Monday, November 21, 2016

Leopold Street Thunderer "Nothing for Nairn" edition hits the streets

As we go to pixel you still have a few minutes to get your edition from a Co-op near you otherwise you will have to go cold turkey until tomorrow morning. 

Nothing for Nairn then apart from cuts and the Nairnshire gets down to the nitty-gritty as the Community Centre and the Sports Club take big hits.

And there are still massive, massive cuts to come too (23% across the next two years and perhaps even more).
And if there is one thing we are getting our equitable share and more of then surely it is cuts to local services and resources? 

One of our regular readers suggested this evening in a fatalistic fashion: 

"All a ticking time bomb now. Maybe the Gurn could open an online betting service so we can put remaining cash on what service will close first. It’s saying goodbye to a lot of services that’ll never come back. The end of this society as it is."

Meanwhile we received today an e-mail from the Commission for Highland Democracy and it contained the following:

"The Commission on Highland Democracy is an independent body supported by the Highland Council to examine the current state of democracy in the Highlands, and to have conversations locally about the kind of democracy we want to have.

We want to involve as many people as possible in this, and make sure that everyone in the Highlands has a chance to take part. We are doing this through publishing information on-line, through a series of meetings across the Highlands, by issuing press releases, and by contacting regional and local media, to try and get to as many people in as many communities as possible.

Two weeks ago we launched our Call for Evidence. Through this we are trying to collect people’s views on democracy and local decision making in the Highlands, and start a discussion about the future people want in the Highlands, and how this can be achieved. We have already had a good response to this, and the issues are clearing resonating with people across the Highlands. But we want to make sure we are getting to as many people as possible and think you may be able to help with this through your networks and publications.

We issued a press release on the 8th November as this is available here:http://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/9826/commission_wants_your_views_on_local_democracy_in_the_highlands More information on the Commission is available at our website: www.highlanddemocracy.wordpress.com, and the public Call for Evidence is available here: http://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2YZ788R and attached. Comments can also be emailed to: Commission@highland.gov.uk, or sent by post to: Commission on Highland Democracy, Policy Team, Highland Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX."

It might be hard to argue with any readers who might suggest that there is little point in looking for Highland Democracy for Nairn as they can point to  the headline in the Nairnshire Telegraph to back up their case.

And a big blast for our councillors in the local paper's editorial too: "And it is not a great augury for Nairn's present Ward 19 squad." begins the Editor in the final paragraph, he goes on to suggest: "They might well consider their effectiveness".  A must read editorial too then, the local paper is suggesting that the political division between the Indies and the SNP is not doing us any good. Don't delay Gurnshire, those Nainshires will be flying off the shelves tomorrow morning. 

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

why not just close sports centre/community centre,if folk want to play sport,let them pay fer it,same as community centres users,use the funding for a ramp for murds bridge project,or for pot holes in roads,

Taxing subject said...

But we already pay for the community arts centre and towards the sports centre plus money towards fixing pot holes via our council tax. Are you suggesting anon 3.03 that we should stop paying this and instead Murd should start some sort of funding for his ramp?

Sleep tight said...

If you go down to the East beach you'll see a strange sight, namely the bodies of four people with their heads stuck firmly in the sand.

I understand these are Nairn's four councillors who've all decided to adopt this position until such time as they're voted out of office.

Apparently this is one of the few times when they've all agreed on a policy and managed to act upon it.

The only downside is that they'll be unable to attend any meetings (rather than just some) or offer any support to the good folk of Nairn as the first of many cuts come into place.

One local loon suggested this will make little or no difference as to date the four councillors seem have been mainly tongue tied when given the opportunity to speak out for Nairn

Luckily like the government in Westminster three of our sand covered councillors would appear to have enough personal wealth for them not to be affected to any great extent by any of the proposed cuts

Nairnites should feel safe in their beds tonight knowing that our elected councillors are doing all they can for us from their somewhat sandy positions

Very disappointed SNP member said...

Why didn't the SNP put in a motion opposing the unfair cuts to Nairn? Time for action and less spin.

Anonymous said...

Local SNP don't seem to do 'action' and I think the only spin they know is a setting on their washing machines

Anonymous said...

If only the Westminster Labour Government in 1975 hadn't got rid of Nairnshire County Council and then the Westminster Conservative Government in 1996 hadn't got rid of Nairn District Council, we might still have real Local Government in our area.
We need to tell our 4 Councillors to do all that they can to lobby for a change - a change made in Scotland for Scotland!
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/abolish-highland-council-richard-laird

Monday Night Reader said...

