Standards Commission
Readers of the Stornoway Gazette may remember that a complaint was lodged with the Standard Commission just before the elections, claiming that a number of members were in Breach of the Code of Conduct. This was specifically as a result of our involvement in various bodies dealing with the windfarm applications.
I was specifically accused of having compromised my objectivity by being a member of the 'Focus Group' to discuss the detail of benefits with developers, whilst also being Chair of the Environmental Services Committee. The decision is that none of us contravened the Code and the case is closed, but it raises wider issues.
I was placed onto the Focus Group because of my specialist skills and knowledge of the planning system combined with my business and professional skills. Would some of the public prefer that the Comhairle negotiate from a position of weakness rather than have the best skills available?
I also recognised the possibility of a conflict, so that I removed myself from active participation in the Focus Group when there was a live planning application if front of the Comhairle, which as it turned out, meant the vast majority of the time.
The role of the objector needs to be looked at, and he has graced these pages before. Murdo "Esso" Morrison lives in Wishaw, where he is a JP and frequent contributor on anti-windfarm themes to the Stornoway Gazette, in fancy, overblown and generally insulting terms. One attributes such "Lord of the Manor" attitudes to his experiences as a Tory Candidate in the Western Isles, a place he visits briefly and occasionally.
As a retired publicity man for Exxon, Murdo is well placed to advise the wider community on the harm that windfarms can bring to an area, compared to the benefits of traditional sources. However, not one to let a single conflict of interest affect his judgement or his pension, Murdo has another string on his bow.
His holiday home.
The reason for Murdo's ire is that he believes that the view from his holiday home - the old family home - will be adversely affected by the windfarm development, and consequently that his not insubstantial income might be diminished. Does that conflict of interest ever get mentioned in his complaint?
What particularly irritated me was an offensive and threatening email I received from Murdo in 2006. One Sunday - obviously after a long leisurely heavy lunch - Murdo threatened my three houses (?!?), and promised I would get what was coming to me(!), based entirely on a complete misreading of my entry in the Register of Members Interests. I was very close to reporting it to the Police, but instead emailed back advising that I would do so if ever wrote anything similar again. Perhaps the Justices of the Peace Committee in North Lanarkshire would be interested...
No doubt Murdo is sitting back furious with the Standards Commission for not agreeing with him. So can I suggest he use his energies on opposing the ship-to-ship transfers in the Forth, which is near at hand, and given that he has such important and invaluable experience of how oil companies operate. Or perhaps his pension is more important.
I was specifically accused of having compromised my objectivity by being a member of the 'Focus Group' to discuss the detail of benefits with developers, whilst also being Chair of the Environmental Services Committee. The decision is that none of us contravened the Code and the case is closed, but it raises wider issues.
I was placed onto the Focus Group because of my specialist skills and knowledge of the planning system combined with my business and professional skills. Would some of the public prefer that the Comhairle negotiate from a position of weakness rather than have the best skills available?
I also recognised the possibility of a conflict, so that I removed myself from active participation in the Focus Group when there was a live planning application if front of the Comhairle, which as it turned out, meant the vast majority of the time.
The role of the objector needs to be looked at, and he has graced these pages before. Murdo "Esso" Morrison lives in Wishaw, where he is a JP and frequent contributor on anti-windfarm themes to the Stornoway Gazette, in fancy, overblown and generally insulting terms. One attributes such "Lord of the Manor" attitudes to his experiences as a Tory Candidate in the Western Isles, a place he visits briefly and occasionally.
As a retired publicity man for Exxon, Murdo is well placed to advise the wider community on the harm that windfarms can bring to an area, compared to the benefits of traditional sources. However, not one to let a single conflict of interest affect his judgement or his pension, Murdo has another string on his bow.
His holiday home.
The reason for Murdo's ire is that he believes that the view from his holiday home - the old family home - will be adversely affected by the windfarm development, and consequently that his not insubstantial income might be diminished. Does that conflict of interest ever get mentioned in his complaint?
What particularly irritated me was an offensive and threatening email I received from Murdo in 2006. One Sunday - obviously after a long leisurely heavy lunch - Murdo threatened my three houses (?!?), and promised I would get what was coming to me(!), based entirely on a complete misreading of my entry in the Register of Members Interests. I was very close to reporting it to the Police, but instead emailed back advising that I would do so if ever wrote anything similar again. Perhaps the Justices of the Peace Committee in North Lanarkshire would be interested...
