Highland Council’s leader believes she has “never seen communities in better heart”, despite a year of unprecedented budget cuts since the local elections.
In what has been a challenging 12 months, Margaret Davidson at one point admitted she was “looking down the muzzle of a gun” – but this week, she insists there is a lot to be proud of a year on from the local elections.
The administration was formed in June 2017 through a coalition of Independent, Liberal Democrat and Labour members.
Despite claims from SNP member Richard Laird predicting it would “fall to pieces”, Mrs Davidson maintains that “the partnership has held together well”.
Just this week, however, several councillors threatened to resign over parking charges – enough to throw the coalition’s majority into doubt.
But Mrs Davidson defended the administration’s record saying “all of our work has been done against a backdrop of unprecedented budget cuts.
“We have had almost 10% taken from our revenue budget and very tight capital settlements. That has driven many of our decisions and I believe it is fair to say we have kept up our investment in roads, protected front line services and protected jobs the length of Highland.”
The opening of the £55million West Link distributor road was a high point for the council with Mrs Davidson saying “who could not be proud of the West Link?”.
Mrs Davidson also highlighted a house building programme with thousands sitting on waiting lists for affordable housing and the roll out of free Wi-Fi in Highland towns.
She said: “Inverness is humming with potential and change” while “terrific growth in jobs in Lochaber, in fish farming and also in timber processing.”
However, there were dark clouds on the horizon with the emergence of a huge budget black hole after the Scottish Government grant was cut by 9%.
At the time she said: “I really do feel like I am looking down at the muzzle of a gun, we have got in front of us some completely unacceptable decisions.”
Difficult decisions have come on and of fthe table with proposed cuts to special classroom assistants reversed.
Taking the policy off the table meant the council had to look for “revenue adjustments” elsewhere and when they settled on parking charges more problems were stoked.
Mr Laird’s prediction may come back to haunt the council leader as it was revealed this week that four members of the administration are ready to quit over the fees with a fifth possibly ready to jump.
The charges have been slammed by the majority of traders, local councillors, business groups and community councils as being harmful.
The outcome has been public outrage and allegations that budget papers were “misleading” as more details emerged about which car parks would start charging.
In January the council came together to pay their respects to Caol and Mallaig Ward Councillor Billy MacLachlan who passed away. Mr MacLachlan was described by his colleagues in council as a “gentleman” who despite illness worked for his ward to the end.
