Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Row over Provost’s blocking of motion
IAN BUNTING
North Lanarkshire’s Provost has been accused of “abusing her position” after she blocked an SNP motion aimed at stopping the demolition of the buildings at Kilbowie outdoor learning centre – and the subsequent sale of the land.
Coatbridge North SNP councillors Kirsten Larson and Allan Stubbs had proposed that no work be undertaken to demolish the buildings or dispose of the land for two years – after the next council elections.
But Provost Jones has blocked the motion and it is now being claimed she is stopping opposition attempts to “overturn unpopular decisions by her ruling minority Labour party”.
However, North Lanarkshire Council leader Jim Logue has hit back at the SNP, calling their claims about Provost Jones the “most appalling attack on an elected Provost that I have seen in my 40 years in politics”.
Councillor Larson has challenged the Kilbowie decision, with the position that the six- month rule does not apply as no decision has been taken at a council meeting to demolish the buildings on the site.
She said: “Even if the six- month rule would ordinarily apply, there can be no doubting that the coronavirus crisis changes everything, so material changes of circumstances do apply.
“We are not asking for the centre to be reopened at this stage; as much as that would be preferable, we have to accept the council is in a difficult financial position and more detailed consideration is required on every long-term spending decision.
“But there is no excuse for making the decision to demolish these buildings, effectively making it impossible for a future administration to reopen the centre, in the midst of a global health crisis.”
Councillor Stubbs added: “Yet again the Labour Provost, whose ruling party has just 30 out of 77 councillors, is using her position to block democracy.
“There is no doubt in my mind that there are a majority of councillors, and certainly a majority of residents, in North Lanarkshire who want to see Kilbowie saved.
“This motion simply puts off the decision to a later date, but is being blocked by one councillor in support of her own party’s position to abolish outdoor learning in North Lanarkshire.
“No Provost in the history of North Lanarkshire has used the ‘six-month rule’ as often as this one.
“If she wasn’t worried about the outcome of the vote by councillors, it wouldn’t be used as often now.
“Councillor Jones should put the interests of the people of North Lanarkshire first, and allow this motion to be debated at the next council meeting.”
Fiercely defending Provost Jones, council leader Jim Logue responded: “This is the most appalling attack on an elected Provost that I have seen in my 40 years in politics.
“Yet again, the SNP in North Lanarkshire are playing partisan personal politics to distract from their own government’s failings in Edinburgh.
“Instead of joining our calls for the SNP Government to provide fairer funding for councils to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, they’re trying to undermine the integrity of our Provost, who has followed the standing orders agreed upon by all 77 councillors without fear or favour.
“We understand the deep sense of attachment that many feel about Kilbowie in our communities, but it is clearer now than ever that the share-based facilities which are part of the experience are now no longer fit for purpose for the post-Covid world we’re set to live in.
“As I’ve stated before, the Kilbowie buildings may be going, but our commitment to an invaluable outdoor learning experience for our young people will remain.”