Call for Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to advise of transport risks
January 20, 2012 | 
Author At the meeting of the Highland Council’s Transport Committee yesterday, North, West and Central Sutherland councillor George Farlow called on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to make available a full and appropriate risk assessment, to all people in the Highlands, of transporting radioactive material.
The Head of NDA Strategy assured him that the NDA plans would be also available to all Community Councils on the route out of Scotland for reprocessing at Sellafield.
Speaking after the committee, Councillor Farlow said, “It is vital that the public understand what the impacts are of this ‘exotic fuel’ passing through their communities and I intend to keep a close eye on the risk assessments coming forward.”
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Social services voluntary bodies funding in Highland
A number of voluntary organisations in Highland will benefit through a £1 milllion investment in staff training. Organisations include Abbeyfield Ballachulish Society, New Start Highland and the Highland Homeless Trust. More details can be found here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/01/16100656
Highland Education Chair must apologise for “Year of Anxiety”
SNP Highland Council Group’s Education spokesperson, Cllr Bren Gormley has called on the Chair of Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee, Independent Councillor, Bill Fernie to apologise to the hundreds of Classroom Assistants who have been affected by a year of anxiety over the flawed proposals to axe 344 posts.
Speaking after a remarkable final u-turn in the Classroom Assistants decision, Councillor Gormley said “I am writing to Education Chair, Bill Fernie asking him to apologise for the conduct of the Independent/Lib Dem/Labour Administration over the shambolic handling of the Classroom Assistants Issue. What schools, parents and pupils have been put through over the past year is bad enough, but the strain on Classroom Assistants and their families has been intolerable. To find out, first of all, that your job is to be axed through the media rather than the Council, then to have that turned into a “review” to justify the decision – only to be followed , after enormous public and political pressure to a “stay of execution” – is traumatic in itself. Now we find that the Independent/Lib Dem/Labour Administration have awoken to the fact that all of these people are needed but, yet again these valuable members of staff find out via the press. The SNP Group and a handful of other Councillors have consistently maintained that this was a harmful proposition and that people would not be fooled by the “Review” used, belatedly, to justify it. That is why we refused to take part in what was a “track covering” exercise.” He added “I know of Classroom assistants who left their jobs through the uncertainty of this debacle and many more who were left unable to plan for the future. The Independent/Lib Dem/Labour Administration of the Council have handled this episode very badly and the public need to know that lessons will be learned. I know Bill Fernie, having worked with him before, and I believe him to be an honourable guy, that is why I think he will see that a letter of apology to those staff affected would be the least he could do, I am looking forward to a positive response from him”
Highland SNP Group reaction to Classroom Assistants comments by Highland Council Administration Leader
The Highland Council SNP Group have welcomed Press comments from Lib Dem Councillor Michael Foxley on the removal of the jobs threat to 344 Classroom Assistants in Highland. The comments followed a call by the SNP Group on Highland Council to use some of the 3.6 million pounds extra funding left after a “better than expected settlement from the Scottish Government” to remove the jobs threat. This also follows a series of changes over the past year, made to the original proposal to firstly, simply axe the jobs, then to have the jobs cuts justified by a “review” then to postpone the job cuts until after the review (but still retain the cuts as a driver) and finally, after much pressure from the public, educationalists and a concerted campaign by the SNP group, both through votes in the Council Chamber and in public, today’s comments.
Speaking after hearing the comments, SNP Council group Leader, Councillor Drew Hendry said “I have read what the Independent/Lib Dem/labour Administration leader has said in reaction to our call and, if confirmed in Council by his Independent and Labour partners, then this will be a relief to many. The most important thing is to welcome this declaration as the past year must have been a very hard one for Classroom Assistants with this threat hanging over them. We are delighted for these hard working employees that we can finally allow them to get on with their futures. However, the Administration have some hard questions to answer about the shambolic way that they have handled this and the distress to employees, schools, parents and pupils who must have all been fearing the worst throughout this time.” He added “We know that the public had spotted this folly right from the start and must praise the way the public, in particular, many Parent Councils have fought this proposal. Once this jobs threat is formally removed we will work to make sure that Highland Education is never threatened in this way again”
Highland News Report – http://www.highland-news.co.uk/News/Axe-lifted-from-Highland-classrooms-assistants-12012012.htm
SNP Group call for Council’s “better than expected settlement” to give an immediate end to jobs uncertainty for Classroom Assistants
The SNP Group on Highland Council have called on the Independent/Lib Dem/Labour Administration on Highland Council to end the threat to 344 Classroom Assistant posts following “better than expected” financial settlement from the Scottish Government, which, along with lower than planned interest rates, has left Highland Council better off than planned, to the tune of 3.6 million pounds for this financial year. Clarification over the financial settlement came during the last full council meeting and was confirmed by Highland Council’s Director of Finance, Mr Yule.
An SNP motion to conduct an educational review on classroom support needs, with the threat of job losses removed, was defeated at the June 2011
full council meeting.
