DOCSLIB.ORG

Sandsting & Aithsting Community Council

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sandsting & Aithsting Community Council Sandsting & Aithsting Community Council Chairman: Clerk: Mr John Priest Mrs L Fraser Farmhouse West Burrafirth Reawick Walls Shetland Shetland ZE2 9NJ ZE2 9NT Tel: 01595 860274 Tel: Walls 01595 809203 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Minutes of a WebEx meeting of Sandsting & Aithsting Community Council held on Monday 14 December 2020 at 7.30pm. 0800 051 3810 128 745 6635 Present: J Priest Ms D Nicolson Mrs S Deyell M Bennett Mrs J Fraser Ex officio: Cllr C Hughson Cllr T Smith Cllr S Coutts In attendance: Mr M Duncan, Community Council Liaison Officer Mrs L Fraser, Clerk Mr J Priest presiding The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked for a roll call so that everyone knew who was there no matter in which order they signed in. APOLOGIES: Apologies for absence were received from Mr J D Garrick, Mr G Morrison and Mrs R Fraser, Community Involvement & Development Worker. MINUTES & HEADLINES: The minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2020, having been circulated, were taken as read and were approved. Moved by Mrs S Deyell, seconded by Mrs J Fraser. BUSINESS ARISING: Broadband: The members were pleased that it had been reported on the Radio today that the R100 contract has now been signed and feel that it is a step forward. The Chairman had contacted Cllr C Hughson if she could get reassurance that Skeld has been included and Cllr C Hughson had emailed Mr S Robertson at HIE for information. He had also emailed our MSP, Ms B Wishart. An email was received from a Skeld resident with a reply she had received from R100 enquiries. A message will be sent to her giving her the latest information. Mobile phone coverage: The Chairman reported that the mast at Reawick is now live but it appears only to cover EE customers in the meantime. However, it is hoped that, in the future, it will also cater for other phone companies. Cllr S Coutts said that he thinks it is not quite there yet - but to cover other companies was the plan. Road Matters: Road past Garderhouse: No further correspondence. Roads Reports: The Roads Reports have been received each week and circulated to the members. Speed of traffic coming down the hill towards Sandsound junction: The decision of the Environment & Transport Committee to give this stretch of road a 50mph limit for an 18 months trial period was welcomed by the members. Mr M Bennett thanked Cllr C Hughson for representing us. He had a few questions regarding this provision:- 1. Presumably the trial period will commence from the date that the signs are erected and the speed limit is enforceable? 2. Will the Police be made aware of the new limit and be encouraged to give the area some extra attention? 3. What criteria will be used to inform the review? 4. How will the criteria be monitored and reported? 5. How will be review be conducted? 6. Will the Community Council be updated and consulted on the on-going effects of the reduced speed limit as part of the review procedure? 7. Will the issue/decision be debated in Committee before a judgement on the speed limit is made in 18 months’ time? Cllr C Hughson agreed to get the answers to the questions and let him know. The Chairman also thanked Cllr C Hughson for doing a great job in getting this through the Committee. Cllr T Smith said that he felt that, at the end of the 18 month period, another report would probably be put before the Environment & Transport Committee. Sign on Parkhall/Skeld road: Signs not yet provided. Viking Energy Wind Farm: A meeting of the Liaison Group will be held on 19 January. Ms D Nicolson agreed to place a notice on Facebook early in January asking for questions for the group to be sent to the Clerk by 10 January. They will be submitted to the group by 12 January to give them time to find answers to the questions. Although the writers of the questions will not be disclosed, their name should be included on the submission to the Community Council. A copy of the SSE newsletter – Viking Wind farm and Shetland Transmission Link was received from Mr John Robertson, Viking Community Liaison Officer. It had been circulated to the members. Shetland Community Benefit Fund (SCBF): SCBF have advertised for an admin assistant and it is hoped that it will not be long before grants from the Fund are available. It was agreed that, once