Semple challenges competency of Council Leaders assurances

[Kintyre Forum News]

Semple challenges competency of Council Leaders assurances

Following yesterdays U-turn by the Argyll & Bute Council Administration reversing the damaging cut to a vital community transport service for elderly and disabled people in South Kintyre, SNP Councillor John Semple said –

“This last minute turnaround is welcome, but it should never have got this far, assurances were given by the Leader of the council, Dick Walsh, about the security of alternative transport for users of the Campbeltown Ring and Ride service which had no basis in reality, the press release from his own administration announcing this u-turn is testament to the leaders culpability since it totally contradicts comments made during the debates on this issue”

“If the Leader of the council had not been so quick to make these unsubstantiated assurances and the decisions for progressing with this cut had been taken by the full council rather than rubber stamped at an executive meeting, then much of the distress caused in the South Kintyre Community could have been avoided”

"There must now be a serious question mark hanging over the competency of those in change at Kilmory, how are we now to trust assurances given by them on any matter relating to the looming budget, given this?

"More worrying is the pressure being put on officers, I have communications from officers on this matter which suggest to me that undue political pressure is being put on officers to deliver budget outcomes irrespective of the consequences for service delivery or their own professional judgement"

“There is insufficient scrutiny, lack of accountability and a dangerous concentration of power in one office in Kilmory and that is the offices of the Council Leadership, this administration must change dramatically or prepare to be swept aside"