No doubt Murdo is sitting back furious with the Standards Commission for not agreeing with him. So can I suggest he use his energies on opposing the ship-to-ship transfers in the Forth, which is near at hand, and given that he has such important and invaluable experience of how oil companies operate. Or perhaps his pension is more important.
9 comments:
I hope Murdo Morrisson apologised to you about his email.
I hope Murdo Morrison apologised for everything that he's done. Just another sad individual who thinks that they have a say about everything that happens up here just so they can protect their own pocket and give zero back to the community.
This story has made me happy, let's hope more Councillors give him negative press.
There's a lot of these anti-windpower objectors around like Murdo Morrison. And what I found out in my old councillor days was that the majority have a personal or business interest that MAY affect them, and that's all they really care about (much as you have here). It's not about island economics, it's not about jobs for people who really need them, and it's not about trying to keep young people on the island. It's all about themselves!
Angus,
As one strongly opposed to the windfarms, I do want to say that MM's actions are reprehensible. You can have a debate, but there is no excuse for behaviour like that.
I do think he has a point-by-proxy by complaining of his view being spoiled. The impact on tourism. Whenever visitors to the island talk of the prospective windfarm, they mention the impact on the views. And tourism here thrives on views and landscapes. Tourism is a mainstay of the isles' economy.
Anon
It is fair to say that he did have a 'point-by-proxy', but I would question just how important tourism is to the local economy.
The £40-60m pa often quoted includes all travel, so when I go to Uist or Glasgow I am part of the tourism income. It also includes all the business travel, so when Kroll came here to wind-up McDowall's they were 'tourists'
The real tourism spend is much lower, perhaps £10-20m, and compressed in a very short season.
I'd rather see a constant income stream - and there is only one option available at the moment.
The trouble is that we cannot rely on tourism as a mainstay income. Firstly all islanders don't have the skills or inclination to deal with the tourist industry and as Angus quite rightly states it is a very short season. Many people who own B&Bs etc do other jobs to be able to earn a liveable income.
Also, tourism offset with full time bodies living, working, breeding and enhancing the future of the Islands has to be a good price to pay.
If we miss this opportunity, which I feel that we already have done, then the only thing appreciating the view will be the birds and the oaps.
Basically--if we're being honest here--you want windfarms in Lewis for the br...er 'cash payouts' they bring, full stop. Right?
So why do you dismiss those of us who end up having to fund the payola via the Renewables Obligation? Eh? We--the rest of the British taxpaying public--have to pony up exorbitant amounts of money for these useless projects, since utilities are forced to buy their electricity, such as it is, at inflated prices--which cost is passed on to us. Frankly, if you clowns can't make a living without artificial subsidies from everyone else, you'd better move the hell off the islands, and stop giving us this tendentious crap about how 'independent' you lot all are. In blunt terms, you are perhaps the least independent folk in the entire UK, whining and demanding money from everyone else, and telling us we have no right to complain.
And let's not forget that you overturned all democratic process by voting AGAINST the overwhelming sentiment of your own community. Typical council authoritarianism. Gotta wonder what motivated them.
If Murdo objects, good for him; we ALL have the right to object when you lot are trying to grab our hard-earned cash with scams like Lewis Wind.
And if tourism DOES suffer, as it will--why, then, you've supplied us with a quote to use on the name-and-shame site:
The real tourism spend is much lower, perhaps £10-20m, and compressed in a very short season.
I'd rather see a constant income stream - and there is only one option available at the moment
Somehow I think such sentiments won't make you very popular, the more so as the full extent of the scam becomes clear.
You're in it for the cash (paid for by the rest of us), quite clearly, and to hell with the taxpayers, the environment, or sustainability.
And let us see how well your uneconomic income stream really does when we start to build nuke plants in Scotland. Doesn't matter whether you, the SNP or anyone else oppose them. As a matter of economic necessity it's going to happen--unless you want more coal-fired plants.
Take your choice....
The trouble is that we cannot rely on tourism as a mainstay income.
Then you should find some industry which DOES provide economic benefit. Windfarms don't; they are just a wealth-transfer mechanism, and as Denmark, Germany and Ireland have shown, totally useless for anything else.
Shame on all those who think that 'non-islanders' should have no say in how our money is spent, while congratulating themselves on their supposed 'independent spirit'. It makes me laugh....
Anither ramble from Murdo this week in the Gazette. Has the man no shame?
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