Councillors show common sense and working together !!!!

[ToonieArgyll]

Councillor Donald Kelly made a strong case for democracy in the management of affairs in Argyll and Bute Council when he spoke to the motion had proposed to the full council yesterday (28th April 2011),.

Text of Motion
‘The Council agrees that with effect from 30 June 2011 the Executive Committee be abolished. Thereafter all Council business formally considered by the Executive Committee will be referred to the full Council for deliberation on a monthly basis excepting the month of July when the Council will be in recess.’

Councillor Kelly’s address in support of the motion
‘Argyll First are proud to be the catalyst in driving political change within Argyll & Bute Council and are delighted to re-submit this Motion before Members today. This Motion gives every member of the Council the opportunity to vote for democracy and allows every member to have an input into all council business. Regardless of whichever side of the chamber we find ourselves on, we all stood on the doorsteps in the 2007 Election, canvassing votes and telling our constituents that we would do everything we could to represent their views. At that time we all believed that this was possible. However under the present political set-up, this is impossible to do with only the 16 members of the current executive making and taking, the vast majority of the council decisions, leaving the remaining 20 elected councillors with little or no input whatsoever. Whilst recognising that further changes to the political management of the council will be required, we strongly believe that it must start at the top to restore democracy to Argyll & Bute, thereby giving each and every elected councillor the democratic right to represent their communities by allowing them to deliberate on all council matters’.

The administration’s Amendment

In the expected ‘wrecking ball’, Education Spokesperson, the LibDem Councilor Ellen Morton, acting as Leader in the absence through illness of Council Leader, Councillor Dick Wash, moved ‘No Change’. This effectively stops down the proposal put in the motion.

This was seconded by Conservative Councillor Gary Mulvaney. Councillor Morton attempted distraction by mentioning all the various committees presently operating within the council – deliberately missing the point of the motion.

Then, in what was either a lack of confidence in her role as acting Leader or guiding the motion to the long grass, she intimated that it would not be wise to take a decision of this magnitude in Dick Walsh’s absence.

Background facts
Interesting facts provided byArgyll First during the debate included:

Since May 2007 when the current council was elected, there have been 44 meetings of the council executive.
In this meetings 755 items have been passed by an average of 13.3 members.
This leaves 23 councillors marginalised.
87% had voted in a very recent straw pool, saying that they were opposed to the way the Executive was set up and calling for a return to full council democratic decision taking.
Argyll first believe that these are a substantial reasons to revisit the role of the executive committee – in a context where there are only 7 meetings a year of the full council.

Councillor Kelly’s summing up
In his summing up after the debate and before the vots, Councillor Donald Kelly said: ‘Argyll First is proud to have been able to bring forward this motion on behalf of our communities to allow all elected members the opportunity, once again, to vote for democracy. By supporting this motion, you will be demonstrating the fact that you have been listening to your constituents in Argyll & Bute. As a result of a recent snapshot poll, the constituents of Argyll & Bute have made their feelings crystal clear in regard to the current political management arrangements of Argyll & Bute Council with no less than 87% voting for the abolition of the Executive Committee and in favour of all council business being deliberated and decided by the full council, giving every councillor a vote.

‘If you do not support this motion, you are going against the will of the very same people who elected you to represent them. This motion today is not about political point-scoring. This Motion today is an opportunity to allow every councillor to have the fundamental right to fully represent their communities and to carry out the duties which they were elected to do. Now is the time to restore democracy to Argyll & Bute Council – democracy, which 87% of our constituents want to see reinstated.

‘Any member choosing not to support this motion must ask themselves this question – What is your role and purpose within the Council if it is not to represent the people who elected you?

If you choose not to support this Motion, you will be asked this question again – but this time you will be answering to the people of Argyll & Bute.’

Voting Records
For Argyll First Motion

Donald Kelly- Argyll First
Douglas Philand – Argyll First
John McAlpine – Argyll First
George Freeman – Argyll and Bute Independent Councillors
Alister MacAlister – SNP
Roderick McCuish – SNP
Donald Macdonald – SNP
Robert Macintyre – SNP
Isobel Strong – SNP
For Administration Amendment

Ellen Morton – Liberal Democrat
Rory Colville – Liberal Democrat
Andrew Nisbet – Liberal Democrat
Al Reay – Liberal Democrat
Vivien Dance – Alliance of Independents
Mary-Jean Devon – Alliance of Independents
Daniel Kelly – Alliance of Independents
Duncan MacIntyre – Alliance of Independents
Neil Mackay – Alliance of Independents
Donald MacMillan – Alliance of Independents
Alex McNaughton – Alliance of Independents
James McQueen – Alliance of Independents
Bruce Marshall – Alliance of Independents
Billy Petrie – Alliance of Independents
Elaine Robertson – Alliance of Independents
Len Scoular – Alliance of Independents
Gary Mulvaney – Conservative
David Kinniburgh – Conservative
Abstention

