I won't stand down, vows Councillor McGill

Hamish Hutchinson • Published 5 Aug 2009 12:35 2 Comments

LABOUR councillor Bobby McGill has refuted SNP claims that Clackmannanshire's leisure strategy is in chaos - and insists he has no intention of standing down from his position as Leisure Portfolio holder.

As reported in last week's Advertiser, SNP councillors Mark English, Walter McAdam and Gary Womersley have called for Councillor McGill to resign saying that there had been a failure by the Labour administration to deliver an effective plan for leisure provision.

Mr McAdam criticised the administration's handling of the proposed sports centre in Alva, particularly due to what he called a "lack of proper consultation with user groups".

However, Mr McGill said that this simply wasn't the case and that the council had carried out more consultation than they ever have done in the past.

He said, "There has never been so much consultation. We have had four public meetings, and officers also took on extensively what was being said and made massive changes to what was originally proposed.

"We had a further feedback meeting which I chaired and I don't remember even seeing Mr McAdam there. Why didn't he turn up if he was so interested? The only SNP representative to come along was Donald Balsillie and he is supportive of the plans."

Mr McGill also hit out at comments made by Mr English suggesting that Labour were "steam rolling through their own pet projects".

He said this simply wasn't true, and accused the SNP of causing the problems with the sale of Zones in Alloa by forcing through an amendment which meant it would be sold to the highest bidder rather than Labour's plan to use the building for leisure purposes.

The SNP's Gary Womersley had accused Labour of a "forced relocation" of Alloa Gymnastics Club but Mr McGill said that the council had been in discussions with head coaches.

"Throughout the consultation the main coaches have been involved with what is happening and the new gymnastic centre is going to be a state of the art facility," said Mr McGill. "If we had the option, of course, we would have taken Alloa, but we can't have two centres in Clackmannanshire for gymnastics - it's simply not big enough."

Mr McGill also heavily criticised the SNP for walking out of the working groups.

He said, "I think the SNP group should take a good look at themselves. How well do they feel they are serving the people of Clackmannanshire by abstaining from the groups, which the Conservative and Liberal Democrat members are still part of?

"They have to look at their own actions and how they think they are serving people by not turning up at the meetings. If they aren't happy with what we are doing they should take more part in it.

"It is also very difficult to reach a decision on what is the best way forward when the SNP don't agree amongst themselves and vote differently at council."

Council leader Janet Cadenhead defended her Labour colleague.

She told the Advertiser, "This row is not of our choosing or making. I would be a poor person if I didn't defend my colleague. I know no one who takes his job more seriously on the leisure side and he is someone with a genuine interest and is most supportive of everything that goes on leisure wise in the county.

"It isn't for the portfolio holder to come up with a strategy - it's for the council to do that. We set up three working groups, asset management, the future of 3-12 education and a leisure strategy and the SNP group walked out of all of them."

Mrs Cadenhead criticised the SNP's proposals for a £9 million cultural centre in the Speirs Centre in Alloa, questioning where the money would come from to bring the plan to fruition.

She added, "Where on earth are the SNP going to find the financial resources to fund something like that?

"I know the SNP group are very involved and interested in leisure but that has to be set against things like providing better care for the elderly and against education, and the question has to be asked - where is the money coming from for their grandiose plans?"

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• 

  Ron
  Unregistered User
  Aug 12, 13:07
  Report comment

  Councillor McGill must have been at different meeting in the Cochrane Hall regarding the proposed changes to the Johnstone Centre and Cochrane Hall in Alva. I seem to remember that Donald Balsillie did not support the proposal, at least in front of the public. In fact you would have problems finding anyone in the hall other than the platform party supporting the plans. Councillor McGill seems to have a problem hearing the public outcry in Alva. Does he not think it odd that the public walked out of the meeting mainly due to his attitude and the poor presentation. Surely that is a good sign that all is not well. Whatever the feeling of local people Councillor McGill seems to be working to his own agenda. Let us hope that the voters remember his behaviour when the next election takes place, and no, I do not hold allegiance to any political party.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Alloa Al
  Unregistered User
  Feb 1, 16:33
  Report comment

  He is 1 very ignorant man,who hasn't got a clue what goes on under his nose. If you elect idiots they perform like idiots.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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