Who's making decisions?

Published 28 Apr 2010 12:00

I would like to further discuss some facts behind the article in last week's Clydebank Post 'Firms' fury over eviction threat' where officials informed some tenants of the Clyde Street Business Centre they were being evicted, above the heads of councillors.

In the article a statement on behalf of council officers began "members were briefed on March 30".

Members, or councillors as they are better known, received a written report on Wednesday March 31 along with the screeds of paper they receive each week.

When councillors attempted to contact the author of the report they found she was on holiday.

Also on holiday immediately after the report was released were her bosses, the director of Education and his depute.

Available for a short time before he disappeared on holiday was the manager of the Estates Department, who manages the Business Centre, whose only reply was 'it's Education you want no me'.

Shortly after he left on his holidays one of his men was informing some tenants, face to face or on the telephone, that they had to be out in six weeks as Education is taking over the building.

Even after councillors told various officers from the top of the house to the bottom that this action had to stop, that councillors would make the decisions not officers, the building signage was removed so that Clyde Street Business Centre existed no more.

It has also come to my attention that at least five prospective tenants, over the past five or six weeks, have been told that there were no available units.

It would seem officers had already made the decision.

Now we come to the biggy, the briefing note to elected members clearly states the centre has "few remaining tenants".

On the contrary - at the time the report was written there were 19 tenants occupying 20 units, council departments were occupying four units and there were three empty units.

Council officers really have to stop being so economical with the truth to get their own way.

This is indicative of too many, although not all, senior and middle management running West Dunbartonshire Council.

They think they can do what they like and that councillors are only elected to take the blame when they get it wrong,

If council officers want to make the decisions let them stand for election. I, for one, would not vote for a single one of them. How can this council, which we have been told needs to make savings, afford to spend up to half-a-million pounds to renovate the premises whilst at the same time evicting hard pressed businesses which are contributing to both the council and the local economy?

Ronald MacDonald, Whitecrook

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This letter appeared in Clydebank Post 28 Apr 10

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