that happens, this information should be shared as widely as possible to alert groups to the fact that grants are available. Update on grants: Investing in Communities Fund: Mr M Duncan informed the members that some of his colleagues are investigating how this fund can be sorted out remotely and they will be in touch once they find out. Supporting Communities Fund: The vouchers for all expenditure which were submitted to HIE have been returned and work on this fund has now been completed. Community & Third Sector Community Programme: Mrs S Deyell had spoken to Ms Mhari McLeman at Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and had asked whether individual groups, e.g. halls committees can apply for funding from this programme and had been informed that they can. Mr M Duncan explained that this programme is part of the recovery phase and that his dept and others, including Voluntary Action Shetland (VAS) are discussing this and trying to find what would be most useful. Mrs S Deyell felt that the halls have been prevented from opening due to the amount of work to be done with Risk Assessments, etc and thought that it may be helpful to them to have a person who is available to carry out the work. The Halls are holding an Association meeting later this week when this will be discussed. Mr M Duncan explained that, with the Supporting Communities Fund, the HIE were the vehicle for the money and that VAS have kindly taken on the role with this programme. They will check whether there are recurring themes and then decide what will be most beneficial. Community Development Fund – Distribution: Consideration will also have to be given to uses for the CDF grant. The Community Council short suvey has been circulated to all the voluntary groups in this area and we hope to have the results for our January meeting. This may give us some information of what is most needful in the community. Community Development Fund – Project: Mr M Duncan confirmed that, providing that the SIC members agree to a CDF Fund next year, the first round of applications for project funding will be in early March. Further information will be sought on what is required and it is hoped to have a project next financial year. Financial Spreadsheet: The up-to-date spreadsheet was circulated to the members. Bin at Burn of Lunklet: Bigger bin not yet provided. Funding: Various information received from Mr M Duncan, Community Council Liaison Officer. Problems with walkers on crofting and farming land: To be discussed at the next Association meeting on 9 March 2021. Clousta phone box: A reply was received from Mr M Coutts saying that they will keep trying to find a way to adopt the phone box. BT Payphone Consultation: An email was received from Mr John Holden at Planning, attaching a letter and spreadsheet in connection with the BT Payphone Removal Consultation. BT has advised that it wishes to remove payphones on the basis that overall use of them has declined by over 90% in the last decade. It says that this is a great opportunity for local communities, councils and charities to adopt their red phone boxes and make them an asset for everyone to enjoy. People are using them for everything from defibrillators to foodbanks and that it is simple to do and costs just £1. Ms D Nicolson enquired whether there had been any mention of the Tresta phone box but it is not on the BT list. Culswick phone box: An email was received from Mr Jeffrey Gaskell saying the Culswick residents are interested in retaining their phone box and asked for information. The Clerk had given him what information was available and also Mr John Holden’s phone number. A further email was received from Mr Gaskell saying that the owner of the land on which the phone box stands is Mr H Anderton who seems to be amenable to the idea of buying the box on behalf of the community. Mr Gaskell has also contacted Mr J Holden and registered an interest in community adoption of the box. They have not yet decided what the box could be used for but feels that the main thing is that the structure should retain its place in the Culswick landscape, will benefit from some TLC and once more have a purpose. CAB Offer to attend meeting: Ms Janice Hawick has not yet informed us she is available. Litter caused by damaged floats leaking polystyrene: This item will be discussed when MSP Beatrice Wishart attends our meeting in January. An acknowledgement of our letter was received from MP Alistair Carmichael. A reply was received from Mr Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation saying that their sector takes their responsibility to both the communities they are hosted by and the marine environment very seriously. He gave a link to their newly published Sustainability Charter and hopes that helps in setting out the broader context of their work and the approach they plan in the coming months and years.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Scottish Parliamentary Elections- Responses from Political Parties
