Post by selkie on Feb 14, 2012 3:12:33 GMT 1
Sorry if this is a repost, but this is really getting on my nerves......biased biased biased!
INVERCLYDE councillors talked about banishing 'adversarial politics' - before promptly clashing over budget plans.
The full council met to agree plans to update the second half of a two-year budget, covering the next 12 months.
Most of the proposals had already been agreed at last year's budget meeting, however, a further £9 million was allocated to one-off projects across Inverclyde.
Councillors from across the parties, including senior Lib Dem Ciano Rebecchi and former SNP leader Keith Brooks talked during the meeting about the importance of working together.
However, council leader Stephen McCabe said neither party had sought to work with the administration on proposals for the budget.
And the Labour councillor added that Lib Dem leader Alan Blair had 'snubbed' him for five years.
He also said that the situation with the SNP group had 'deteriorated' since Councillor Brooks had stepped down as their leader.
Councillor McCabe said all parties had the opportunity to contribute to the budget, and took a sideswipe at his opponents as he talked about how the coalition administration had managed to 'work together'.
Mr McCabe said: "That's because we are professional and genuinely committed to the people of Inverclyde."
Councillor Blair hit back by saying that the majority of the budget was 'non-contentious' - but he added that his group were concerned by the deteriorating condition of Inverclyde's roads, plus the recently announced park and ride scheme for Port Glasgow.
Labour's Robert Moran blasted back, saying that people in Port Glasgow would tell the council what they wanted - and 'not what councillors in the west end of Greenock think they want'.
During the debate, SNP group leader Innes Nelson proposed alternative ways to spend additional cash in the council coffers, with a series of measures focused on employment for young people, environmental improvements and flooding prevention.
But member of the administration and Liberal councillor George White tagged Mr Nelson's SNP as 'simply not professional'.
Mr White's fellow administration councillor, Tory David Wilson, backed the budget as he claimed that Inverclyde had been dealt 'blow after blow' by the SNP Government.
Independent councillor Charlie McCallum also praised the package, saying that he 'could not have dreamed' of a better budget for his ward, referring to flood prevention plans and cash to help traders in Greenock's West Station area.
As Councillor McCabe set out details of the budget he also talked of tough financial times ahead, warning that 'savage cuts' in funding from the Scottish Government would put the council under pressure.
The meeting heard that a further £30m of savings may have to be made during the next five years - a 17 per cent cut.
Councillor McCabe said: "To balance our books we must cut our costs."
INVERCLYDE councillors talked about banishing 'adversarial politics' - before promptly clashing over budget plans.
The full council met to agree plans to update the second half of a two-year budget, covering the next 12 months.
Most of the proposals had already been agreed at last year's budget meeting, however, a further £9 million was allocated to one-off projects across Inverclyde.
Councillors from across the parties, including senior Lib Dem Ciano Rebecchi and former SNP leader Keith Brooks talked during the meeting about the importance of working together.
However, council leader Stephen McCabe said neither party had sought to work with the administration on proposals for the budget.
And the Labour councillor added that Lib Dem leader Alan Blair had 'snubbed' him for five years.
He also said that the situation with the SNP group had 'deteriorated' since Councillor Brooks had stepped down as their leader.
Councillor McCabe said all parties had the opportunity to contribute to the budget, and took a sideswipe at his opponents as he talked about how the coalition administration had managed to 'work together'.
Mr McCabe said: "That's because we are professional and genuinely committed to the people of Inverclyde."
Councillor Blair hit back by saying that the majority of the budget was 'non-contentious' - but he added that his group were concerned by the deteriorating condition of Inverclyde's roads, plus the recently announced park and ride scheme for Port Glasgow.
Labour's Robert Moran blasted back, saying that people in Port Glasgow would tell the council what they wanted - and 'not what councillors in the west end of Greenock think they want'.
During the debate, SNP group leader Innes Nelson proposed alternative ways to spend additional cash in the council coffers, with a series of measures focused on employment for young people, environmental improvements and flooding prevention.
But member of the administration and Liberal councillor George White tagged Mr Nelson's SNP as 'simply not professional'.
Mr White's fellow administration councillor, Tory David Wilson, backed the budget as he claimed that Inverclyde had been dealt 'blow after blow' by the SNP Government.
Independent councillor Charlie McCallum also praised the package, saying that he 'could not have dreamed' of a better budget for his ward, referring to flood prevention plans and cash to help traders in Greenock's West Station area.
As Councillor McCabe set out details of the budget he also talked of tough financial times ahead, warning that 'savage cuts' in funding from the Scottish Government would put the council under pressure.
The meeting heard that a further £30m of savings may have to be made during the next five years - a 17 per cent cut.
Councillor McCabe said: "To balance our books we must cut our costs."