SNP Group Education spokesperson, Councillor Bren Gormley, said. “The independent/Lib Dem/Labour administration and made the past year an incredibly worrying time for schools and parents but particularly those classroom assistants and their families who find their future uncertain. With the help of public pressure, we have previously forced the administration to back down from the original plan of implementing this Immediately , but the review they put in place remains fundamentally flawed due to the fact that is based on the original budget cut, their own working group minutes reflect this fact. It’s time for the jobs threat to be withdrawn completely and for fresh look at education in Highland based on what is needed to deliver the best outcomes for our children”
SNP Group Leader, Councillor Drew Hendry, said “Highland Council’s Director of finance, confirmed at the last full council meeting that due to a “better-than-expected” settlement from the Scottish government and the effect of low interest rates over the past year, the Council has ended up with additional funds to the tune of around £3.6 million pounds, clearly some of these funds need to be earmarked for the coming year – and there are some pressing needs in other areas – however, in challenging times, we need to protect education and we need to protect jobs. It would be an important and justifiable step to use some of these funds to protect jobs and the high standard of Education that Highland teachers and their classroom assistants deliver in our region”
SNP Group slam “Out of control” roads and services budget paper with no “New Ideas”
Roads and Services need new ideas not just old mistakes repeated
SNP Group Leader, Councillor Drew Hendry raised the issue of rising complaints from the public over delays, safety concerns and missed job opportunities and asked what new ideas the Lib Dem/Independent/Labour Administration were going to bring to tackle the growing concern. The depressing response to this was that the same strategy would be continued that had led to the current situation.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Hendry said, “Balancing a budget is only any good if you’re performing the right tasks and doing the right things within it. The report we heard this morning showed that virtually all aspects of the service were reporting some kind of failure, either a failure to spend enough on some issues and overspending on others. The policy of trying to hit budgets by failing to fill vital vacancies is rebounding on this Lib Dem/Independent/Labour administration, as safety concerns rise due to the lack of qualified roads engineers and delays to road repairs escalate. The hard-working staff on the ground are facing an impossible task trying to cover for the vacancies and as a result, the whole service is becoming less efficient.” He added
“Everybody knows that there’s been a lack of investment over decades in Highland roads, but that does not excuse a failure to tackle what you do have control over now. We asked if they had any new ideas and they have none. Money may be tight, but the budgets are still substantial. It’s not possible to do everything, but what is done, has to make sense and should work. We are suggesting a complete review of the way roads are tackled based on what outcomes are needed, a detailed investigation into what recruitment may actually be required and a forward-looking view on preventative spend. If vacancy management has a place, it should be as part of a plan A sharp contrast to what is currently on offer.”
SNP Highland Council Group call for progress with 4G networks in the Highlands
At the Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee yesterday, the SNP called for more efforts to be made to push for Highland’s involvement on the development of 4G technology (ultra high speed mobile connectivity) which is scheduled replace the current levels of mobile telecommunications over the coming years. SNP Councillor George Farlow, Planning Environment and Development Spokesman for the SNP, said “We must try to ensure that Highland does not miss the boat yet again. In terms of mobile and broadband coverage, the Highlands are constantly playing catch up. Without a real effort to attract the latest technology we will never achieve a level playing field in telecommunications capability that could be the life blood of successful Highland and especially rural economies.” He added “The rollout of 4G technology is being held back by delays to the auctioning off the bandwidth spectra that will carry the service. It’s a poor reflection on the Westminster Government that the delay in going ahead is holding back possible development here. We are also demanding that some of the predicted billions of pounds raised in these auctions will be used to support development in Highland and Scotland first, rather than last, as has happened with previous mobile development.”
Nuclear Submarines – Do Scots lives come cheaper?
By John Jappy
In my previous article in the S.I. (June 2009) – “Danger Beneath The Waves” I stressed the fact that every nuclear powered submarine poses the risk of a mini-Chernobyl, and with the closure of more Z-berths (where a stricken nuclear submarine could tie up to save money) the commander of each submarine is now left for himself to work out the best and nearest shoreline where he can evacuate the crew. In such a scenario, I wonder if the Westminster Government has ever thought of the possibility of Glasgow or Edinburgh requiring to be evacuated, or that sufficient iodine tablets exist to be rushed to the scene of such an accident? With the U.K Government having decided to station all 7 of its new Asute class submarines on the Clyde, eventually bringing to 14 the total number of nuclear reactors so close to our major city, could it be the case that the lives of Scots came cheaper? The first of the Navy’s 7 new nuclear submarines HMS ASTUTE (which is not nuclear armed but nuclear powered) has run into a category of problems in the first 9 months of its existence. Its embarrassing grounding off Skye was followed shortly afterwards with a sailor running amok during a short visit to Southampton and killing a senior officer. When sea trials were resumed, serious faults were found in its hydraulic system, and according to a report in the Sunday Herald, the captain has lost confidence in his vessel.
