Councillor Sophie Traynor

‘ELECTED MEMBERS DESERVE BASIC DECENCY AND RESPECT IN CHAMBER’

THE residents of West Dunbartonshire have been let down by the decisions taken during the recent budget meeting.

During this meeting we seen the Labour administration vote through a budget full of brutal cuts impacting a range of vital services to the detriment of our community.

This was despite an alternative budget being proposed by the SNP which had no cuts to services and no compulsory or voluntary redundancies.

These decisions once again came with no consultation with groups and organisations who will be impacted in advance of the meeting. This is an extremely short-sighted decision by the administration which will have devastating consequences to users and the wider community for years to come.

There is often talk of the council being open and accountable. However, these are not words that can be used to describe the actions taken during this meeting.

Labour are so afraid of scrutiny that we had the Provost refusing the opposition request for a recess after handing us an 18-page appendix as part of their motion on their budget. This was despite numerous requests and even after some councillors disclosed disabilities. This is a blatant disregard to members across the chamber.

THE SNP’s new Hate Crime Act will come into force this month and many of my constituents are concerned about the impact it could have on their right to free speech.

Although it remains to be seen how this new law will be enforced, there are several reasons that people should be worried. The SNP Government has overstepped the mark and put fundamental rights at risk.

This new law could have a dangerous and chilling effect on free speech in Scotland, even with people’s own homes.

The First Minister Humza Yousaf, who originally passed the act when he was the justice secretary, has dismissed legitimate concerns about the serious flaws and vague definitions in the act.

But the gaping holes in this law are clear for anyone to see. The potential for abuse on ordinary people is limitless.

Social media mobs could be whipped up by mere accusations of hatred and flood police with reports.

Even if the reports themselves do not result in a criminal charge, they could be logged as a non-crime hate incident, which could be marked on their record without that person’s knowledge.

A mere accusation could follow someone around for many years and impact their lives. Normal people who

We are now several weeks on from this and are still without a real apology being provided for this display of lack of decency from the Provost.

At times, politics at all levels of government can become rather toxic. This is something we are seeing more frequently here in our local authority during both the full council and committee meetings.

It is always incredibly disappointing to see anyone – no matter the party – who is an elected representative acting in a condescending way in the chamber. It is a privilege to be elected as councillor to represent our local community and it does feel like some forget this and what their role is supposed to be.

As a young woman involved in politics these are things I am expected to get used to dealing with or I am often told to ignore it. However, I don’t think this is the right approach to take.

At all levels of government, we should be aiming for better and aiming for change. This includes demanding basic decency and respect for all elected members. We need to be leading by example and doing better for the community that we represent.

I will continue to stand up for the needs, interests, and concerns of the constituents of Clydebank Central and of West Dunbartonshire more widely.

I regularly hold advice surgeries across the ward and attend meetings with residents including various community councils and tenant and resident associations to ensure I continue to be accessible and accountable to residents.