Council morale hits a low point
Cllr McKendrick’s lost faith in leaders
A Newmains councillor has attacked the leadership of North Lanarkshire Council insisting he has lost all confidence in their leadership.
Independent Murdostoun member Robert McKendrick made the remarks at a meeting of Coltness Community Council when the subject of the recent no confidence vote in the leadership of council leader Jim Logue and his deputy Paul Kelly was brought up by those at the meeting.
Councillor McKendrick insisted he had no problems with stating his own views on the subject and stated the now council leader had promised new primary schools for Newmains while he was the council’s education convener.
Councillor McKendrick said: “My own position is that I have no confidence in leadership of the council.
“In 2013 I was told by Jim Logue that Newmains would be getting new schools.
“Every couple of months I would hear from him that everything was alright but in early 2014 that proposal was taken off the table.
“I have no problem saying I have absolutely no confidence in Jim Logue.
“To me he took money out of Newmains and put it into other schools across North Lanarkshire.
“The conditions of our schools are an absolute scandal.”
The no confidence call secured the backing of 16 councillors including several veteran elected members such as the ex council leader Jim McCabe and Wishaw’s Frank McKay.
Councillor McKay and Craigneuk councillor Gary O’Rorke then quit the Labour Party.
However, the motion fell short as SNP group leader councillor David Stocks confirmed to the Wishaw Press his party had voted to oppose the motion.
The man who brought the motion against the council leadership, Wishaw councillor Sam Love, sympathised with the plight of the pupils at Newmains and St Brigid’s.
Speaking at the community council meeting, he said: “New schools are being built in North Lanarkshire while the schools in Newmains are crumbling; it’s shocking.”
Councillor McKendrick’s fellow Murdostoun councillor John Taggart also told of a tale of woe at the council.
He said: “I have no confidence in what is happening in the council at the moment.
“It’s certainly not the nicest place to work. The whole place doesn’t seem to be working properly.
“It is not the place it was. The morale among staff is really bad.”
Council Leader Jim Logue has hit back at Councillor McKendrick’s comments.
Councillor Logue said: “The Wishaw locality has had £94 million spent on school and community facilities over the last ten years, and some of this work is still ongoing.
“This is one of the highest spends of any area and underlines our commitment to first class facilities across North Lanarkshire.”