillors who are not happy with the information they asked for or if they believe assurances have not been kept, should suspend standing orders and vote to buy the vans as per the amendment in April."
"We will support them if they wish to do this and this could save the service which cannot be guaranteed when it is part of a service redesign."
A journal written by the SNP opposition group on the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council).
