Could you tell readers about yourself, and why you’ve chosen to try and represent this ward?
My name is Ken Smith. I have lived in Clynder for nine years and I am honoured to have been selected as your SNP candidate in this by-election in the Lomond North ward. I am a Quantity Surveyor, I retired to Helensburgh in 2009 and moved to Clynder in 2012. I believe that every person in Lomond North needs effective support in dealing with the Council and other statutory bodies. In 2015 I heeded the call for volunteers to stand for the Community Council of Rosneath and Clynder and was elected as Convener in 2016. At the community Council election of 2018, I stepped down from leadership to allow younger members to take up leadership roles, having raised interest in the business of the Community Council and lifted membership from 5 to 15 members.
Currently Argyll and Bute Council is run by TALIG – the Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Group, a coalition of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and some independent councillors. If elected, would you join this group?
I would join the SNP group on the Council as a well-established member of the SNP.
What do you think are the four key issues in the future for the ward?
Transportation Links: I will work for improvements at both the A82 and the A83 and new roads proposals to link Lomond North more closely with Mid-Argyll. I will support efforts to increase public transport use and extension of bus and train services in Lomond North.
In principle, I would support the introduction of larger ferries to improve reliability and links in the Lower Clyde, provided that accessibility is maintained. I will support efforts to improve, repair and maintain existing piers in Kilcreggan and Helensburgh.
Climate Change: I will support steps to reduce the Council’s carbon footprint and promote green initiatives across Argyll and Bute. My long experience of building and civil engineering makes me an ideal candidate to put forward useful ideas to reduce carbon footprints and find practical solutions to environmental problems.
Health and Social Care: I will support efforts to improve the integration of Health and Care Services and the establishment of a National Care Service to ensure better outcomes for all who need these services.
Communications: I would seek improvements in TV and Broadband to ensure that no-one needs to pay both a TV license and broadband charges to receive national free-to-air TV channels.
Currently the council is considering a ‘cluster’ system, which would see several schools share a headteacher and management team. Do you support this policy?
As the son of a primary school headteacher, I will oppose the cluster system on the grounds that there should always be a headteacher available, even if the only teacher in the school, to support the pupils on a full-time basis, and provide leadership for the other teachers.
If elected in the by-election, would you stand for re-election in next May’s council elections?
If elected at this by-election I would make myself available for selection by the SNP at the next election. It is not in my power to decide whether I should be a party candidate at the next election.