Councillor Karen Conaghan

SNP GROUP LEADER WRITES FOR THE POST ON THE WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE BUDGET

THIS year’s budget meeting was more of what we’ve come to expect from the Labour Administration at West Dunbartonshire.

It was an evening full of blame and very little in the way of shame at the cuts they are inflicting on our communities. In excess of 60 jobs, and millions of pounds of cuts, all of which we are told are unavoidable. Except that’s not the truth.

The SNP offered an alternative budget which did not make anyone redundant, which did not hammer services, and which did not leave our communities facing increased bills.

Instead of Labour choosing to protect, it was about them choosing to deflect.

So little respect does the Council Leader and his group have for the people of West Dunbartonshire, that they couldn’t even offer a clear and transparent account of their actions. Members were presented with an 18page colour document full of bluster, with the choices they weren’t taking highlighted in red, and the savage cuts they were making hidden away in acres of text.

They suggested people feel sorry for them. Told us how hard this

IN recent years I have used my column on a number of occasions to highlight the successes of our areas young people.

Much of those successes have come from the support, advice and motivation offered at the DRC Youth Project based in Yoker but working across the North West of the city and working in collaboration with other organisations city-wide.

At the end of February, DRC joined with G15 Youth Project to host “The Your Voice Event” – it brought partners and organisations together whilst showcasing the brilliant work that the two youth projects are absolutely leading the way on.

There was an opportunity to try out VR Racing or find out more about barbering and hair curling, you could try your hand at sound production in the music studio or give the graffiti art workshop a go. They even managed to get the local Councillors on their bike to make a smoothie – thanks Glasgow Eco Trust! Just to name a few things.

The showcase of success stories was brilliant to see too. A key example being the beauty salon which is being run in collaboration with trainees from John Paul Academy – it’s a really popular initiative and gives those involved practical experience on what it’s like to use their skills.

Another highlight for a lot of the young budget had been to set. This is their hall of shame!

To add insult to injury was the disgraceful attitude of Labour’s Provost Douglas McAllister who refused 4 requests to allow time for a recess to read these 18-pages. Refused a councillor who identified themselves as having dyslexia.

As a lawyer, he’ll be more than aware of the terms of the Equality Act and yet he just didn’t care about making allowances for someone with a disability. No regard whatsoever for equality and fairness.

Some of the change you’ll now see under Labour is less lollipop men and women, charges of £60 if you want your garden waste bin emptied, less road workers - which means for flooding, icy weather and maintenance the Council will have even less chance of responding adequately.

Valuing children and young people was clearly not a priority either, with over £1.36 million of cuts to Educational Services; our very youngest children in our nursey settings through to our High School pupils all targeted.

There’s a saying, Be the change you want to see in the world… well I hope that West Dunbartonshire Labour can reflect on that.

Too much smoke and mirrors from this Administration. They don’t do accountability and can’t stand scrutiny. Shame on them all!