Clean-up concerns
The Scottish Socialist Party recognises and supports the contribution to our communities made by volunteers and we offer them our sincere thanks for their work.
We have, however, some concerns about Renfrewshire Council’s Team Up To Clean Up initiative.
We believe that the work being undertaken by the volunteers is work that should rightly be the responsibility of the council and, as a one-off project, we appreciate their appeal for help in calling for an intensive application of resources to particularly challenging problems.
But we need to be sure that following on from the Team Up To Clean Up there is a plan and a budget in place to maintain the areas selected in their improved state.
They need to make sure that in another year or so we are not looking at the same challenges again.
Reduction in waste bin collection frequency does not help keep areas in good shape.
Volunteers are increasingly being used in many places not to provide additionality but to carry out core functions of councils such as running libraries and litter picking.
We believe they are being used to replace properly-paid workers in the name of Tory austerity policies.
We find this completely unacceptable and will continue to resist all cuts whether imposed by Westminster, Holyrood or even Cotton Street.
So, while we applaud the contribution of volunteers, we need to keep in mind the bigger picture and keep in mind the council’s recent promise of a ‘no-cuts Budget’.