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." 

 

Press Release : Statement on Stornoway Primary sports facility by SNP Group

 Comhairle nan Eilean SNP Group have welcomed the investment in Stornoway Primary of £1.95 million for improving the sporting and recreational opportunities for the children.

SNP Group leader, Cllr Gordon Murray said:" This investment is welcomed by the community and will hopefully improve the play for the children of Stornoway Primary. The Group have consistently fought for increasing the area for children to play throughout the Western Isles and will continue to do so and supported an excellent amendment by Cllrs Malcolm Macdonald and George Murray to protect the playing area being reduced even further by the Comhairle.but that amendment lost 15-12"

"The original proposal by the SNP Group of 2,400 m (squared) - a 60m x 40m all-weather pitch was rejected last year at a cost of £400k. This proposal that was made by the chair of education, Cllr Paul Finnegan of 598 m (squared) at a price of £1.95 million is a quarter of the playing area at almost five times the price. We look forward to the facility being absolute top quality given the price per square metre."

How the councillors voted on the amendment not to reduce the playing area :

Voted against amendment                                                  

Cllr Kenny Macleod (Conevnor)                                        

Cllr Paul Steele (Leader)                                                  

Cllr Duncan Macinnes                                                           

Cllr Angus McCormack                                                      

Cllr Norrie T Macdonald                                                      

Cllr Finlay Stewart                                                              

Cllr Donald Crichton                                                           

Cllr Mustapha Hocine                                                         

Cllr Uisdean Robertson                                                      

Cllr Paul Finnegan                                                               

Cllr Angus Morrison                                                            

Cllr Donald Macsween                                                        

Cllr Robert Mackenzie                                                        

Cllr Kenneth J Maclean

Cllr Iain M Macleod

Voted for amendment

Cllr Malcolm Macdonald

  Cllr George Murray 

Cllr Gordon Murray 

Cllr Frances Murray 

Cllr John A Maciver  

Cllr Rae Mackenzie

Cllr Susan Thomson

 Cllr Calum Maclean 

Cllr John N Macleod 

Cllr Ranald Fraser

Cllr Iain M Macaulay

Cllr Grant Fulton

Amendment and vote on Stornoway Primary sports facility

Amendment to council:

Proposer : Cllr Malcolm Macdonald Seconder : Cllr George Murray

that the Comhairle wishes to maximise the benefit of the much-welcomed new sports facility at Stornoway Primary and recognising the need to fully offset the negative impact of COVID on the recreational and sporting opportunities for pupils at Stornoway Primary makes provision for a four court facility with the addition of an extra bay at a total estimated project cost of £2.14 million and that the estimated additional cost of £190k be met from the underspend of £717k in the Education, Skills and Children's Services Department for 2021-22 as reported by the Head of Accountancy and Exchequer Services to the Policy and Resources Committee on 22nd June 

Voted against :                                                                    

Cllr Kenny Macleod (Conevnor)                                       

Cllr Paul Steele (Leader)                                                     

Cllr Duncan Macinnes                                                            

Cllr Angus McCormack                                                       

Cllr Norrie T Macdonald                                                        

Cllr Finlay Stewart                                                              

Cllr Donald Crichton                                                           

Cllr Mustapha Hocine                                                           

Cllr Uisdean Robertson                                                       

Cllr Paul Finnegan                                                               

Cllr Angus Morrison                                                            

Cllr Donald Macsween                                                        

Cllr Robert Mackenzie                                                                                                                

Cllr Kenneth J Maclean

Cllr Iain M Macleod

Voted for 

Cllr Malcolm Macdonald

Cllr George Murray

Cllr Frances Murray

Cllr \Gordon Murray

Cllr Rae Mackenzie

Cllr John A Maciver

Cllr Susan Thomsom

Cllr Calum Maclean

Cllr Iain M Macaulay

Cllr Ranald Fraser

Cllr John N Macleod

Cllr Grant Fulton

Letter responding to Proposed Sports Development at Stornoway Primary

 Dear Mr Burr,

Please thank Mr Donald Macleod for his letter dated 22^nd March 2022, titled “Proposed Sports Development at Stornoway Primary School”.

As a parent, I was delighted that in December 2021, the Comhairle finally voted to secure funding of £1.8 million to support the development of a new sports facility at Stornoway Primary.

However, although it is a significant investment in the school, it is an investment that has been needed for quite a number of years and one that we would have liked to have seen sooner.

When the decision was made to invest in a new facility several groups were set up for consultative purposes and this was very encouraging. However, they have asked for prices of different sizes of arena from 60mx40m similar to the Back facility to different eight-court facilities. This has not been forthcoming and that is why I now request that you arrange for the relevant costings to provided to the parent council at this time.

I know that everybody involved in the project wants to maximise the benefit for the whole school community.

I am sending a copy of this letter to all members of the Stornoway Primary Parent Council.

Thanks for your help in this matter,

Best wishes,

Gordon Murray 

Consequences of council inaction - roads

 There is no doubt about the diminishing state of the roads due to lack on investment. This will inevitably cost more in the future when these roads are eventually worked on - this is the results of a false economy in cutting maintenance in anything. It is especially frustrating when at least £6.2 million is sitting in the bank.  

Looking back to February 2021, the budget proposals put forward by the SNP Group to invest in roads were unsuccessful - now look at the consequences of these decisions not to invest.....