Working together for Argyll and Bute

Sir,

In last week’s letters page you ran a version of the very long open letter addressed to me from the former SNP MP and MSP for Argyll; a letter that they found the time to send to the press, but didn’t have the courtesy to send to me directly.

In the council, all councillors work well together – particularly when addressing the major challenges the council faces. Last year the SNP councillors supported the administration’s budget, this year there were only slight differences between the administration’s budget and the SNP’s one.

It would be great to see our MSP and future MP work with the council to make the case to the Scottish Government for more money for Argyll and Bute. COSLA has made a very clear request of the Scottish Government in terms of funding for local councils next year – three per cent plus inflation.

The choices facing the council would be substantially different if this was delivered and of course it’s the Scottish Cabinet, including our MSP, who actually make the decisions.

The fact is that over the past 10 years, the council has had to make savings of over £50million. That means real hardship for many people – many jobs lost, many services withdrawn. That is the sad reality.

Like all councillors I’m sure, I would be happy to work with the MSP and new MP to make the case for more funding for Argyll and Bute.

Councillor Aileen Morton, Argyll and Bute Council leader