Big strides in 100 days
North Lanarkshire’s new leadership team is looking back on some big achievements in its first 100 days in charge of the council.
Councillor Jim Logue, with Councillor Paul Kelly as his deputy, took over in March and were reflecting on some of the new team’s achievements since the new adminstration took over.
These include an equal pay agreement with GMB members, the acceleration of the council’s new-build housing programme, with a further 282 homes across 13 sites planned and an agreement that North Lanarkshire will welcome a further 36 Syrian refugees, many of who have been the victim of torture and violence.
Jim Logue said:“There is no doubt at all that this has been a momentous first 100 days.
“We have met head-on some of the challenges we faced, for example in equal pay, and have worked hard to accelerate settlements for hundreds of employees.
“One of our priorities is building new social houses and we have outlined our plans for a further 282 across North Lanarkshire, with a refreshed housing strategy to be announced soon.
“There is no doubt that significant change will continue. We need to make sure our decision-making is closer to communities and we will announce plans for that soon.”
Councillor Kelly added:“We have a new, young, dynamic team who are determined to get the very best outcomes for the people of North Lanarkshire.
“It’s great to have achieved so much in the first 100 days but we have so much more we want to do in economic development, in housing and in education, as well as in improving services.” This year, Imperial War Museums (IWM) and CultureNL are working together to show the UNESCO listed film, The Battle of the Somme, to audiences across North Lanarkshire.
Shot and screened in 1916, it was the first feature length documentary about war and changed the way both cinema and film was perceived by the public.
To mark the duration of this deadly battle, The Battle of the Somme will be played every day from July 1 until November 18 at 11am at North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre’s local studies room and Summerlee Museum’s café.
Local libraries will also be showing this ground breaking film, including Wishaw and Motherwell Library.
Library screenings will feature a display of local men who served in this conflict from each area will be shown after each screening.
The number of casualties Britain suffered during the bloody battle was more than 480,000.
British casualties on the first day were the worst in the history of the Army.
For more information about screening times and dates visit culturenl.co.uk /the-battle-of-the-somme/.