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 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.

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.

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.

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:

Depopulation statistics for the Western Isles

The depopulation statistics revealed earlier have projected a gloomy future for the islands unless there is a radical change.

Council inter island air service policy "up in the air"

During the Budget setting in 2013 when the option to cut the air services between Stornoway and the Southern Isles was considered, the SNP Group fought to save these air services  and moved to save all the flights. Despite their efforts  the Council did not support them and reduced the flights to 3 days a week to Benbecula, and cancelled all flights to Barra.

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.

Debate on electricity prices - responsibility of the public or private company ?

The debate on whether the ESCo should have responsibility for the base and tariff setting - the council administration disagreed with my amendment and decided to give responsibility to the private company.

Supplementary Question to Chair of sustainable development

As confirmed to me by Ofgem this week, electricity prices are not regulated and set by suppliers operating in the competitive market. I wax happy to see the option of the ESCo setting up to be a fully licensed supply company was to be explored by the Comhairle.

Supplementary question number two to convenor

The Home to School transport policy has caused safety concerns amongst parents especially in my ward , Stornoway North.

The policy has resulted in children in my ward standing in inadequately sized bus shelters or unpacked main roads - the busiest main roads servicing Stornoway.

Would he agree with me that this is unacceptable to place children in such a precarious position and agree to a review of the policy soonest to address these issues?

Convenor refused to give a response

First Supplementary question to convenor

Representations have been made to me that this (every child having equal opportunity) is not the case and that some of the old school estate, such as Laxdale and Stornoway Primaries,are unable to offer equity of provision despite an underspend of £3.8 million according to information received by myself from the finance department.

Comhairle refuse to respond to community concerns

Comhairle convenor and the chair of sustainable development decided not to answer key questions asked by SNP councillor Gordon Murray at last Wednesday's full council.

Fighting Poverty in the Western Isles

The Western Isles council SNP group extended an invitation to Councillor Angus McCormack in his role as Chair of the Western isles Poverty Action Group to hear the work Angus Brendan Macneil MP has been doing to address the island’s poverty issues and to support our future campaign.