From reading the Nairnshire, Cllr Green is rapidly learning the language of politics. He has a rambling statement which doesn't seem to actually say anything. I predict he will go far in this game.
Kudos though to SNP Liz for introducing the word 'wheech' to the political lexicon.

It's in front of you said...

I enjoyed the photo montage of our councillors Mick and Lizzie on the front of this weeks Nairnshire, I thought at first they were going to be appearing in a Christmas panto but no the only panto is the continuation of our four councillors riding into the cuts apocalypse whilst being unable to gain any money for Nairn, squawking 'it's the independents'

Blame, blame, blame but no action

As for language, they seem to have reached the babble equivalent of football pundits, although maybe that's being a bit harsh on that profession

On another note as we approach the local elections of next year I find myself with no-one to vote for if the choice is limited to the current incumbents. Maybe a spoilt ballot paper to show I'm not apathetic when it comes to an election

I have a cunning plan said...

The front page Nairnshire article also mentions that the Nairn Community and Arts Centre failed to make an application for a grant despite two reminders to do so.

Comments above have hinted at what some readers think about the apparent lack of competence of our four councillors but surely we should also add those in charge of the CC funding as being equally useless?

Is there a hidden agenda for Nairn whereby all of our public services are to close at an earlier point than anywhere else in the Highlands?

First the museum then?

Yes said...

I hope all the voters who didn't want Scottish Independence are happy now, after all a No vote was supposed to guarantee that we'd stay in the EU

Scotland now gets less money from Westminster but we're not allowed to leave the Union. My only hope is that the English will react to the biased media and demand that Scotland leaves the union

As for the cuts, we ain't seen nothing yet

D.Ross said...

To Anon @ 4:06PM

I just saw on the news at lunch time the Autumn statement:- due to the increased spending on roads etc in England, Scotland under the Barnet formula will get an extra £800million over the next 5yrs.

The Chancellor also stated that the Scottish Gov can spend it on what it likes. eg no strings attached..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/23/scotland-gets-800-million-income-tax-forecasts-fall-sharply/

QUOTE:-
An extra £125 million will be handed to the Scottish Government in 2017/18, with a further £197 million the following year, £239 million the year after that and £257 million in 2020/21.

IndyRef2 said...

@DROSS

Yes but we're only getting that money because spending on infrastructure in England and Wales has increased and under the Barnett formula Scotland gets an increase. It's just us (Scotland) getting some of the taxes we pay back, not 'new' money and probably given grudgingly as Westmonster knows it has to tread on eggshells as far as Scotland is concerned or face dire consequences

Anonymous said...

D Ross @ 5.48
Scotland is the Oliver Twist to the UK's Bumble -

Scotland rose from the table; and advancing to the Chancellor, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at her own temerity:
'Please, sir, I want some more.'
The UK was a fat, healthy country; but it turned very pale. It gazed in stupified astonishment on the SNP champions for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The Conservative MPs were paralysed with wonder; the Labour MPs with fear.
'What!' said the Chancellor at length, in a faint voice.
'Please, sir,' replied Scotland, 'I want some more.'
The Chancellor aimed a blow at Scotland's head with the ladle; pinioned her in his arm; and shrieked aloud for the beadle.
The Tory Cabinet were sitting in solemn conclave, when Mrs May rushed into the room in great excitement, and addressing the Chancellor in the high chair, said,
'Mr. Hammond, I beg your pardon, sir! Scotland has asked for more!'
There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every countenance.
'For MORE!' said Mrs May. 'Compose yourself, Hammond, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that Scotland asked for more, after she had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary?'
'She did, sir,' replied Hammond.
'That wee country will be hung,' said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. 'I know that she will be hung.'

Anonymous said...

I see Inverness Council (opps Sorry Highland Council) is getting its own way. I wonder if anyone has done a freedom of information request on per head spending across the Region. Yet again the comments, Nairn is just an outer part of Inverness is coming true.

Anonymous said...

Inverness will always have a BIG excuse for getting the bigger share. Capital of the highlands, bigger population etc etc. You will nor win against them as they hold the purse strings. As for our local councillors, pity we can't do a vote of no confidence or discipline them for not doing their job.