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 Murray’s letter on buses

Dear Uisdean,

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

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.”

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.

Council Mantra raises more questions than answers

In most council committees, press releases and probably figuring prominently in the up-and-coming Community Conversations is the oft-repeated mantra:

Council Budget 2016 - Itinerant teachers

Concerns about equity of provision of PE, Art and Music were voiced strongly in the budget setting meeting of the Western Isles Council by the SNP Group.

Council Budget 2016 - Hillcrest

Having listened to the budget consultations, the SNP Group on the western Isles Council were disappointed that councillors did not support their amendment to oppose any future cut to Hillcrest.

Labour machinery within western isles council

Western Isles Council on 21st April confirmed it considered £50 Million required to be saved over the next 5 years reading from the Manifesto of Westminster austerity parties of Labour and Conservative.  On 28th April it issued a press release stating £15million may be the order of magnitude; avoiding any reference whatever to its earlier prediction.

Living Wage campaign success for SNP Group !

At Policy and resources meeting on 11th Febvruary 2015, the council agreed with the SNP Group for the backdating of the Living Wage to 2013.

More on the Outer Hebrides Energy Supply Company

This is in response to the council administration's press release on the appointment of consultants to provide business planning support for the establishment of an Outer Hebrides Energy Supply Company.
Councillor Gordon Murray : "I welcome the Comhairle's announcement today regarding the establishment of an Outer Hebrides Energy Supply Company.

Is this a council decision or just the appearance of one?

March 2013

 

Transportation Committee of 20 March 2013 resolved to note that… the three bus service contracts serving Laxdale School and the Nicolson Institute shall not be tendered after April 2014 unless all required road safety and traffic management improvements have been implemented.

Open letter to Angus Campbell regarding the Living Wage

 Dear Angus,

At the last Budget Setting meetings in February this year, the SNP Group were delighted that your administration agreed with us that the Living Wage should be implemented.

SNP protect Living Wage

Western Isles SNP were successful last Thursday in protecting the Living Wage.

Trade Union funding restored

The SNP Group at the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar welcomed another u-turn by the ruling council administration who restored funding to the trade unions on Thursday.

Comhairle Transport Disconnect

Travel through the Comhairle nan Eileen Siar, local government area, is now more "cost-effective" when routed through Glasgow.

Truth will prevail

At the last council meeting, 30 councillors voted to give officers the green light to restore the Stornoway/Benbecula flight to 5 days. Nine of these 30 councillors voted (by way of amendment) to include Benbecula/Barra also.

Budget 2014 - Independent Labour administration in the Western Isles moves to the right and cuts union representation

In an absolutely astonishing move by the Western Isles Independent / Labour administration, the union representation was cut to in order to make savings.

Bid to save Barra flights by SNP thwarted by Council Administration

A move by SNP councillors John A Maciver and Kenny Macleod to try and get the Comhairle to reinstate the Barra-Benbecula air service was blocked by the Council administration on Thursday.

Budget 2014 - SNP Group get the Living Wage for the Outer Hebrides

The SNP group on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar announced their budget amendments on the Wednesday forcing the Council Administration to include the Living Wage in their budget plans on the Thursday.

Budget 2014 - SNP group attempt to save specialist teachers

Thursday afternoon saw the council administration finally cut the specialist teachers involvement in the Primary schools. Here is SNP Councillor Gordon Murray's opening regarding the specialist teachers :