Local Eletions - Questions to candidates

[Mary G]

More than a year ago a bundle of FOI requests made by ARSN proved that Isobel Strong knew nothing of the school closures until the eleventh hour,

In which case, how can she credibly claim that she was doing her job as the convener of the Education committee? Either the SNP were incompetent, letting these plans get so far when they were part of the ruling coalition and allegedly in charge; or they were to some significant extent architects of plans that SNP representatives now say are 'flawed'. You can't have it both ways.

The cross-party nature of ASRN is fine, but nothing to do with the point I was making, regarding responsibility and accountability. I am capable of making up my own mind, and you're deluded to suggest that I have fallen for any 'Lib Dem mantra'.

[Anne Baird]

DH
I, like many of the electorate were very surprised that closing Southend was even a consideration. This should never happen and I would support any campaign to keep it open but there has to be common sense when it comes to some of the others.

Glad to have support for Southend Isa. The other schools have to be looked at in the longer term. There were many more schools in the past and as the population declined dramatically and transport improved it was reasonable to close some of them. Now the population trends have stablilsed (though in Argyll these are proving to be slightly different and we need to know why!) Generally across Scotland the population is rising slightly and there's no good reason why a region with so much to offer should buck that trend.

Once you close a school it's very hard to open it again and some regions that did this in the past have now had to go to the expense of building new ones. In the short term, the idea that it saves money is disproven as the cost of the building is usually similar to, or less than, the transport costs. The saving is the teachers. Closing schools means you cram more kids into classrooms with fewer teachers, each has less teacher time, and it's of detriment to ALL the kids. At the same time you remove jobs from the local economy, put another community out of the running for development - the Council's own planning department says you need a school to be a "Rural Renaissance" community - and as these communities decline, the population sustaining a town like Campbeltown also declines. No-one wins.

The Commission for the Delivery of Rural Education is looking at all of this and pulling the best evidence from all sources together. We report in August and at that point I think we can have a much more informed debate about schools, communities and rural education in general. Meantime I think the situation should be put on hold. We should hang on hard to the bones so we can aspire to put flesh on them in future. Once we've lost the bones it's much harder to do.

[D.H]

You have refused to say, if elected as an independent Councillor would you join a coalition, Would you take the gold pieces if Dick Walsh came calling? People deserve to know if you are any different from Rory, Would you work in coalition with the Alliance of Independent Councillors?

Refused to say??????
John I am not sure if you are losing your marbles. I have answered this twice already on the Kintyreforum. Once for you personally.

Let me repeat the answer from the Fairtrade thread to remind you.
"As I said on a more relevant thread I would be interested to join Argyll First, if elected, as I don't believe the Council has been run in a democratic structure as some Councillors hold more power than others. Each Councillor should have the same power to vote on Argyll & Bute wide issues. I am surprised the bigger political party groups have never addressed this fundamental inequality in the past when they have had voting control of the Council. I also agree with the other aims of Argyll First http://forargyll.com/2011/06/argyll-first-ready-to-recruit-like-minded-candidates-for-2012-election/and see no conflict with my vision for making Argyll & Bute a better place to live.[url] https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vote-for ... 1374526316
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Unlike political parties who are bound by national commitments and allegiances, a local group of independently minded Councillors can focus more on the needs of the people who elected them. I certainly would not be doing a Vince Cable and signing up to any group that expected me to vote for something that I did not agree with as an independent Councillor looking to develop and promote Argyll & Bute."

[Anne Baird]

"As I said on a more relevant thread I would be interested to join Argyll First, if elected, as I don't believe the Council has been run in a democratic structure as some Councillors hold more power than others.

Also SNP policy to democratise the council, and surely the aim of anyone right minded. Perhaps you'd work with us too?

[John S]

With respect Deirdre, you still avoid the question.

[D.H]

Also SNP policy to democratise the council, and surely the aim of anyone right minded. Perhaps you'd work with us too?

I am sure I would Anne on issues and policies that we agree on for the best interests of Argyll.

[D.H]

With respect Deirdre, you still avoid the question.

I don't think I have John. My frustration with what Rory did was not that his party joined a coalition but that he said that he clearly supported not passing the school closure proposals and then he did a week later. You can disagree with someone's position but respect it is how they decide to vote. Rory did not do this and he appeared to be motivated by a titled position. He refused to admit that any deal had been offered at a public meeting in Southend after the critical Council vote and yet a few days later he gained his new position.

