Author: Cllr Cal Johnston-Dempsey
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A New Flag for Bothwell
Last month, I attended the unveiling of the new Bothwell Flag. I very much support this new flag. Civic symbols are great for creating a sense of community. Municipalities across Europe and North America really identify with their local symbols such as arms and flags — and display them prominently. This flag is hopefully something…
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Remembrance Sunday 2024
It was an honour to lay a wreath this year again at Uddingston War Memorial on behalf of the Council. This year, I wore both a Poppy Scotland red poppy with the Black Watch regimental badge, and a Peace Pledge Union white poppy. The Black Watch poppy pin is to represent my papa, who served…
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Labour Control: SNP Withdraw from SLLC Board
SNP Group members have resigned from the board of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture and the Group have today written to the Chief Executive of the Council to inform him we will not nominate replacement appointees. Read more below. Dear Paul, Having carefully considered our position; the South Lanarkshire SNP Group has decided that we…
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ScotGov Funding for Affordable Housing Welcomed
Councils will receive a share of an additional £40m this year to increase the supply of social and affordable homes. The funding, which was confirmed by the First Minister in the Programme for Government has boosted the affordable housing supply programme to nearly £600m this year and will mostly be distributed to the five council…
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Labour Throw Pupils Under the Bus
South Lanarkshire Council’s Executive Committee today voted to cut school transport provision. The Council had consulted on proposals to increase the eligibility threshold distance for high school transport from 2 miles to 3 miles. 92% of parents and carers responding to the consultation opposed the cut. The changed was proposed by the Labour-Liberal Democrat council…
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SNP Slam Leisure and Culture Cuts
The SNP Group at South Lanarkshire Council have slammed the announcement that South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC) are set to withdraw from 37 community halls and 7 libraries, saying that the cuts will have a devastating effect on communities. The SNP’s alternative budget — proposed in February but voted down by the Unionist parties…
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Comments on SLC Budget
Commenting on the passing of a budget today at South Lanarkshire Council, Cllr John Ross (SNP) said: “Our group are utterly stunned by the damage Joe Fagan’s Labour-Lib Dem administration has wrought on South Lanarkshire today. There was no need whatsoever for the scale of the cuts, charges, and austerity they have passed. “This is…
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SNP Blast ‘ANTI-DEMOCRATIC’ Labour Councils Actions
South Lanarkshire Council met on Wednesday 31st January to decide the allocation of committee members after the resignation of Councillor Mark Horsham (Clydesdale South) from the SNP group. Following the resignation, both the Labour and SNP groups have 25 members. At the meeting, the SNP Group proposed that the five vacant positions be allocated by negotiation…
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School Transport Cuts
On Monday 15th January, South Lanarkshire Council launched a consultation on increasing the qualifying distance for high school transport from 2 miles to 3 miles. The result of this is that I believe there are serious equalities risks with this change. For example, a family staying in the centre of Uddingston who send their children…
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20mph Speed Limits and Climate
I spoke this week at South Lanarkshire Road Safety Forum to convey my general support on safety grounds for 20mph speed limits in built up areas. I also raised my specific concerns around the environmental impact of any such change. Council committee reports have a standard section for climate change, sustainability and environmental implications. Too often…
Cllr Cal Johnston-Dempsey 