Council tax rise

Budget response

As local ward councillors of Ward 2 and 3 we feel really strongly that the people of Mid Argyll know the stance we took at the budget meeting last Thursday, February 22.

The administration group of Argyll and Bute Council have pushed through a budget that will plunge many of the people they represent into crisis.

Snubbing the Scottish Government’s offer of funding to enable a freeze on council tax, funding further boosted by a new offer on the morning of the budget meeting and ignoring a recommended council tax rise of six per cent by officers, they plunged ahead and opted for a monumental ten per cent.

With breathtaking arrogance in the face of opposition they smugly suggested the people most hard hit would have the additional cost paid through their benefits.

Their lack of understanding is staggering. Not a thought was given to those already teetering on the edge of the abyss, people who only just miss being eligible for benefits, people in low paid jobs striving to support their families, feed their children and keep a roof over their heads.

We were proud to stand with the Strategic Opposition Group who proposed a balanced budget which not only accepted the council tax freeze but also protected services and provided support for those most hard-hit by the cost-ofliving crisis. I was disgusted to see the draconian administration budget voted through in the face of staunch opposition and against the recommendations of the officers.

It is immoral, compassionless, and shameful. They may think that the people of Argyll and Bute will forget this betrayal, but I am sure they will be very disappointed.

Here is the list showing who voted for which outcome. Councillors for ten per cent rise – Robin Currie, Lib Dem; Graham Hardie, Lib Dem; Paul Donald Kennedy, Lib Dem; Ross Moreland, Lib Dem; William Sinclair, Lib Dem; Garret Corner, Tory; Maurice Corry, Tory; Amanda Hampsey, Tory; Daniel Hampsey, Tory; Yvonne McNeilly, Tory; Gary Mulvaney, Tory; Gemma Penfold, Tory; Andrew Vennard, Tory; Peter Wallace, Tory; Kieron Green, independent; Andrew Kain, independent; Alistair Redman, independent; Liz McCabe, independent.

Against – voted for freeze at current level –

John Armour, SNP; Gordon Blair, SNP; Jan Brown, SNP; Math Campbell Sturgess, SNP; Audrey Forrest, SNP; Willie Hume, SNP; Reeni Kennedy Boyle, SNP; Jim Lynch, SNP; Ian James MacQuire, SNP; Dougie McFadzean, SNP; Julie McKenzie, SNP; Dougie Philand, independent; Fiona Howard, Labour; Mark Irvine, independent; Luna Martin, Greens; Jennifer Kelly, independent.

Abstained – Tommy MacPherson, independent unionist.

Councillor Jan Brown.

Please can the council justify the 10 per cent council tax increase they have voted for to the taxpayer?

Will some of it be spent on hiring at least one more dog warden for the area, for example, to enforce current legislation to keep the paths and streets clean of dog mess?

With only ONE dog warden covering the Mid Argyll and Kintyre area, it will be an utter disgrace if more funds aren’t made available. We, the taxpayer, deserve better – so, we are expected to pay MORE every year but receive LESS in public services? Why is this being tolerated?

Wouldn’t it make sense to cut down on managers and their fat-cat salaries and get more employees on the ground? Take a walk through the town and you will see fences in a state of disrepair, paths not being maintained etc; the area next to the path near Tesco has litter on it weekly – I know because I’ve tidied it up myself.

It’s about time a plan was drawn up to address these issues, with more of a constructive effort by the authorities to keep the town tidy, especially if they are expecting us to pay more tax.

Peter Laing, Lochgilphead.