SNP parliamentarians and councillors have released ‘information and advice’ on how the public should respond to consultation about huge cuts planned by Argyll and Bute Council.
They say that more than 1,300 people have downloaded the council’s ‘planning our future’ document but warn that the results could be skewed by multiple submissions, while the wording is such that results could be misrepresented.
The council says it has to save £18m over two years, with possible targets including school crossing patrols, support for children with special needs, school budgets and social work.
Brendan O’Hara, MP for Argyll and Bute, said there was ‘a sense of shock’ across the area because of the likely effect of the cutbacks.
“ We must find a better way to move forward and the first step in that is a clear rejection of the wrong-headed salami slicing approach,” he said.
“I hope as many people as possible will fill in the council consultation and make that point.”
Council leader Dick Walsh has said there was ‘no dissent’ over the proposals from SNP members on the ‘service choices’ project board, but Mr O’Hara said they had taken part in order to have access to the information provided to the board.
“They could not sign on to the final package and resigned at that stage,” he added.
“The trade unions were in the same position.”
Sandy Taylor, leader of the SNP group on the council, said they recognised services were under pressure, but the proposals would make things worse.
“The consultation needs to show that people want something other than what they are presently being offered and this paper will, I hope, help communities to make that point,” he added.
“We are also keen to hear good ideas from the community as we work on our own budget proposals.”
The council consultation is available in libraries and information points, as well as online; the SNP document can be downloaded as a PDF here: Filling in Service Choices Consultation – paper from Parliamentarians and Group Leader
Had the SNP not frozen the council Tax 8 years ago as a BRIBE to the voters, we might not be in this mess now, no one likes Tax going up, but it has gone over a tipping point now. IMHO