Graham Vine v Sandy on the Common Good – the rematch

And a suggestion from the Gurn for Sandy's Magic Wand

Tonight at the West CC meeting there was another 5 minute bout between Messrs Vine and Park before Rosemary Young rang the bell and the pugilists returned to their corners. Last time round at the ward forum it seemed that Graham got a fair doing from Sandy but this time the Gurn would suggest a narrow win on points for Graham.

Cllr Vine started by stating that he had another meeting with Fergus Ewing ‘who absolutely agrees with us that he can see no reason why the original District Council having made a hash of the agricultural lease on Sandown should mean that the Common Good Fund should pay for putting right the District Council’s blunder.’

The debate then moved on to the two lots of around 300k that have been charged to the Common Good fund, one to get the farmer off the land and the other for the charges incurred on the failed sales bid. Graham Vine was wanting to know if there were any planning costs in the second tranche of debt incurred. Sandy told him that there was absolutely no cost to the Common Good for planning expenses. And in a reference to Fergus Ewing’s opinion he said; ‘That’s out with my control, and if Fergus Ewing can wave a magic wand to get the District Council’s back and sort that one out, that is way out of our control.”

Graham Marsden must be mentioned in dispatches but he really only seemed to talk about the 300k for getting the agricultural lease sorted and had to be reminded that there was another large sum billed to the Common Good too.

It all ended with pleasantries again but it’ll probably run for a while yet. Oh Sandy, nobody can wave a magic wand to get Nairn District Council back but you can go down in local history, big, big time by waving your magic wand and giving Nairn the next best thing: “The Royal Burgh of Nairn Community Council.” What a massive chunk of gold braid on the CV that would be and would inspire folk to put an X in the appropriate place at the next Highland Council election. Come on Sandy, you’re the man to sort this community council review the way the people of Nairn want it!