This evening, after a busy surgery at Blackness Primary School, I attended a meeting of the Community Spirit group that serves the northern part of the West End Ward - Ancrum, Pentland, Cleghorn and Milnbank and surrounding streets. There was a very interesting presentation by the SACRO Youth Justice Service.
This afternoon's City Council budget meeting was nothing short of dreadful - the SNP administration misused Council Standing Orders to rule an opposition motion (that was to be moved by Labour and seconded by me) that would have ensured the Dundee Employment and Aftercare Project does not lose its funding, was "incompetent" - although it had already been ruled competent by council legal officers. I have no doubt where the real incompetence lies.
I spoke with Radio Tay tonight about this disgraceful situation and here's my news release :
'Councillor brands City Budget Meeting as disgraceful
Dundee City Council's Liberal Democrat Group Leader tonight branded the council budget meeting as "nothing short of disgraceful" and that the SNP administration should be ashamed of the way they handled the meeting.
Cllr Fraser Macpherson said, "The Depute Convener of Policy & Resources ruled a motion by the opposition out of order despite it having already been approved by the council's top legal officer as competent. Councillor Sawers was unable and unwilling to give any satisfactory explanation for this disgraceful gagging of debate.
"The SNP administration simply wanted to avoid a debate which would have exposed their dreadful handling of the Fairer Scotland Funding issue and their treatment of the Dundee Employment and Aftercare Project. They have misused council standing orders to gag any opposition. It is nothing short of disgraceful and I feel for the staff at DEAP - all the opposition was seeking to do was to protect DEAP's funding and people's jobs."
Cllr Macpherson indicated that an cross-party group of opposition councillor are seeking an urgent meeting with the Council Chief Executive and the Depute Chief Executive in her capacity as the council top legal officer.
Cllr Macpherson said, "I am simply appauled at how the SNP acted today. A council cannot be allowed to operate in this manner. The SNP seem determined to gag any views they don't like. It is a bad day for democracy and for the reputation of the City Council."'
This afternoon's City Council budget meeting was nothing short of dreadful - the SNP administration misused Council Standing Orders to rule an opposition motion (that was to be moved by Labour and seconded by me) that would have ensured the Dundee Employment and Aftercare Project does not lose its funding, was "incompetent" - although it had already been ruled competent by council legal officers. I have no doubt where the real incompetence lies.
I spoke with Radio Tay tonight about this disgraceful situation and here's my news release :
'Councillor brands City Budget Meeting as disgraceful
Dundee City Council's Liberal Democrat Group Leader tonight branded the council budget meeting as "nothing short of disgraceful" and that the SNP administration should be ashamed of the way they handled the meeting.
Cllr Fraser Macpherson said, "The Depute Convener of Policy & Resources ruled a motion by the opposition out of order despite it having already been approved by the council's top legal officer as competent. Councillor Sawers was unable and unwilling to give any satisfactory explanation for this disgraceful gagging of debate.
"The SNP administration simply wanted to avoid a debate which would have exposed their dreadful handling of the Fairer Scotland Funding issue and their treatment of the Dundee Employment and Aftercare Project. They have misused council standing orders to gag any opposition. It is nothing short of disgraceful and I feel for the staff at DEAP - all the opposition was seeking to do was to protect DEAP's funding and people's jobs."
Cllr Macpherson indicated that an cross-party group of opposition councillor are seeking an urgent meeting with the Council Chief Executive and the Depute Chief Executive in her capacity as the council top legal officer.
Cllr Macpherson said, "I am simply appauled at how the SNP acted today. A council cannot be allowed to operate in this manner. The SNP seem determined to gag any views they don't like. It is a bad day for democracy and for the reputation of the City Council."'