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The truths they don't want you to read....

Friday, October 31, 2008

Comhairle power struggle

I think that the Council have done the best in adverse circumstances (that they created!) by giving the Vice-Convener the political authority over the Council and relegating the Convener to a ceremonial role; rather than creating an additional post of Civic Head.

BUT, and it is a big but, as part of the problem was the perceived lack of leadership from the Chair during debates - for instance, over school closures - is the Vice-Convener going to chair the Council meetings and provide that leadership, or is this just a case of a cosmetic change?

Or is the Convener going to have to act as instructed by the Vice-Convener in these matters? Which is a recipe for confusion and disagreement.

And, whilst have have a huge amount of respect for Angus Campbell working almost full-time as Vice-Convener trying to manage the Comhairle's finances (and speaking as a former insider, he is doing a fine job in exceptionally difficult circumstances), he now has the added responsibility of herding cats into the appropriate decisions. This breadth of control could easily be misused by a less scrupulous individual to make the Comhairle their personal fiefdom, and the extent of control must be reduced before the next elections.

(And I need only remind people of the appalling situation that prevailed not that many years ago, when power was too centralised; which was one of the key impetuses in persuading me to stand for the Council)

As an aside, I would expect the schools debate to be re-opened, and I will confidently predict another U-turn. Which will make - how many? - 6 or is it 7?

The solution works, temporarily, and depending upon the current Vice-Convener remaining in post, but a long term solution needs to be brought forward soon.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Remarkable that the least popular councillor when it came to the public voting is now running the show

more bully-boy tactics no doubt

Anonymous said...

Toad is now fully in charge of the Hall.

Smakck of Gordon brown self appointed leader with no public mandate and utterly disliked.

Anonymous said...

Just as well nobody else muddied the waters, eh?

Anonymous said...

Click on the following links to see two cartoons depicting recent events at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

http://www.mediafire.com/file/hdxzmdlezd3

http://www.mediafire.com/file/zidj5imnzmz

The drawings are sequential under the filenames "2nd Order 01.png" and "2nd Order 02.png".

You may wish to download these and display them on your blog.