    Scottish Parliamentary Elections- Responses from Political Parties Scottish National Party Aviation: If elected what steps will you take to support the aviation sector in Scotland and reassure our members and the communities where they live and work of the retention of well paid high quality employment and oppose the plans to deliver air traffic control remotely? Globally, as well as here in Scotland, the aviation industry faces one of the longest recovery periods from the pandemic. The SNP have extended the 100% non-domestic rates relief for the aviation sector for all 2021/22 - the only country to do this in the UK - and we're also working with airports on route recovery, to help rebuild connectivity for business and tourism once we are able to safely lift travel restrictions. This will help win back routes and employment opportunities. We recognise the need to modernise Air Traffic Control to ensure more sustainable and reliable air services in the Highlands and Islands. We urge both HIAL (Highland and Islands Airports Ltd) and its staff to continue to play a constructive role as implementation of the project progresses. Defence Sector Jobs: The contract for the construction of the new Royal Navy ships to support the carriers is currently ongoing. A victory for the joint BAE / Babcock team bidding for this work will secure thousands of jobs on the Clyde and at Rosyth well into the 2030’s. It will deliver a prosperity boost to both the UK and Scottish Governments in the region of £400m. If elected what steps will you take to ensure that this vital contract is awarded to Scottish yards and Scottish workers? The Scottish shipbuilding industry has near-peerless standards in the manufacture of the highest quality of state of the art frigates - while we welcome the work that is coming to Scotland through the construction of these Type 31 frigates, all it does is highlight the cheque that the Tories wrote in the run up to the 2014 Referendum but have still failed to cash.
    [Show full text]
  • Fact Sheet Msps by Party Session 4 29 March 2016 Msps: Historical Series
    The Scottish Parliament and Scottish Parliament I nfor mation C entre l ogo Scottish Parliament Fact sheet MSPs by Party Session 4 29 March 2016 MSPs: Historical Series This Fact sheet provides a cumulative list of all Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) who served during session 4, arranged by party. It also includes the Independent MSPs. The MSPs are listed in alphabetical order, by the party that they were elected to represent, with the party with most MSPs listed first. Statistical information about the number of MSPs in each party in Session 4 can be found on the State of the Parties Session 4 fact sheet. Scottish National Party MSP Constituency (C) or Region (R) Brian Adam 1 Aberdeen Donside (C) George Adam Paisley (C) Clare Adamson Central Scotland (R) Alasdair Allan Na h-Eileanan an lar (C) Christian Allard2 North East Scotland (R) Colin Beattie Midlothian North and Musselburgh (C) Marco Biagi Edinburgh Central (C) Chic Brodie South of Scotland (R) Keith Brown Clackmannanshire & Dunblane (C) Margaret Burgess Cunninghame South (C) Aileen Campbell Clydesdale (C) Roderick Campbell North East Fife (C) Willie Coffey Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley (C) Angela Constance Almond Valley (C) Bruce Crawford Stirling (C) Roseanna Cunningham Perthshire South and Kinross-shire (C) Graeme Dey Angus South (C) Nigel Don Angus North and Mearns (C) Bob Doris Glasgow (R) James Dornan Glasgow Cathcart (C) Jim Eadie Edinburgh Southern (C) Annabelle Ewing Mid Scotland and Fife (R) Fergus Ewing Inverness and Nairn (C) Linda Fabiani East Kilbride (C) Joe FitzPatrick Dundee City West (C) Kenneth Gibson Cunninghame North (C) Rob Gibson Caithness, Sutherland and Ross (C) Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Christine Grahame Lauderdale (C) 1 Brian Adam died on 25 April 2013.
