TONY BLAIR'S ACHIEVEMENTS 10 YEARS ON...

An excellent article by Simon Heffer appears in today's edition of the Daily Telegraph. It summarises extremely well and very succinctly just what 10 years under Blair's leadership means for those of us who live in the UK...
Click here to read the full article.

STIRLING COUNCIL CUTS TOURISM FUNDING

Stirling Council’s Labour administration have voted to cut support to tourism by half.

At last week’s budget meeting Labour forced through £2 million of cuts to services, despite increasing Council Tax levels. £100,000 of those cuts were for support to tourism.

Cllr Alistair Berrill, along with other Conservative opposition councillors, voted against the cuts. He says he is concerned about the damage to Stirling’s important tourism sector. “Labour haven’t explained the detail of how they plan to introduce these very severe reductions. However, they have indicated that a number of Tourist Information Centres are likely to be affected, including those at Aberfoyle, Dunblane, Drymen, Pirnhall and Tyndrum. We don’t yet know whether these centres will have to close outright, but my fear is that they will. This is likely to cause tremendous damage to tourism outside the City of Stirling, particularly to smaller businesses.”

Cllr Berrill goes on to condemn the administration. “These cuts are so short sighted. I would like to know whether their impact has been fully thought through and costed. For Stirling Council £100,000 is a relatively modest amount, particularly when you see the huge sums they squander every year on unnecessary bureaucracy. Yet it represents half of their annual funding for Visit Scotland and Tourist Information Centres. If the local economy is damaged as a result, then the saving to Stirling Council may prove small consolation.”

STIRLING COUNCIL EDUCATION CUTS

At last week’s meeting of Stirling Council, the Labour Administration voted through a package of educational cuts for the second year running. Despite an increase in the Council Tax of 1.8%, Stirling’s schools will once again be feeling the pinch, says opposition Education spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives Cllr Alistair Berrill.

“Last year Labour slashed almost £1 million from the Education budget. This year the cuts total over £700,000. They are taking £227,000 from pre-school education, £381,000 from primary and secondary schools, and £100,000 from primary school closures.”

There is confusion over the £100,000 for primary school closures, which Labour have coyly referred to as their “review of primary school provision and arrangements.” As far as Scottish Conservative Cllr Berrill understands, this can only mean the proposed closure of Lochearnhead Primary School. But, he says, “they haven’t yet approved the closure, which is to be discussed at the meeting of the Executive on Tuesday (13th February). They seem to be jumping the gun in voting through the cuts before the closure has been approved.”

Cllr Berrill believes that, year on year, these cuts to front line services must begin to damage the quality of our children’s education. “Labour voted down our budget, which would have preserved full funding to schools. We had proposed making reductions in headquarters administrative costs, which would have safeguarded the money going into schools. Yet, once again, Labour have shown that their instinct is to remove money from where the impact will be felt the hardest.”

STIRLING SETS SECOND HIGHEST COUNCIL TAX IN SCOTLAND!

With just three out of the 32 Scottish local authorities still to set their budget for 2007/08, householders in Stirling district look set to be charged the second highest Council Tax in the country this year.

An Alternative Budget proposed by Conservatives at yesterday's meeting would have meant no increase in Council Tax this year - the fourth year in a row that local Tories put forward plans involving no increase in tax.

With the rise in government grant, coupled with an end to Labour profligacy, the Tory proposals would also have meant more funding for roads, grass cutting, street sweeping, flood prevention, community halls, wardens, and gritting.

Labour councillors used their majority to vote down the Tory proposals, instead imposing a 1.8 per cent increase in council tax.

Commenting afterwards Tory finance spokesman Cllr Paul Nelson said:
"The tax increase levied by Labour for the coming year is more modest than we have seen before, thanks partly to Tory pressure and partly to the increase in government grant. But few will be fooled by it. Labour's track record in Stirling suggests that should they be re-elected in May they will simply revert back to their high tax agenda once again.

"Stirling has gone from having the eighteenth highest to fifth highest council tax over the past decade. That dismal record is set to deteriorate yet further, with local householders facing the second highest tax in the country over the coming year.

"It's not always a lack of money that is the problem, but the priorities pursued by the current Administration that are wrong.
Residents are paying a lot more in tax, but feel they are getting less in return."

"The traditional Labour orthodoxy that higher council taxes lead to improved services has been turned on its head by this Administration.
Even their own Residents Survey shows public satisfaction with council services has declined."

"Our alternative proposals would have brought tax relief to local people on fixed or modest incomes, such as pensioners and those with young families, for whom the council tax has rapidly become a sizeable part of the household budget.

"The fact is that the current Administration doesn't have a revenue problem - it has a spending problem. That's why they've lifted Stirling into the 'top tax league', way above councils of a similar size or profile. They claim they can't afford not to increase the council tax, but the truth is it's Labour councillors we can't afford!"

91% SAY COUNCIL TAX IS NOT VALUE FOR MONEY

A survey has revealed that over 91% of respondents living in Bridge of Allan and Dunblane are dissatisfied with the value they feel they are getting from their council tax payments to Stirling Council.

The survey, which was sent by post in December to everyone on the electoral register in the new multi member ward of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane, received the best response on record for a survey of this type in a Stirling consituency.

Respondents were asked their opinions on a number of key issues ranging from crime and transport to education and road maintenance. Over 91% of respondents stated that council tax was not value for money, and that council tax was their biggest concern.

Callum Campbell and Hugh McCrea, both Conservative candidates for the multi member ward, devised the "Survey of Opinions" in order to engage with local residents and to understand fully their concerns.

Callum Campbell said "The level of response has been hugely encouraging. What is clear is that there is a depth of feeling as to how poorly taxpayers' money is being spent. I keep hearing how successful Stirling is at collecting council tax payments. I just wish they were as adept at managing them and spending them."

Hugh McCrea commented "These results only serve to underline the response I have been getting on the doorstep. To say it is one of total disillusionment with Stirling council is probably the understatement of the year."

Road maintenance was also cited as the main area for concern after council tax. Over 80% believe that transport could be improved in their area, and 78% would not be in favour of any plans to introduce a toll on cars wishing to access the city centre.

Callum Campbel added, "The results of this survey illustrate the work that needs to be done in order to deliver services more efficiently and cost effectively in Stirling - work which this Labour led administration has failed to do over many years. Residents in Bridge of Allan and Dunblane have made their views clearly known, and the least we can do now is answer their call and deliver."