Last month, the SNP Group called for a special meeting of South Lanarkshire Council so we could reverse the budget decision of the Labour-Lib Dem administration (supported by the Tories) to cut the concessionary rates for under-16s and over-60s sport. That special meeting was held yesterday.
The decision to cut the concessionary rates had been met with widespread outrage from South Lanarkshire residents, especially from junior sports clubs such as swim teams and football clubs. This led to demonstrations outside SLC HQ where young footballers chanted “It’s time to go, Joe!” in reference to Joe Fagan (Labour, EK Central North), the Leader of the Council.
As the cut was part of the council’s annual budget, we required the support of up to 17 members of other parties to suspend standing orders so that we could debate our motion. We had called on Labour, Lib Dem, Tory and Green councillors to do the right thing and support the suspension of standing orders, even if they did not support our motion, so that we could at least have that public debate. Unfortunately, only Green Councillor Kirsten Robb (EK East) voted with us to allow this.
Instead, the administration tried to pre-empt our motion by bringing their own one to the council’s Executive Committee directly before the full council. Cllr Robert Brown (Lib Dem, Rutherglen South) proposed that the Executive recommend to the next full council meeting (24th May) that the 114% rise should occur incrementally over the next 22 months – for junior sports clubs only. This was passed by the ruling unionist parties.
While we are of course pleased to have secured this embarrassing U-turn from the administration, it does not go far enough and we will still push for a full reinstatement of the concessionary rates, including for under-5s and over-60s.
After the full council meeting, only members of the SNP Group stayed to speak to people in the public gallery, who had attended to show their support for our Group’s motion. Labour and Lib Dem members meanwhile left the chamber hurriedly.
This matter is not over.
Cllr Cal Johnston-Dempsey 