By Councillor Jonathan McColl

I had the pleasure and privilege of attending the Remembrance service at Clydebank Town Hall where the continued show of support from the local community ensures that this important annual event keeps growing, and the sacrifices of military personnel and their families will be remembered for generations to come.

I would like to particularly thank those young people who attended, representing cadet forces and other uniformed organisations. The memory of those passed was well served by the respect you showed, and the dignity and professionalism with which you carried out your duty.

I read Councillor Lawrence O’Neill’s column last week with disappointment and I must set the record straight. Labour, in a transparently cynical political move, attempted to launch a consultation on the potential use of land near Strauss Avenue. The potential use of this land for housing has already been determined following an 18-week public consultation and a vote at the non-party political planning committee.

Read more: OPINION Councillor Jonathan McColl: Nothing makes me prouder than narrowing attainment gap for pupils

Despite advice from the council’s legal and planning officers indicating that Duntiglennan Fields would have to be made available for housing if the Strauss Avenue site was changed, all Labour councillors voted for a new consultation; a damning betrayal of voters.

Thankfully, the SNP were able to secure enough votes to agree instead that any development on the Strauss Avenue site would be subject to a community led masterplan and would feature improved open space provision for the use of local residents.

Some time ago, we launched a consultation on the usage of our community centres, with a view to saving £130,000 and empowering community groups to take over the ownership and management of their local facilities.

I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation, and I am aware of a number of expressions of interest in community involvement in the running of facilities for the benefit of local people. As the political leadership of the council, the SNP set officers the challenge of delivering the aspirations of the public, and implementing better management rather than removing facilities from our communities to balance budgets. I’m delighted that we’ll be able to make the required savings without closing any community centres, with the corporate services committee meeting.