Council insists we’ll listen and says no final decisions made

Clacks council SNP Group education spokesman Councillor Graham Lindsay insisted the spending proposals had been put forward by officers and and no final decision had been made.

He said none would be taken by councillors until after the consultation was complete.

“The proposals put forward by officers in respect of both Fishcross and Coalsnaughton are part of an overarching development and improvement strategy for the school estate,”he added.“There has to be a statutory consultation before any decisions are made, based on the best educational outcomes for our children and young people across the whole of Clackmannanshire.

“The council spends about 40 per cent of its annual budget on education, therefore this service cannot be excluded from the budget engagement process.

“We are acutely aware that some of these officer proposals, particularly in relation to schools, will be of Clackmannanhire and Dunblane, Councillor Clark said:“These are the Keith Brown cuts, the local SNP administration are only the poor patsies that have to drink from this poisoned chalice.”

Mr Brown called for cross–party support in booting out the plans.

The MSP, whose part-time office manager, Councillor Ellen Forson, took over as leader of Clacks Council in April last year, said:“I will also be seeking assurances from the SNP administration and the opposition Labour and Tory groups, that they intend to reject these officer proposals in order that parents can be reassured over the future of these schools.”

Clacks Council is currently made up of 18 councillors – whose political make up is 8 SNP, 5 Labour, 4 Conservative and 1 Independent.

The results of the consultation on the officer savings options will be put forward to councillors before they make the final decisions at a budget meeting early this year.

The grass will not be cut, potholes not filled

concern to many people. As an administration, we will be fully committed to an engagement and listening exercise to ensure we fully understand the views of the Clackmannanshire community.” Clacks North Labour councillor, Dave Clark, blasted the proposals, accused the controlling SNP group of“selling the family silver”. “The grass will not be cut, potholes not filled and the plan to close schools shows the SNP flagship policy of education is in disarray,”he added. Referring to the SNP MSP forNot set in stone Cllr Graham Lindsay

Angry Cllr Dave Clark