John Semple – SNP
Absent

Robin Currie – Liberal Democrat
Alison Hay – Liberal Democrat
Anne Horn – SNP
Donald McIntosh – SNP
Ron Simon -SNP
Dick Walsh – Independent (on sick leave)
Gordon Chalmers –Argyll and Bute Independent Councillors
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2 Responses to “Detail on the Argyll First Motion to return decision making to full council”
phill Says:

April 30th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Very disappointed in Cllrs Devon and MacNaughton. Are they really saying they think its ok to have more say than the 2/3 of members who have no say in final outcomes.
You sadly both (among the rest of the administration) believe that ‘some are more equal than others’, and to the outside world appear to have been bought, and in doing so have effectively brought your council careers to an abrupt halt come May 2012.

outragedtaxpayer Says:

April 30th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
This motion makes commence sense I cannot fathom why any councillor worth his or her salt would not vote for in favour of this motion .Its obvious and clear to see by the tactical voting there is a very unhealthy clique within the council at the moment that must be removed and replaced by fresh driven democratic councillors that will actually serve our communities interests instead of false promises when canvassing for votes at election time. I would like to remind these councillors that it their position exists to serve and act in the best interests of the people of Argyll and Bute that is why we voted for them in the first place .In my opinion there is far too much dead weight stuck in the dark ages and acting in the interest of self preservation within the current set up and a clear need for a radical shake up is needed if we the people of Argyll and Bute are to be treated fairly and democratically in the future.I must also point out the breakdown of the votes make for very interesting reading i for one will be following future events very closely.

[ToonieArgyll]

This in my opinion is the correct approach and what we should expect from our councillors.Working together in unity for the benefit of our communities,when i vote for my local councillor, i expect him or her to be able to represent me on all matters of council business.The current situation within this council has to end and a fresh approach must be adopted.

[WeeTownWeeYin]

As a young potential voter who has just missed out on this election ( my 18th is next month) I have been watching the current situation within Argyll & Bute Council both on a kintyre forum and on For Argyll. I just can't understand why all our local councillors did not vote for democracy. In saying that I am only aware of the work that Councillor Donald Kelly has done and continues to do for the local community. I do not know too much about the work of the other councillors. Obviously I have a year to go before I can vote in my first election therefore I will be watching the situation with great interest!

[John S]

ToonieArgyll, the great thing about democracy is that people are allowed to have different opinions, and in complex decisions there are often many potential solutions. In this case the motion put calls for the abolition of the executive committee of the council, The amendment calls for no change. My opinion is that neither course of action are in the best interest of the people of South Kintyre, hence abstention was the logical vote for me.

[ToonieArgyll]

ToonieArgyll, the great thing about democracy is that people are allowed to have different opinions, and in complex decisions there are often many potential solutions. In this case the motion put calls for the abolition of the executive committee of the council, The amendment calls for no change. My opinion is that neither course of action are in the best interest of the people of South Kintyre, hence abstention was the logical vote for me.

Well John how can the current setup be classed as democratic when the minority rule? What is your proposed course of action or solution to the current problems within the setup?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

Democracy is a form of government in which all citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal (and more or less direct) participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law. It can also encompass social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination

Just for those who have forgotton the true meaning of Democracy

[John S]

TooieArgyll, its easy to subjectively quote wikipedia - from the same article -

Majority rule is often listed as a characteristic of democracy.

And so it is in Westminster, Holyrood and council chambers the length and breadth of the country. The issue currently at Argyll & Bute Council is the accountability of The Administration. The Councils constitution states that it is the role of The Opposition to provide scrutiny and hold the Administration to account.

The present structure of the main management committee of the Council - The Executive Committee is not representative of the political make up of the Council and is heavily weighted in membership towards the Administration, having only two members of the Opposition on it.

The Opposition on the council is currently working together on a shared vision for new council structures.

My solution - I believe that the political management structures of the council should represent the political democracy expressed at the ballot box and be open to public scrutiny at every stage. With the ability for issues of controversy or disagreement within The Executive being easily refered to full council by a simple 1/3 vote to do so.

This allows the opposition to exercise a sensible degree of scrutiny of council management without every single simple management decision going to a full Council meeting.

[ultraviolet]

In saying that I am only aware of the work that Councillor Donald Kelly has done and continues to do for the local community. I do not know too much about the work of the other councillors.

It really annoys me that we elect Councilors who then fail to keep us updated with the work they are carrying out. In this day and age it is very easy and the only one who I see making any effort on that part is John Semple. Wait until the elections come up next year and all of sudden we will be inundated with what our councillors have done and why we should vote for them. Personally I would welcome their promise and keep us updated with news during their term and not as and when it suits.