    [Show full text]
  • Members Newsletter
    November 2015 The Liberal Focus on Shetland News and updates for local members Shetland Liberal Democrats Alistair Carmichael MP Your November update AGM Reminder It’s been a characteristically busy few months since I last wrote to you. Since then we’ve seen the Liberal Democrat’s Autumn Conference, as well as the return of the UK parliament. The Shetland Liberal Democats have set the date and venue At conference I successfully for its annual general meeting which will be held on Saturday moved a motion on safe and 21st November 2015 at 11am at the Islesburgh Community legal routes for refugees. Centre, Lerwick. Whilst in parliament, I’ve The AGM will be especially important in the run-up to the Scottish challenged the Conservative Parliament elections. The AGM will oversee our office-bearer Government on their nasty appointments, discuss important local party business, and immigration bill, which is not discuss plans for the forthcoming election. fit for purpose. This will be a good opportunity to hear Alistair and Tavish speak I’ve also asked the on their work as parliamentarians, and to question them on their government to think again on records and priorities. it’s plan to strip tax credits from the working families of Secretary of the local party, Beatrice Wishart, said, “This is a Orkney and Shetland, a hugely important AGM, and the local party needs all the support move that will leave some it can get if we are to keep the Liberal flag flying. I hope to see worse off by £1,700 a year.
    [Show full text]
  • Spice Briefing
    MSPs BY CONSTITUENCY AND REGION Scottish SESSION 1 Parliament This Fact Sheet provides a list of all Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) who served during the first parliamentary session, Fact sheet 12 May 1999-31 March 2003, arranged alphabetically by the constituency or region that they represented. Each person in Scotland is represented by 8 MSPs – 1 constituency MSPs: Historical MSP and 7 regional MSPs. A region is a larger area which covers a Series number of constituencies. 30 March 2007 This Fact Sheet is divided into 2 parts. The first section, ‘MSPs by constituency’, lists the Scottish Parliament constituencies in alphabetical order with the MSP’s name, the party the MSP was elected to represent and the corresponding region. The second section, ‘MSPs by region’, lists the 8 political regions of Scotland in alphabetical order. It includes the name and party of the MSPs elected to represent each region. Abbreviations used: Con Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Green Scottish Green Party Lab Scottish Labour LD Scottish Liberal Democrats SNP Scottish National Party SSP Scottish Socialist Party 1 MSPs BY CONSTITUENCY: SESSION 1 Constituency MSP Region Aberdeen Central Lewis Macdonald (Lab) North East Scotland Aberdeen North Elaine Thomson (Lab) North East Scotland Aberdeen South Nicol Stephen (LD) North East Scotland Airdrie and Shotts Karen Whitefield (Lab) Central Scotland Angus Andrew Welsh (SNP) North East Scotland Argyll and Bute George Lyon (LD) Highlands & Islands Ayr John Scott (Con)1 South of Scotland Ayr Ian
    [Show full text]
  • Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee Annual Report 2019-20 Published in Scotland by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
    SP Paper 748 3rd Report 2020 (Session 5) Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee Comataidh Cultar, Turasachd, na h-Eòrpa agus Gnothaichean a-muigh Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee Annual Report 2019-20 Published in Scotland by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. All documents are available on the Scottish For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Parliament website at: Public Information on: http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/ Telephone: 0131 348 5000 91279.aspx Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: [email protected] © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliament Corporate Body The Scottish Parliament's copyright policy can be found on the website — www.parliament.scot Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee Annual Report 2019-20, 3rd Report 2020 (Session 5) Contents Introduction ____________________________________________________________1 Meetings_______________________________________________________________2 Membership Changes ____________________________________________________3 Inquiries _______________________________________________________________4 Article 50 _____________________________________________________________4 Arts Funding___________________________________________________________5 BBC Annual Report and Accounts__________________________________________5 Covid-19: Impact on Scotland's Culture and Tourism Sectors_____________________6 Local Commercial Radio _________________________________________________7
    [Show full text]
  • Written Answers