Even more serious problems have come to light, following a document, released by accident, revealing that there are major failings in the PWR2 reactor design. These are not just the type of reactors on Vanguard Class (Trident) submarines, but also on HMS ASTUTE, and despite this, the M.O.D. is determined to use exactly the same PWR2 reactors, on all further six submarines in this class, now in various stages of construction. Following a Freedom of Information request the Defence Safety Regulator disclosed that PWR2 reactors are “substandard” and “below benchmark good practice”. In contrast, American submarines have all got “high reliability” reactors brought in use following the loss of USS Thresher with all hands off Cape Cod many years ago.
The further serious failing is that all British submarines, unlike those of the Americans, are susceptible to “Loss of Coolant” accidents. This is what happened at Fukishima. I thought I was imagining hearing things, when on Newsnight Scotland, Labour’s Jackie Bailie, MSP, said that she was well aware of several dangerous leakages of radioactive coolant from Trafalgar, Superb and Torbay nuclear submarines into the Clyde Firth over many years! Why may I ask did she not give wide publicity to this and report the matter to the MOD as the lives of her Renfrewshire constituents could be at risk.
Are these losses of coolant accidents another reason why WESTMINSTER/MOD are so keen to transfer all nuclear powered submarines to the Clyde?
Could I again pose the question – “do lives of Scots come cheaper”
Welfare reform chaos on its way
by Bren Gormley.
Last week Highland Council discussed the Welfare Reform Bill currently being considered by Westminster, expressing a clear and shared view that the plans are wrong, ill-considered and will cause immense harm to some of the most vulnerable groups in our communities
There is no doubt that the benefits system has grown in complexity to a degree that would baffle anyone. Similarly the “benefit trap” that unwittingly deters people from getting back into work exists and needs to be changed – so the basic idea of re-designing benefits to make them fit for purpose is a sensible one that few would argue with – if that were solely the case
There is however within these changes a reduction in the overall benefits budget of around 18 billion pounds – hard to explain as being from mere streamlining. There is to be a massive reduction in support to many of the poorest and most vulnerable, the elderly, disabled adults and young families. Those to be so cursed are already the poorest in society and the least able to adapt or argue their case. Many of the detailed changes, which have been well described elsewhere, are causing massive anxiety to individuals ill-equipped to deal with such needless additional stress
This will pose particular challenges for Councils and other public bodies in Scotland who have responsibilities for social wellbeing and health as well as economic growth and employment – these are all “Devolved” matters, firstly to the Scottish Parliament and then on to Councils and other bodies. No single policy area exist in isolation they all interact in often quite confusing ways to create a rounded set of social policies that reflect the society in which we choose to live – basic democracy
The benefits system is however “reserved to Westminster” and the changes proposed are driven by a wholly different Condem ideology –despite its complex and often conflicting interaction with the overall social choices democratically made within Scotland
Imagine that you are driving a car – you are looking at the road, hold the steering wheel and the gearstick – but someone else controls the pedals ….. and wishes to go in other directions. Only chaos can result
Irrespective of our views on wider constitutional matters, Scottish Independence or not, there is a clear, and I believe incontrovertible case, for the benefits system to be devolved to Scotland to join its partner responsibilities for the areas of social and economic policy already managed by Scottish bodies. Only then can such essential matters be addressed in a properly joined up manner and in ways that have been chosen democratically by the Scottish people
Bren Gormley
31/10/2010
Questions asked over Community Council elections in Northwest and Central Sutherland
SNP Councillor George Farlow has called for the Returning Officer, Alistair Dodds, to initiate a complete investigation into the Elections for Community Councils in his ward in North West and Central Sutherland.
Following the announcement that Tongue Skerray and Melness Community Council had not attracted enough nominations for a new council, it appears that at least 5 people have sent off their nomination forms. The required number is 4. I counted 3 at the Community Council meeting and have an email stating that a further 2 were sent.
At the same time it was announced that the only election that was triggered was in Melvich and Strathhalladale but that seems to have changed also. Kinlochbervie Community Council has received late and amended notification that an election will be necessary there following two further nominations being “found”.
Councillor Farlow said: “Having the community council elections on the same day across the Highland Council area should have been a win-win-win situation: more, elections, more people involved and more transparency amongst the electorate.
“However, the delivery of services in remote and rural Sutherland leaves much to be desired. People willing to volunteer their time and skills have been let down by confusion and uncertainty. This first came to light on 26th and 27th September when Scourie and then Bettyhill Strathnaver and Altnaharra Community Councils highlighted issues concerning the late delivery of information. Information dated 19th September didn’t arrive until 26th.
“I was able to get the Election Officer to clarify the position with Scourie, Bettyhill and also Assynt later in the week.”
Following a complaint from a Community Councillor in Creich, it appears the whole ward was badly served.
The SNP Councillor offered: “I guess the whole issue follows on from the partial closure and the uncertainty surrounding the move of Lairg Service Point. The cuts by the Independent Group/LibDem/Labour Administration have really caused poor service and weakened communities as this has proved.
“My ward has a record second to none for the delivery of projects and facilities, large and small. The Administration of Highland Council should be serving the communities and it is not for communities to serve the council”