Ian Scott: ‘Officials have all the power’
• Former council leader Cecil Smith has insisted his decision to stand down was for “personal reasons” despite fall-outs over ferry funding
• Councillor Ian Scott believes there should be “a political force” in the council and a shift in power from officials to elected members
• More speed humps and zebra crossings should be installed in Lerwick, according to one other councillor
• Read reviews of the first half of Shetland County Drama Festival
• The council will send a message of support to stock market investor Black Rock for distancing itself from firearms manufacturers after recent mass shootings
• Read our stories on recruitment shortfalls in the council and NHS
• New amenity trust chief will face a difficult period
• Art studios and exhibition spaces should be installed in the old Anderson High School, according to a lecturer at one of the country’s leading art schools
• A renegade consumer-rights campaigner has dismissed an announcement from the communications regulator over broadband speeds
• A warning has been made that the council could have to give back a portion of Scottish government funding earmarked for extra houses if it can’t get the new homes on the ground
Michael Garriock
Its good to see that there is a Councillor who can see the wood past the trees, and is willing to tell it like it is.
Its been clear to some of us ‘on the outside looking in’ now for some time that the real power within the Council is in the hands of the so-called ‘Officials’.
Generally speaking, Councillors have been relegated to making decisions on broad policy only, with ‘Officials’ making case by case decisions as they arise, apparently under the guise of “delegated authority” unless in a very small number of expceptional cases. With Councillors being left as much in the dark about what is going on as much as the public is.
That “delegated authority” needs to be revoked ASAP, unless for minor routine decisions, and the real power returned back to where it belongs, to the Councillors. I wish Cllr. Scott every succes in achieving that, but I do not envy his task given the grip ‘Officials’ will hold on to what they currently have to the very last.
Stephen Shirmer
There is no FAKE NEWS coming from councillor Scott…
A long awaited councillor who will say it as how he sees it…
Congratulations to Mr Scott who has always put the people first.