Stornoway North councillor, Gordon Murray, is urging the Comhairle to reduce the budget for the Comhairle @ 50 celebrations by 50% to allow the Comhairle to increase the social work budget.
Three main main elements are planned to mark the 50th year of the Comhairle. The first is a civic reception scheduled to take place in Stornoway Town Hall in 16 May and events will also take place in Uist and Barra.
The second is publication to commemorate the last half century as well as looking ahead.
Another is an expert panel discussion evening in Stornoway later this year.
Cllr Murray stated: "I do want to mark the council's 50th anniversary which is totally reasonable and appropriate. However, that celebration must be tempered by recognising the real everyday difficulties many of the people whom we sere face day on day, week by week, month by month waiting, sometimes with a real sense of fear for the letter box to open and another increased bill to be faced.
"I am pretty sure that if we asked our communities if they wished us to spend the money being suggested on a fifty year celebration, I think they would agree with me that 50% of the identified expenditure would be sufficient with the rest of the cash being put to a far better use."
He continued: "The Comhairle is undertaking a budget setting consultation exercise and the public are being asked for their views on how the council spends money in 2025/26.
“I would urge members of the public to give their view on how much money should be
spent on the Comhairle's 50th anniversary events. This can be done by using the
Comhairle's online link on the feedback form or alternatively contact me directly
at gordon.murray@cne-siar.gov.uk.
"The Comhairle has said that all feedback received from the public will be used to inform the 2025/26 and future budget setting processes and shared with members in advance of the Comhairle's final budget meetings on February 25th. Your view matters and make sure the Comhairle are aware of it."
Cash-
19 February 2025