Returning councillors reveal their priorities for the upcoming term
Climate change and the cost-of-living crisis have been identified as priority issues for the next five years by a re-elected SNP duo.
Cathy McEwan and Jim Paterson, returning councillors for Renfrew South and Gallowhill, spoke about the issues that matter to them and their constituents as they prepare to embark upon another five years as elected members.
The pair were two of the 21 SNP candidates elected following Friday’s count and were joined in Ward 2 by Edward Grady, one of Labour’s 15 successful members.
The Conservatives returned five, followed by one Liberal Democrat and one independent member.
McEwan, who won 1,129 first preference votes, was environment convener in the last council term.
She was delighted to be able to carry on the work over in the next administration.
McEwan said: “It feels good to be able to carry on doing the work that we’ve already done.
“It feels brilliant.
“It also feels great that with Team Up to Clean Up - I can still be there.
“I would be there whether I was elected or not because it’s a fantastic thing, so I’m delighted to be given the opportunity and I need to thank the voters for that. “Without them, I wouldn’t be.” The council is aiming to make Renfrewshire net zero by 2030 an ambitious target that precedes that of the Scottish Government by 15 years.
“Obviously with climate control - really getting into that, we have to,” McEwan added.
“That would be my main objective.”
Paterson, education convener and depute leader in the previous term, emphasised the importance in continuing to raise attainment in the local authority area, but added that the response to the cost of living crisis will also prove a key issue.
He said: “Personally speaking, I would hope that we continue the good work we’ve been doing in raising the attainment and improving positive destinations for pupils.
“We went from 20-odd to fourth in the last ranking.
“It was a lot of hard work. I don’t take credit for that, that credit goes to the officers, but it was an absolute pleasure to oversee that board and see that good work.
“That’s something I desperately want to see continue for everyone, whether it’s myself or somebody else that’s in charge of the board, I think it’s the most important thing we do.
“And then we’ve got the cost of living crisis, we’ll need to respond to that as a council.
“How, I’m not too sure yet, but it will dominate the next five years.”
Grady, who won 1,003 first preference votes, said voters expressed their discontent with the previous administration on the doors and at polling stations.
He added: “People in the constituency made it perfectly clear that they haven’t been happy with the SNP administration.
“They are disheartened by the lack of services that have been in place.
“The roads haven’t been as good. The grass, when it gets cut, isn’t getting cleared up.
“This is what I was hearing at the polling stations and on the doors.”
Pressed on the election of two SNP councillors in his constituency, Grady responded: “Nationally the SNP are strong anyway. This SNP have got a great following, however, I ate into it today.”
Grady spoke of his desire to “make things better” for people in Renfrewshire.
He added: “I hope we can make a difference on what people have been saying: on the roads, the grass, the dog mess, the antisocial behaviour.
“These are the things I’ve been hearing about on the doorstep.
“I’m here to make things better.”