Councillor call for more powers to discuss issues such as bus cuts
A DUNFERMLINE councillor has made a plea for more powers to discuss local issues such as bus service cuts.
Cllr Aude Boubaker-Calder wanted to raise a motion about current plans to cut Stagecoach service in West Fife at the latest City of Dunfermline area committee but she was told it was not part of the committee’s remit.
Instead, she put forward a motion asking that powers are given to debate issues such as proposed alterations to public transport, stating it was an issue which could “deeply affect” the community.
“We are trying to encourage people to use public transport not only for the environment but for the cost-ofliving crisis,” she said. “I have been told it was not competent to discuss it. If an issue such as cutting public transport is deeply affecting a city like Dunfermline, we should be able to discuss this issue.
“We are representing the people of Dunfermline and therefore we are the voice here. I am calling for localised issues to be discussed locally with local councillors who know the impact that has on our constituents.
“Developing how to discuss local issues such as this and take local action would help to achieve this.”
Dunfermline South councillor Lynn Ballantyne-Wardlaw said giving more power to the area committee would help those in need and councillors agreed to an amended motion aimed at providing help to the local community when it was needed.
She stated: “My amendment is the committee welcomes the prospect of further devolution of powers to the area committee which may better enable the committee and council officers working most closely with those in need to help residents cope with hardships they are facing this winter, including emergency energy support and the creation of local warm banks.”
Following the meeting, Cllr Boubaker-Calder said it was “deeply frustrating” not to be able to discuss the significant bus service cuts she said Stagecoach were making in Dunfermline.
“This is a pressing local issue and it seemed to me that the local area committee was the obvious forum to discuss it,” she said. “It is made even more frustrating as last year the Kirkcaldy area committee were allowed to discuss ScotRail cuts to service. The rules seem inconsistent.
“The bus service cuts will have an extremely negative impact for many and is the wrong thing to do when we are trying to encourage more use of public transport.
“I am pleased this motion has passed as it makes clear the determination of local councillors to see more powers to raise these types of issues which affect their communities.”