Week 1 Campaigning

That’s a week of the campaign gone already.  Apart from last Sunday and two days I had to be away on the mainland I’ve been out and about in Whiteness, Weisdale, Sandness, Tresta, Sandsound, Tumblin and Walls.  Three issues have been continually raised by a great number of people I’ve spoken to.

Firstly, Viking Energy has been by far and away the hottest topic not only in the most affected areas in Shetland West but from Whiteness to Sandness.  I get a growing feeling that since the Scottish Government gave the go-ahead people’s fears have been focused.  I am greatly concerned that Charitable Trust reserves will be put at risk and there is a perception among folk that the Council is too involved by way of the Charitable Trust having Councillor Trustees.  I am also very much opposed to the existing Trustees deciding next Monday whether or not to release another £6.3M for the project.  This feels like an attempt to railroad a decision which should be left to a new Trust in whatever form it may take.

Last Saturday I attended the bi-annual meeting of the Association of Shetland Community Councils.  Helen Budge informed us that the current Council required an additional £3M savings to be made over and above what had already been agreed.  She presented a consultation paper with suggested savings options to be ticked.  The chair of the meeting quite rightly dismissed a ‘ticking’ exercise as this had been presented with no warning.  In a nutshell, the options for Shetland West included closing Aith JH secondary department together with closing Sandness, Happyhansel and Skeld and moving all pupils to Aith.  I am strongly opposed to any such closures, not only on the basis of community viability, but also purely on geographical location.  Similar implications were suggested for the north and south mainland and the north isles.  Community set against community?  I said at the meeting that a new Council will have to revisit this particular savings request with a view to reducing it and spreading it over a longer period as there were some viable options included in the paper.

The third issue I have picked up very clearly is anger and hostility about education and social care cuts when an enormous amount of money has been spent by the last two councils with nothing to show for it.  Poor decision making, poor advice, delegated powers, cliques, cabals, and lack of leadership have all been mentioned, together with lack of accountability and transparency.  The Chief Executive’s view of ‘corporate responsibility’ has not gone down well with the public either.  This reinforces my argument that the Executive Committee should not be a majority of the Council, and that leaders, committee chairs and vice-chairs should have to stand for mid-term re-election.  More decisions must be made by full Council.

I also met with Jane Puckey from Papa Stour yesterday and we were in agreement that the ferry service they have at the moment is the minimum that can sustain the island.  If we start cutting our most rural and far-flung ferry services what argument do we put up to the Scottish Government to maintain a nightly ferry service to Aberdeen?

I hope to report weekly on my progress and issues raised as I fear a daily blog is too much for the electorate to bear!