The previous administration’s cuts
consultation in June 2010 was an ill-tempered business with the town’s antipathy
towards Highland Council being displayed by many citizens who heckled the top
table. Looking back on it this observer is tempted to subscribes to the school
of thought that the idea that the swimming pool might close was nothing but a
red herring.
No smoke and mirrors this time round
though. Last night was a very calm affair compared with 2010. Everything up front with Liz, Dave Fallows and the Leader of the
Council Drew Hendry. A few pictures of the consultation here.
Those present got a chance for one to ones
with the high heid yins and they were in genuine listening mode. Drew Hendry
particularly seemed cognisant of the ill-feeling between the community here and
the Highland Council in the past and he genuinely wants to offer us and other
communities a better deal. It’s all to the backdrop of cuts however, how do we
get the best from a diminishing pot? Will the new area comprising Nairn,
Badenoch and Strathspey deliver us a better deal than being in the clutches of
Inverness? Let’s hope so.
There’s also the Scottish Government’s
agenda of localism looming on the horizon as we’ve heard recently from Alistair
Noble, who was at the consultation last night and threw that into the Q&A
session at the end.
Also present the Nairn Youth Forum, the
only youth forum to turn up at a consultation so far according to Drew Hendry.
There was a willingness to listen and a respect shown from those present that
simply wasn’t there back in June 2010 when a cuts consultation roadshow last
hit town. And cuts there will be, about £30 million’s worth to find and it
could continue for many years like this. It is sobering to be faced with a form
asking you where you would like to see cuts made. Which finger do you cut off?
Where will the damage done by the collective decision go? Are there ways of
doing this by hitting further the management layers at Glenurquhart Road
A thought provoking meeting and although
there will be cuts, this observer came away feeling less nervous about it all,
it seemed a lot more competent than the debacle of 2010.
If you wish to take part in the
consultation, you can do so here on line.
3 comments:
I am glad the meeting was calm but given how badly we have been treated in the past I really do not believe that there is a genuine desire to help people.
How can cuts ever be comfortable?!
Now that Gurn is onboard with the ruling SNP's cuts, will you still complain about the council not keeping grass and plants tidy?
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