Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Wednesday morning press review

The Nairnshire front page is dominated by the threat of the closure to the Tourist information centre. There’s a picture of Sandy Ford as he finishes his career on the streets of Nairn. Provost Liz has a mention on the front page too, she has attacked the council cuts as shocking. Now it is the job of any opposition to attack the administration but perhaps Liz might want to tell us how she might want to balance the books or how money could be found to avoid cuts? It isn’t a happy situation, we all know it is coming, if anyone has any alternative ideas of how it can be done then perhaps we’d all be grateful?
Inside the paper Community Councillor Graham vine is worried about potential allegations of ‘Nimbyism’. There’s a picture from the Beer Festival and the usual ‘Cop This’ entries. Good news for retaily-deprived Nairnites on page 3 with the latest on the Sainsbury situation. The Nairnshire also has a report on the Junior World railway incident.
To page 4 and a report on the West Community Council backing a single council for Nairn but news that the Provost has gone very cool on the idea. That’s a bit of a pity really, you’d think Liz would see the potential benefits for the town, is she looking at this through Highland Council tinted spectacles? Still time to change your mind Liz. Iain Bain has a theory as to why some quarters might not want to see a single council in Nairn, you can read his editorial to find out what he feels about the single council proposal.
Liz again speaks out about the £100,000 tag bandied about to repair the Links School roof, the Nairnshire tries to get to the bottom of the origins of this figure. News on the arts and Nairn Academy is to be found on page 7 and the usual comprehensive sports coverage to the rear, including the impressive recent turn of fortunes up at Staion Park with wins against Huntly and Cove in the cup last week.

5 comments:

Greg said...

Highland Council would be finding it much easier to balance the books if they hadn't frozen council tax for the last 4 years running ! (Have I got my facts straight ? Seems hard to believe.)

Graisg said...

Hi Greg, I think it might be just the last two years and then it is simply down to restrictions/instructions from the Scottish Government. If I too haven't got my facts straight then there will be Gurnites out there that will put us both right.
Do you think many people would have the spare cash to pay an increased council tax?

Anonymous said...

The problem isn't council tax - the HC is over 80% funded by the Scottish Government - and they *pay* extra for the HC not raising council tax...

- Brian

Anonymous said...

Greg your so wrong it was only the last two years. Maybe if Highland Council actually got rid of a lot of senior managers and people empire building. Also cut down people's wages at the senior level. No-one should be earning more than the Prime Minister in Local Government. Also cost of buildings in Inverness would be higher to host people, instead of moving them around the council. Making Senior managers not meet with their own union to discuss their pay rise would help. Why not call it Inverness council, since it does not represent myself at all living in Nairn.

Anonymous said...

How many people in Highland actually pay Council Tax, how many exemptions, rebates etc?