It looks like Dundee is now definitely on course to take become an SNP-run city next week. Lord Provost John Letford (old-fashioned kind of politician) has left the Labour party after many years of membership (I don't know how many, but it could be half a century - John is 73).
Well done those councillor chaps. It will take a long, long time to repair the damage caused by years of Labour rule - as it is doing in other areas of Scotland - but at least you're now in a position to get started.
Step we gaily on we go ...
Step we gaily on we go ...
7 comments:
I do hope the SNP do a GOOD job instead of the last 50 years of a bad job from labour. This is their chance anyway.
Ita ALL because of labour that Dundee DIDNT get their rightful share of the oil jobs! Labour LET Aberdeen get these!
DONT EVER FORGET!
Finding a way forward has to be the focus of the concentration of our councillors now, finding a way to rebuild Dundee and make her a city to be proud of again.
I see the Labour Party has reacted with intemperate language and allegations of betrayal. Exactly the kind of behaviour that helped cause public discontent.
But that's the way they've behaved for the past 40+ years Calum. The reason they got away with it was because the people became completely scunnered and lost interest.
Local councillors in a city the size of Dundee, have the power to decide who gets a taxi-badge and who gets to build an extension to their house. Anything more remarkable is in the hands of the big boys at COSLA. So please stop exaggerating the impact a change of council colour will have on the way things are run in Dundee.
Councillors in a city the size of Dundee have the same power as councillors anywhere else. Not only do councillors decide on taxi badges and house extensions (which are important) but also education policy, licensing policy, strategic planning for their area, large-scale planning applications, child protection policy, housing, economic development, cleansing, parks, recreation, leisure, libraries, community centres, trams, care for our elderly, a say in policing, the operation of our fire and rescue service, transport, and so on and so on.
Who controls a council is very important - important enough for you to want to comment on it - especially with the history of control in Dundee. It has a resonance similar in tone if not in depth to Glasgow East. An excellent scalp to claim.
Rubber-stamping what has already been decided is not the same as formulating policy. The civil service does most of that. Given that most of funds available to a local authority are earmarked for statutory provision of services or/and to sustain said civil service departments then the scope for change exists in your mind and in the pockets of new councillors and nowhere else.
Don't misunderstand; if ever there was a Labour-controlled council that wasn't bloated with that curious combination of smugness and a lack of talent; then I'm not aware of it. Still it's all a smoke-screen aimed at voters to convince them they live in a democracy. Hollyrood may be able to make few decisions (ok they can make all the decisions but they certainly do not put this into practice) like offering a few sops to the weary; free school meals, travel for pensioners etc but at what cost? Horse trading with the powers behind the throne in a most curious way - giving church groups a free hand at re-introducing Malleus Maleficarum while at the same time prostituting themselves to the worlds oligarchs (think Trump golf plans) which by the way were voted down by local councillors.
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