Bins are top priority for Tory councillors
But group leader staying‘open minded’on other issues
Bin collections could be the one non-negotiable issue for Stirling’s Tories despite backing Labour’s bid to form a minority administration.
Tory group leader Neil Benny has said that, despite SNP claims of a ‘deal’ and Tory councillor Douglas Dodds being installed as Provost, there had been no policy commitments made to the Labour Party - or vice versa.
He added, however, that his group would be “working to get our manifesto commitments through, not least on the issue of waste collection which was a major part of our campaign”.
Conservative councillors campaigned fiercely to have a controversial decision to introduce four-weekly instead of fortnightly grey and blue bin collections reversed ever since the council’s previous Snp/labour administration approved them.
“We will be open minded on everything else,” said Councillor Benny, “and on the commitments that others have made. That is no concession to us as we have always had that mindset in the past.”
The Tory leader said there was “no clear line of control” in the election results as with eight SNP councillors, seven Scottish Conservative councillors, six Labour, one Green and one Independent, “there is no clear way through for someone to take charge”.
“A new way of working is needed, where we can discuss issues openly, democratically and in full view of the people of Stirling.
“Imagine for a second if the waste collection policy had been openly discussed from its inception. If the people had been told that the council was considering this, if early stages of the policy had been scrutinised at committee. Would it have happened?
“Frankly, no; because the fact is that by having open questions and debate the obvious holes in the policy would have been spotted.”
Councillor Benny said the current numbers on the council were an opportunity to “undertake a new way of working, to realise the vision of a council that takes into account all opinion, even those that I disagree with”.
He said he was proud to see Stirling Council with its first Conservative Provost since it was founded in 1996.
But he added that he was also proud to vote for Labour’s Chris Kane as leader of the council.
“He is someone I have known for many years and I would never doubt his commitment to Stirling and its people,” said Councillor Benny. “He is a Labour councillor, but also was the best person to do the job given the numbers on the council. Our agreement to support them allowed Scottish Conservatives to take key positions at the council, especially the chairmanship of the planning panel, which I will do and the convenorship of the public safety committee which Bryan Flannagan will do.
“The main point, however, is that for the Labour administration to work they will need to build a consensus across the chamber. They will need to justify themselves both to the other councillors and to the people of Stirling.
“They have a great deal of work to do to justify the confidence that has been shown in them and will have to work constructively to get anything done.
“The numbers mean that this is the best option. No more coalitions. Just councillors who are willing to leave the politics at the door and solve the problems that the people of Stirling have sent us here to solve.”
The Tory group leader accused SNP leader Scott Farmer of “smarting” from not being reappointed as council leader.
“He has accused both Chris Kane and I of all sorts, not least forming a new coalition. Nothing could be further from the truth. The door is open for him to walk through and take his rightful place as part of a new way of doing things. SNP leader, Scott Farmer, is someone I have known for many years and have a great deal of respect for.
“Nothing more is called for than openness to each other’s ideas.
“Scottish Conservative councillors will be Scottish Conservatives and we will pursue our agenda. I expect everyone else will act in the same way.
“But we can and we must do so without rancour and with an open mind. The people of Stirling expect this and we must deliver.”
Speaking on the waste collection issue later, Labour’s environment and housing convenor Jen Preston said: “In the Labour manifesto we committed to ‘an annual review of collection arrangements to ensure everything is working as it should and a commitment to make changes if it is not’.
“I have already met with officers to raise this point and ask them to begin this work. But the picture so far suggests the current collection cycle is necessary and is working. We need to provide a local waste service that meets our needs in the context of a climate emergency. We’ll be guided by evidence, not campaign leaflets.”