In The Shetland Times this week…
• Cecil Smith emerges as leader with council roles appointed.
• Fetlar ferryman tackles house fire with a garden hose.
• Coastguard rescue dog who went over cliffs.
• SNP pair pack out museum twice over for Q&A event.
• Frozen food for care homes plan receives frosty response.
… and much more
An MSP has called on Serco NorthLink to reintroduce shared cabins on its ferry services. SNP elected member Emma Roddick has urged the company’s managing…
READ FULL STORYA coastguard helicopter went to the aid of a fisherman onboard a vessel north of Shetland this morning (Tuesday). The R900 was called out before…
READ FULL STORYTributes are being paid following the sudden death of former First Minister Alex Salmond. The former MP and MSP, who led the country as leader…
READ FULL STORYEmergency services are carrying out a medical evacuation at an offshore installation.
READ FULL STORYEmergency services have confirmed one person has died in a house fire near Walls.
READ FULL STORYEmergency services are on the scene of a house fire in Walls – with one man in hospital. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were alerted…
READ FULL STORY
Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.
Chris Williams
Can someone explain as to why the Shetland Islands Council requires to waste public money on having a Political Leader when the past and present council is not held by any political party but is classed as an independent council?
Michael Garriock
Not another one who cannot distinguish between ‘political’ and ‘party political’.
The so-called ‘Political Leader’ is simply the chosen title for the Chairperson of the council for its political business (as opposed to its civic business – the ‘Convenor’ is its representative for that).
As you quite correctly note, both this incarnation, and previous incarnations of the SIC is, and were ‘independent’, but the business they conduct(ed) is/was no less ‘political’ than that conducted by any other council dominated by members of one political party or another, who would almost inevitably have put one of their own in as leader. So its actually quite logical and reasonable that as the SIC is a politically independent council, it has an independent political leader.
‘Political’ is the job description, not a title conferred only by being a member of some club or other whose business is politics when you’re doing that job.
I agree with you though, it would be best to have only one ‘leader’ whatever title goes with it doesn’t mater, too many cooks, too many letterheads and all that guff, with the status quo.