Buth Bharraigh - CNES SNP Group statement

The ongoing issue at Buth Barraigh has quite rightly been brought to the attention of the public.

Follow up letter to council leader on chamber refurbishment

Dear Roddie,

The SNP group are disappointed that you have not responded to the previous letter with regards to the refurbishment of the council chamber.

Cllr Manford speech on the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus

"I welcome this Report and, in particular, welcome it on behalf of the community of Barra & Vatersay and compliment the outstanding work which started in May which is before us today.
And compliment the impressive work started in May which is before us today. I also wish to compliment my ward members for their openness and commitment.

Cllr Murray’s letter to council leader on refurbishment of council chamber

Dear Roddie,

I write to you with major concerns over the proposals for refurbishing the chamber and the members’ dining area.

Cllr Murray’s letter on buses

Dear Uisdean,

I write to you in your capacity as chair of the transportation and infrastructure committee.

Cllr Manford’s letter on ferries

Michael Matheson MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure & Connectivity.


Dear Cabinet Secretary,

SNP and Living Wage success

Western Isles SNP group welcomed the news that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has at last been  accredited as a Living Wage employer.

SNP Group leader Councillor Gordon Murray said: “We are delighted that the council are now an accredited Living Wage employer. It has been one of our major campaigns spanning two terms that the group have worked on. It was back in February 2014 when the council tried to include Distant Islands Allowance as part of the Living Wage thus negating the costs of living in the islands for the lowest paid. The  SNP Group argued against this and won the argument. In December 2014, the SNP Group supported by former councilor Neil Beaton put forward an amendment to backdate the Living Wage to 2013 and were outvoted. However, in February 2015, the council administration relented and agreed to backdating the Living Wage to 2013.”

“Our average income in the islands is one of the lowest in Scotland. With the years of austerity imposed on us by the UK Government, the financial challenges facing our islands are great and especially to those who earn the least. With the levels of Fuel Poverty so high in the Outer Hebrides and one of the major contributing factors to Fuel Poverty is the low levels of wages for a lot of working people, the implementation of the Living Wage is of huge importance.”

Letter from Cllr Macmillan And Cllr Donald Manford on Uist Dentistry and labour strategy

Sirs,

The Western Isles NHS decision on Uist dental closures is the tactical part of the strategic decision by Western Isles NHS to close Uist Hospital by locating the dental chairs in the operating theatre suite.

Stornoway Primary and the campaign for better playing area

At the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar September/October committee series, the Education committee contemplated the  benefits of a Multi-Use Games Area (NUGA) facility in the Stornoway Primary.

Education committee on Sandwick hill and STORNOWAY primary

Difficult listening if you are democratically inclined

Debate on Sandwickhill starts at 0:52 and STORNOWAY Primary follows

https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/your-council/committees/committee-audio/audio-archive/2019/education-sport-and-childrens-services-committee/

Successful Facebook Q+A Session

On Thursday 20^th June, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar SNP Group Leader, Councillor Gordon Murray, hosted a very successful Facebook Q & A session.

Councillors Raise Concerns Over Local Food Production and Crofting in Western Isles

At last week's Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Sustainable Development Committee, Councillors Gordon Murray and John Norman Macleod (Independent) requested a report on Local Food production and Crofting.

SNP Group Calls on Health Board to Fund Bethesda Hospice

The Comhairle nan Eilean Siar SNP Group has expressed frustration and disappointment at the decision to prolong discussions with regards to Bethesda Hospice funding at the Integrated Joint Board (IJB).

Councillor asks Scottish Government for helping hand on recycling

SNP Group Leader at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Cllr Gordon Murray has written to Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham asking her to assist the local authority in hitting its green targets.

Facebook Q & A

Leader of the Comhairle’s SNP Group, Cllr Gordon Murray, has announced that he will host an online Facebook Q+A session from 7-8:30pm on Thursday 21^st June 2019.

Sandwickhill Primary - calls for reopening

An attempt to review the future use of Sandwickhill school and possibly return it to the school estate as a primary school was thrown out by the Comhairle at the education committee on Tuesday (30^th April).

Comhairle owned wind farm

A renewed call for the Comhairle to build a wind farm was made at the Communities and Housing Committee on Tuesday 30^th April.

Councillors urge Board to back Bethesda and plug funding shortfall

Bethesda Hospice in Stornoway is facing a funding shortfall due to a lack of support from NHS Western Isles though the new Integrated Joint Board (IJB).

Budget update - SNP fight against 4.79% council tax rise

Western Isles council SNP group tried to protect families across the western isles by opposing a 4.79% council tax rise at the annual budget setting meeting but were defeated by the council leader and his allies.

Crofting should return to its original values

Western Isles council SNP group leader , Councillor Gordon Murray has welcomed the Scottish Affairs committee event on crofting to be held on Monday 18th February in Stornoway.

Cllr Murray stated: “The future of crofting is in a very precarious place notwithstanding the uncertainty over Brexit which I am sure will dominate discussions when the Scottish Affairs Committee meets in Stornoway next week.”

“Crofting was traditionally a system of small-scale food production founded on socialist principles of common working communities or townships but is now prone to the worst kinds of capitalist speculation with tenancies priced well beyond the reach of many, especially the young,  in the community expressing a wish to become crofters and work the land.”

“I would urge the committee to discuss the market prices of the tenancies of crofts and whether capping the price of a croft would encourage a new generation of crofters.

“In terms of land use, I would also encourage the committee to discuss ways of promoting  other methods of using crofts such as crop production. There are many possibilities with the emergence of polycrubs and other innovative ways of crop production such as Aquaponics. There seems to be many crofts lying in a state of disuse and tenants need to be encouraged to make full use, where possible , of the land. Food production will come to the fore as the Brexit process starts to make an impact.”

“It may be the time to start looking at Crofting cooperatives and markets given the potential tariffs that may result in the withdrawal from the single market.”

“I very much look forward to the outcomes of these discussions  considering the huge importance crofting has in terms of the Hebrides.”

Letter to chair of integrated joint board regarding Bethesda

Dear Kenny John,

I write to you with huge concerns about the financial state of the Bethesda Hospice.

As chair of the integrated Joint Board, you and your board members have responsibility for the levels of funding for Bethesda and according to correspondence I have received from the Hospice, you are failing that much valued service to the community.

I believe that health boards were obliged to pay 50% of agreed running costs of hospices and according to Bethesda this has not happened since 2007. We all know that costs rise over time with inflation, salaries also need to increase, so the fact that the funding has remained static for eleven years is shocking.

I understand that the provision of palliative and end of life car has now been delegated to the IJB and a recent Service Level Agreement was welcomed. However, a 3% per annum proposal for the next three years is absolutely appalling given the shortfall over the years. How is the hospice able to function with such a derisory offer. The staff and management of Bethesda should be highly commended for the way they run this facility and also the hard work of funders not to mention the kindness of the community who have donated over the years to its running costs.

I urge you to make good on the funding pledge by covering 50% of the costs and for you to claim back lost monies from the Health Board who failed in their duty by underfunding this hugely important facility . .

I look forward to your response,

Best wishes,

Gordon 

(Cllr Gordon Murray, leader of Western Isles Council SNP Group)