‘People won’t be pleased ..it just doesn’t look good’
Verdict on decision to increase number of councillors
Cont roversial changes to council wards and the introduction of seven new elected members have been slammed by a Newmains councillor.
Councillor Robert McKendrick was speaking after it was confirmed that Morningside would be split from the Murdostoun ward, which includes Newmains, and will now be placed in the Fortissat ward alongside Shotts and Allanton.
The Boundary Commission changes, which have now been ratified by the Scottish Government, will also see seven new councillors elected at next year’s council elections.
Over the next council term it is estimated that the cost of these seven new members will be a whopping £1.5 million.
Speaking at last week’s Newmains Community Council, Robert McKendrick said: “Every councillor was against these plans; that’s 70 in total.
“They were against it in the strongest possible terms.
“At a time when the council is making cuts to vital services such as the Citizens Advice Bureau it will have to employ seven new councillors it didn’t want to.
“People won’t be pleased; it just doesn’t look good. “It doesn’t seem a sensible decision.” In July, proposals to increase the numbers of councillors in North Lanarkshire were rejected in a unanimous decision by members of all political parties and those sitting as independents.
Members of the council’s Policy and Resources Committee also agreed a robust submission to Scottish Ministers opposing the changes drafted by the Boundary Commission.
Councillor Peter Sullivan, who chaired the group on Local Governance, said: “The Boundary Commission has ignored our previous submissions and is pressing ahead with its plans.
“My colleagues and I, no matter their political allegiance, are united in opposition.
“North Lanarkshire does not need an additional seven councillors, especially when it will add £1.5 million over the course of a council term.
“Right now, we are trying to maintain services in the face of draconian cuts – not pay for additional members’ salaries, expenses and administrative costs.
“This is a bad idea at the worst possible time.”
Scottish Parliamentary Business Minister Joe Fitzpatrick defended the controversial changes.
Mr Fitzpatrick said: “Local government plays an important role in delivering key services across Scotland and it’s important for the sake of democracy and for local service delivery that councils are as representative as possible of the communities they serve.
“That ’ s why the Boundary Commission is legally obliged to hold regular reviews of council wards and councillor numbers, to ensure these reflect changes in population.
“This is the fifth such review since the Commission was created in 1973 and we are pleased to accept the vast majority of their recommendations.
“Our decisions will ensure updated electoral arrangements will apply for the local government elections in May next year and I am confident these new structures will serve Scottish local government well in the years to come.”