Letters / Two key issues
Now that we know the brave souls who are putting themselves forward for the thankless task of being a local councillor, electors can focus their desires, concerns, suggestions etc and ask their candidates what their aims and objectives are.
To focus mind, and aside of individual community issues, there are two key issues facing the next council which need highlighting.
Firstly the matter of year on year local authority cuts. This is going to get far worse than what past councils have faced so far. The SIC mantra has seen the biggest or intended cuts centred on rural communities, be it school closures, gritting, rural development, housing etc.
We have a growing divided community here far worse than the Viking Energy issue.
The SIC’s philosophy for years of “target rural communities” for savings has seen hundreds of people move to the Lerwick overspill toonships of Scalloway, Tingwall, Whiteness, Weisdale, Gulberwick & as far sooth as Sandwick – has created a real divide.
Further focus on cuts will disproportionately increase this in favour of all things Lerwick.
The second serious issue is SIC planning. Shetland has the most draconian planning system in Scotland, and that has nothing to do with Scottish Government regulations.
It’s down to a weak SIC, lead by dominant planning senior officials who operate a local plan that is not fit for purpose anymore, and could be changed in the town hall easily.
Shetland is the most expensive council area in Scotland to build a shed, house or anything. It’s not the cost of shipping wood or whatever into the isles, it’s the planning, building regulations (which now insist on very unhealthy air tight houses) and rip off building costs.
The same house in most parts of Scotland is half the Shetland cost per square meter.
The SIC & planning do not understand how difficult it is for young or less well of folk to find loans, mortgages etc for building. Many Scottish councils allow amazing low cost housing options recognising the fiscal and onerous regulatory conditions.
The new council need to rope in senior officials who think they are more in control than elected members and are supported by a 40 + years of an independent council with no joined up plan.
The reduction in central government funding is only as bad as the poor vision or lack of ingenuity; there are many ways to solve funding issues if the choking regulatory framework is amended to suit the current conditions.
Vic Thomas
Catfirth
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