Highland Council counters closures put on ice
The hugely controversial move to shut down 23 public counters in the Highlands has been placed on ice, after councillors voted 43-31 in favour of a review.
Highland Council’s leader claimed his opposition counterpart had climbed "the Mount Everest of hypocrisy" in another marathon and stormy clash on the issue,
The decision to shut almost two-thirds of the service point network - amid falling demand and plans to improve its website - sparked a public outcry last month.
The Independent group of opposition councillors said it would impact heavily on elderly and vulnerable people.
A partial climbdown from the SNP/Lib Dem/Labour coalition saw it won a crunch vote on today at the full council meeting in Inverness after a two hour debate.
A cross-party 10-member board will be set-up to investigate the merits of service points across the region in a "rolling" 15-month consultation. It will have delegated powers but the full council will be able to call in any decision for final approval.
A move by the opposition to retain the status quo was sunk, despite thousands of residents signing protest petitions, which were presented to local authority convener Jimmy Gray.
The council’s finance, housing and resources committee had originally agreed last month to axe the bases by June 2015 in a bid to save £160,000.
Independent leader Carolyn Wilson attacked the coalition and said it had left worried staff "waiting for the knife to be drawn" because their future was uncertain.
She said in her 15 years as an elected representative no other issue had been handled so badly and sparked such emotion and anger in the Highlands.
Councillor Wilson claimed that staff, many of whom often went beyond the call of duty, had been forgotten about and warned they could mount a legal challenge to any closures.
"It is not a statistic on a piece of paper, it is not something you can time," she said. "It is about the excellent work they do for the community. If you are not making a strong decision, which is not a fudge, they will be waiting for the knife to be drawn."
But council leader Drew Hendry accused Councillor Wilson, a former resources committee chairwoman, of being a hypocrite. and said she had approved counter closures four years ago,
Councillor Wilson had been previously dubbed "hysterical" by SNP councillor Dave Fallows in February’s service point debate.
"You have climbed the Mount Everest of hypocrisy on this," said Councillor Hendry. "Stop making it up as you go along. No service point will be closed until an alternative facility is put in place, that still remains a pledge of this council."
Depute leader David Alston blasted the "arrogant" opposition and took issue with Independent councillors repeatedly spelling out the harm the closure programme would have had on communities.
"I believe in this because I believe it is the right decision," he said. "I do resent the idea that the only people who have the compassion and the only people who are concerned about their communities are the ones who are supporting the status quo."
The hypocrisy jibe left Councillor Wilson furious and she repeated her claim that the "hysterical" taunt was sexist.
She said that term would never have been levelled at a male councillor and all elected members had a code of conduct to adhere to.
Twenty three out of 35 service points were set to shut but the level of business in each will now be scrutinised.
The list includes Bettyhill, Bonar Bridge, Dornoch, Durness, Helmsdale, Lochinver, Lairg, Brora, Gairloch, Lochcarron, Broadford, Kyle of Lochalsh, Mallaig, Acharacle, Kinlochleven, Invergordon, Muir of Ord, Fortrose, Ardersier, Hilton; Inverness, Fort Augustus, Kingussie and Grantown.
