SNP take control

Kevin McRoberts • Published 12 Jan 2012 08:00 4 Comments

Share this

click to enlarge
WINNING TEAM: The SNP councillors Donald Balsillie, Gary Womersley, Walter McAdam, Mark English, Irene Hamilton, Tina Murphy and Janis Paterson.

THE SNP has taken control of Clackmannanshire Council - with the new administration claiming the county has been seriously let down by the Labour party.

At a special meeting of the council on Friday, Labour were toppled from power as the SNP group's 'motion of no confidence' was backed by independent councillor Craig Holden and former Labour councillor Eddie Carrick.

Councillor Gary Womersley was elected the new leader of the council and Councillor Tina Murphy became Clackmannanshire's first female provost, replacing councillors Sam Ovens and Derek Stewart respectively.

The SNP group launched its bid to oust Labour just before Christmas at a special meeting which was called after the Advertiser revealed shocking failings in child protection, with local solicitors voicing concerns that vulnerable children in the county were being put at risk.

They highlighted a report of a child protection case by Alloa sheriff David Mackie which referred to "fundamental systemic failures" in the social work department.

The sheriff's damning verdict went on to state that there was a "self serving dishonesty" among practitioners and a "highly discreditable disregard" for the interests of the child.

As well as concerns over child protection, SNP councillors also slammed Labour's financial record and claimed the people of Clackmannanshire and the council's staff had been let down by an "arrogant" administration.

But at Friday's meeting, outgoing leader Councillor Ovens launched a staunch defence of Labour's record in power, giving what he described as "something of a history lesson".

While there was an air of resignation on the Labour side, who had clearly worked out the writing was on the wall long before Friday's meeting took place, Councillor Ovens told the meeting, "It is with some pride and satisfaction that I rise to speak in defence of this Labour administration and, indeed, that of our previous administration colleagues."

He said that when Labour took over the administration from the previous SNP majority controlled council in 2003, they had to re-write the business plan for the three new secondary schools and sort out the mess of boarded-up houses blighting every community in Clackmannanshire, embarking on a huge modernisation programme.

He highlighted work to improve adult and elderly care services, and said other achievements under Labour included the building of the new college, the regeneration of Alloa town centre, the Ochils Landscape Partnership, the Bowmar Master Plan, the Alloa rail link, the Alloa by-pass, the new community hospital, and the retention and investment out into public halls, Alloa Town Hall and the Speirs Centre.

Labour colleague, Councillor Janet Cadenhead, added she was also very proud of their record in power.

She said, "What gives me most pride is that we took really tough decisions to put this council on a good footing - and we took them without looking over our shoulders to see where the votes would come from.

"But whatever difficult decisions we have had to take up to this time, there are more difficult decisions to come. I don't believe the SNP have grasped the serious situation local government is in.

"All the issues we've taken forward, building up reserves and restructuring senior management, I fear they will be squandered by the SNP."

Councillor Cadenhead also referred to Councillor Carrick's decision to quit Labour last month after failing to be re-selected as a candidate for the party in the local government elections in May.

She said it was sad that the SNP had seized the opportunity to take control of the council by "taking advantage of the hurt and anger of an individual".

However, a clearly annoyed Councillor Carrick hit back and said he was acting on his principles, and added, "I don't feel very much for the local or national Labour party. They will never get back into power the way they are going just now."

Councillor Holden took issue with Councillor Ovens, describing the Labour leader's "history lesson" as "more of a fairytale".

And SNP leader Gary Womersley said Councillor Ovens had failed to mention the £10 million black hole in the budget, another £10 million written off, £1.2 million repaid to the EU over the redevelopment of Kilncraigs, the £75,000 spent on a parking survey when parking charges were never on the agenda, Labour's dealings over Alva pool, public toilets and community facilities in Tillicoultry, payment scams at CAPs and the child protection failings.

Councillor Womersley said, "Labour had to slash, cut and burn to cover their own financial mismanagement. Their own employees have suffered and staff morale is shot to pieces. I don't think this council could survive another Labour budget."

This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 11 Jan 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Alloa resident
Unregistered User
Jan 12, 17:15
Report comment

While labour seemed to have run out of steam, leading to one of their own putting the knife in after backing them for years, they did do a lot of work for the community. My big fear now is the SNP slashing funding to Alloa to cover the cost of their pet projects and promises in the hillfoots.

Will they commit to no parking charges etc? Or will we see cut after cut from them too, particularly to sevices in Alloa?

Recommend? Yes 7 No 4
AlloaYankee
Unregistered User
Jan 12, 23:28
Report comment

Why can't the outgoing administration ( Labour ) accept they are out and, instead of attempting to glorify their time in office, concentrate on helping the SNP administration to put right many of the issues that must be addressed. It is time to grow above the rhetoric and serve the people who pay you. The Labour admin failed to do that. They fell back on their laurels ( as always happens to any administration that is in too long ) and ignored the tax payers. BIG mistake huh??? Councillor Ovens should know that you cannot live on past achievements. He highlights a few successes but fails to mention the many failures.

Understandable in his situation.

The SNP admin must now live up to their promises. They must prove it was not all rhetoric.

Recommend? Yes 2 No 0
Big G
Unregistered User
Jan 14, 03:24
Report comment

Dodgy looking crew, I take back everything I said about wee Derek.

Recommend? Yes 1 No 2
Kev1987
2 posts
Jan 16, 20:25
Report comment

The ousting of the Labour administration is long overdue in clackmannanshire and it can only be of benefit to the local community. The record of the Labour administration is disgraceful in many areas and hopefully we will see an end to Labour's 'jobs for the boys culture' and gross mis-management of finances. They hail their achievement in the building of the local schools which were built under the PPP scheme(and left Lornshill Academy without a swimming pool) which the SNP have put an end to following the clear evidence of the failures of this system which resulted in taxpayers being ripped off and not receiving value for money. They have also presided over funding cuts to essential public services such as the citizens advice bureau and they have also been responsible for the closure of public toilet facilities throughout clackmannanshire, make no mistake the Labour administration being forced out is by no means an issue we should view as a negative as it has been abundantly clear for a long time that change has been needed at the council.

Recommend? Yes 7 No 0

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser Poll

When should the independence referendum be held in Scotland?

This Poll is now closed.

Within 18 months, as stipulated by the UK Government (30.2%)

Autumn 2014, as announced by Alex Salmond (52.8%)

Never (17.0%)

Follow @alloatiser