You don't have to be in a coalition to vote on Council business. I can't imagine that I would likely be in any formal coalition with a single party or group that would restrict my ability to work and vote on behalf of the area. That is why I like the format of Argyll First which looks to work together on set aims, free of party politics, but still have a free vote. Can you say that you would or wouldn't work in coalition with any partners?

[D.H]

Would you take the gold pieces if Dick Walsh came calling?

Just to add that if I was motivated by cash and power then I would have joined an established party and tried to get elected that way. It is way more easier and more profitable, if that is what motivates you. Being an Independent is not a career ladder move.

[John S]

With respect Deirdre, you still avoid the question.

I can't imagine that I would likely be in any formal coalition with a single party or group that would restrict my ability to work and vote on behalf of the area. That is why I like the format of Argyll First which looks to work together on set aims, free of party politics, but still have a free vote. Can you say that you would or wouldn't work in coalition with any partners?

That's nearly an answer Deirdre, but you are still not ruling out a formal coalition. I can say I relish a coalition with like minded partners and look forward to forming one in the very near future to run Argyll and Bute Council. Having worked in opposition with Argyll First and other true independents in close partnership, I know that a coalition is possible. Which is why you need to put your cards on the table -Will you work in coalition with the SNP?

[D.H]

John I don't think I need to make a fixed decision to your timetable. Unfortunately, I do not posses the power to predict the future so I think it would do a disservice to me and to the people of South Kintyre to limit the choices available to me if elected, to do the best job and make the best choices for the people that I would serve.

[John S]

John I don't think I need to make a fixed decision to your timetable. Unfortunately, I do not posses the power to predict the future so I think it would do a disservice to me and to the people of South Kintyre to limit the choices available to me if elected, to do the best job and make the best choices for the people that I would serve.

No but people expect you to not to say one thing before you are elected in order to be elected then do the opposite. All I ask for is a straight answer?

[gizmo]

A straight answer in politics. Dont be daft.

[Anne Baird]

More than a year ago a bundle of FOI requests made by ARSN proved that Isobel Strong knew nothing of the school closures until the eleventh hour,

In which case, how can she credibly claim that she was doing her job as the convener of the Education committee? Either the SNP were incompetent, letting these plans get so far when they were part of the ruling coalition and allegedly in charge; or they were to some significant extent architects of plans that SNP representatives now say are 'flawed'. You can't have it both ways.

The cross-party nature of ASRN is fine, but nothing to do with the point I was making, regarding responsibility and accountability. I am capable of making up my own mind, and you're deluded to suggest that I have fallen for any 'Lib Dem mantra'.

Like I said Mary, if you want the evidence it's there. If you want to cast aspersions, perhaps you can provide some of your own. Just put in an FOI request for all communications about school closures for the relevant dates. You won't find Isobel on any but the last few.

You underestimate, grossly, the sharp Machiavellian politics of the Alliance of Independents and the reasons why candidates of all colours are prepared to drop their axes and work together to try and clean up the council's act. A good number of the truly independent candidates have chosen to stand because they have personal experience of this. We can, collectively, regardless of our politics, aspire to a much better, fairer, future. It's heartening to see so many who want to move forward, rebuild the trust that's been lost and create a council that's honest, open and can work in partnership with its communities. I'm on board with that. I know some of your Labour candidates are (and assume the others will be). I hope you will be too.

[Mary G]

A hint Anne: your patronising tone “You underestimate, grossly, …” is not a vote-winner. Effectively telling someone they are naïve doesn’t usually go down well . That said, I do commend you for at least being responsive.

Those who have been around the forum for years know very well that I am on record as saying that I’d prefer a Council of any colour to an ‘independent’ one. Because the former are typically elected on a transparent manifesto on which the electorate can judge them; the latter is more like lucky-dip … or an unlucky one. However well-intentioned the people are, the collaboration that is essential to form an administrations results in uncomfortable deals and horse-trading. So no lessons, please, on independent councils as experienced in Argyll.

But you make a mistake if you think that cheery good-will alone is the recipe for future success. Because it is a mistake to ignore, never mind re-write, history. Whatever coalition formation will take power it will take a lot of mature negotiation and cool-heads to reach agreement on how to proceed. Whoever is involved, I wish them all the best – they have a massive task ahead of them.

[petewick]

Mary, I have noticed that patronisation is very much prevailant
in the SNPs outlook and tactic? prior and during this election.
As you say, not a vote winner.