War of words erupts over nursery plan
Cambuslang set for new council facility after vote
There were stormy scenes at a council meeting last week as a new nursery for Cambuslang was given the go-ahead - just.
A 14-14 deadlock was broken by council leader John Ross casting the decisive vote in favour of the SNP’s plans for meeting expanded childcare hours.
Under Scottish Government plans, by 2020 all three and four-year-olds and some two-year-olds will be entitled to 1140 hours of free childcare a year, doubling the current amount.
That target has seen the council propose a trio of newbuild nurseries, including one in Newton, on the site of former St Charles’ Primary School.
The Reformer revealed last week that the nursery could cost up to £3million and would accommodate up to 140 youngsters.
However, private and independent providers have claimed the council plans could put them out of business.
That resulted in both the Labour and Conservative Groups in South Lanarkshire calling for the decision to be delayed by a month, so that there could be further consultation with partner providers, many of whom attended the meeting.
The narrow vote sparked a war of words from parties.
Council leader John Ross said: “I am pleased that not just the SNP councillors backed this, but the Independent and Lib Dem councillors also saw this was the right thing to do.
“I was disappointed that the Tories and Labour joined together in a misguided attempt to block the investment going ahead, but fortunately for local families this obstruction was overcome.”
That prompted fiery words from the Labour party.
Councillor Joe Fagan, Leader of South Lanarkshire Labour, said: “There is concern that the way childcare is being expanded locally could actually force some providers out of business and if that happens then they won’t be around come 2020 to deliver the extra childcare required by government.
“The council is quite rightly expanding its own childcare facilities and investing in new ones but they need partner nurseries as well to deliver what was promised.
“There is a worrying trend developing under this SNP administration at the council. Major policy changes are pushed through with the minimum of consultation.”
Councillor Alex Allison, the leader of South Lanarkshire’s opposition Conservative Group, was also angry.
He said: “Waiting just four weeks would have allowed the council to get meaningful input from these vital partners.
“This sensible step would not have risked any real delay to delivering the extra nursery places, which our communities need and we fully support.
“Everyone accepts that South Lanarkshire will need to maintain both private and council-run nurseries if it is to have any chance of meeting the increased demand in the years ahead.
“Therefore it only makes sense to ensure the steps we take are made following full and informed discussions with the professionals running our partner nurseries.”
Rutherglen South Councillor Robert Brown, of the Liberal Democrats, voted in favour of the proposal.
He said: “The increase in nursery entitlement to 1140 hours is both long overdue and challenging.
“The target date is 2020 only two years away - and there is a requirement both to build new nurseries and expand some existing ones.
“I was glad to support the proposal to build six new nursery facilities including a much needed one in Newton - at a total cost of £9million. It is urgent that these go ahead without delay.
“Delivery of the 1140 hours depends, as it aways has, on partnership with the private sector nurseries and child care providers.
“I know from contact with nurseries in this area that there are concerns about the funding arrangements for them and this needs to be sorted out as soon as possible.
“I have already had correspondence with the Director of Education about this. That is a different issue from the council’s six projects.”