    Wednesday 2 January 2013 SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT The following questions were answered on 24 December 2012 Transport Scotland Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many rail services between (a) Glasgow and Inverness and (b) Edinburgh and Inverness will have a 17-minute reduction in journey time from 9 December 2012; on what days and at what times these services operate, and what percentage of all services between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Inverness this represents. Holding answer issued: 21 December 2012 (S4W-11774) Keith Brown: The following tables show details of the rail services operating between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Inverness which have journey time reductions which were introduced in the winter 2012 timetable on 9 December 2012. In answer to your question, table 2 details one Sunday service which has a 17 minute reduction. In finalising the timetable changes we have also delivered another Sunday service which is 18 minutes faster. The tables also give the information you requested in S4W-11775 and table 5 shows that we have improved journey times for 70% of all services operating over seven days between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Inverness. More than a third of services are now more than 5 minutes faster. Together with the two extra services, each way, delivered in December 2011, these journey time improvements complete phase one of the Highland Main Line (HML) improvements project. Phase two will deliver further journey time improvements and extra services between 2014 and 2019 as specified in the High Level Output Specification (HLOS) published on 21 June 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • SC4: a Plan for the Islands Orkney Liberal Democrats Mover: Tavish Scott MSP Summator: Liam Mcarthur MSP
    SC4: A plan for the islands Orkney Liberal Democrats Mover: Tavish Scott MSP Summator: Liam McArthur MSP Conference notes: ● The strong feelings in Shetland and Orkney against the centralisation of public services, for example on policing, fire services, colleges, economic development, public sector construction and civil engineering contracts. ● Scottish Liberal Democrats support for radical action to reverse centralisation and empower communities through the Home Rule and Community Rule Commission report. ● The distinct needs of the islands on many matters, not least the seafood industries, the Scottish Government's exclusion of business from the Air Discount Scheme and the exclusion of Orkney and Shetland from any mechanism to reduce ferry fares. ● The ‘Our Islands, Our Future’ campaign jointly led by Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar seeking additional powers to give communities greater control over island requirements. Conference believes: ● The Scottish Government’s centralised “one-size-fits-all” policies damage the interests of the islands where circumstances are very different from the Scottish mainland. ● Public bodies such as Marine Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Transport Scotland, for example, have a particularly big impact on island communities. ● The seabed around islands is of vital economic importance locally and nationally. ● Fuel poverty is higher in island communities than elsewhere in Scotland, due to poor housing stock, low incomes, and high fuel costs. This risks being made worse as Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) rules result in new houses in island communities without access to mains gas are often built using less insulation. ● Air services are a lifeline link for businesses, patients travelling to hospital appointments and the wider public.
    [Show full text]
  • Fact Sheet Msps Mps and Meps: Session 4 11 May 2012 Msps: Current Series
    The Scottish Parliament and Scottish Parliament I nfor mation C entre l ogo Scottish Parliament Fact sheet MSPs MPs and MEPs: Session 4 11 May 2012 MSPs: Current Series This Fact Sheet provides a list of current Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) arranged alphabetically by the constituency or region that they represent. Abbreviations used: Scottish Parliament and European Parliament Con Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Green Scottish Green Party Ind Independent Lab Scottish Labour Party LD Scottish Liberal Democrats NPA No Party Affiliation SNP Scottish National Party UK Parliament Con Conservative and Unionist Party Co-op Co-operative Party Lab Labour Party LD Liberal Democrats NPA No Party Affiliation SNP Scottish National Party Scottish Parliament and Westminster constituencies do not cover the same areas, although the names of the constituencies may be the same or similar. At the May 2005 general election, the number of Westminster constituencies was reduced from 72 to 59, which led to changes in constituency boundaries. Details of these changes can be found on the Boundary Commission’s website at www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/westminster Scottish Parliament Constituencies Constituency MSP Party Aberdeen Central Kevin Stewart SNP Aberdeen Donside Brian Adam SNP Aberdeen South and North Maureen Watt SNP Kincardine Aberdeenshire East Alex Salmond SNP Aberdeenshire West Dennis Robertson SNP Airdrie and Shotts Alex Neil SNP Almond Valley Angela
    [Show full text]
  • Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee
    Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee Thursday 10 January 2019 Session 5 © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Information on the Scottish Parliament’s copyright policy can be found on the website - www.parliament.scot or by contacting Public Information on 0131 348 5000 Thursday 10 January 2019 CONTENTS Col. DECISION ON TAKING BUSINESS IN PRIVATE ....................................................................................................... 1 BUDGET SCRUTINY 2019-20 .............................................................................................................................. 2 CULTURE, TOURISM, EUROPE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE 1st Meeting 2019, Session 5 CONVENER *Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP) DEPUTY CONVENER *Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) COMMITTEE MEMBERS *Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) *Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) *Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) *Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) *Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) *Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD) *Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) *attended THE FOLLOWING ALSO PARTICIPATED: Fiona Hyslop (Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs) CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE Stephen Herbert LOCATION The Robert Burns Room (CR1) 1 10 JANUARY 2019 2 Scottish Parliament Budget Scrutiny 2019-20 Culture, Tourism, Europe and 09:01 External Affairs Committee The Convener: Agenda item 2 is an evidence- taking session with Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Thursday 10 January 2019 Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs. I welcome Ms Hyslop and, from the [The Convener opened the meeting at 09:00] Scottish Government, Jonathan Pryce, who is the director of culture, tourism and major events; Decision on Taking Business in David Seers, who is the head of sponsorship and funding; and Claire Tynte-Irvine, who is the deputy Private director of the international division.
    [Show full text]
  • Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) (Amendment) LCM Published in Scotland by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
    Published 25 April 2018 SP Paper 307 2nd Report, 2018 (Session 5) Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee Comataidh Turasachd, Eòrpach agus Dàimhean Taobh a- muigh Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) (Amendment) LCM Published in Scotland by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. All documents are available on the Scottish For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Parliament website at: Public Information on: http://www.parliament.scot/abouttheparliament/ Telephone: 0131 348 5000 91279.aspx Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: [email protected] © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliament Corporate Body The Scottish Parliament's copyright policy can be found on the website — www.parliament.scot Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) (Amendment) LCM, 2nd Report, 2018 (Session 5) Contents Background ____________________________________________________________1 Committee scrutiny______________________________________________________2 Conclusions and recommendations ________________________________________3 Annexe A ______________________________________________________________4 Minutes of meeting______________________________________________________4 Official report __________________________________________________________4 Written evidence _______________________________________________________4 Draft motion ___________________________________________________________4 Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee Holocaust (Return
    [Show full text]
  • The Squeezed Middle? the Liberal Democrats in Wales and Scotland: a Post- Coalition Reassessment A.B
    The squeezed middle? The Liberal Democrats in Wales and Scotland: A post- coalition reassessment A.B. Evans Wales Governance Centre, Cardiff University [email protected] Do not cite without permission. 1 Abstract In the wake of the repeated electoral losses suffered by the Scottish and Welsh Liberal Democrats in 2011 and 2012 devolved and local government elections, it is perhaps unsurprising that recent analysis has focused on the 'toxic impact of the federal party’s coalition with the Conservative party' on the devolved state parties electoral fortunes. Certainly this significant electoral collapse, alongside the hostility to both parties recorded in the 2011 Scottish and Welsh electoral surveys, could be said to lend credence to such a research focus. However, this paper will argue that the real potency of the Westminster coalition has resulted from it exacerbating and exposing weaknesses that have long blighted the Liberal Democrats in Scotland and Wales. Indeed, by adopting an approach that places the Scottish and Welsh Liberal Democrats’ current woes within a historical context, this paper will contend that such frailties highlight structural weaknesses at the very heart of the Liberal Democrats federally. 2 Introduction: Scottish and Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Coalition Government For the Scottish and Welsh Liberal Democrats, their recent displays at the ballot box, the 2011 Scottish and Welsh devolved elections and 2012 local government elections, have been experiences defined by the despondency of lost deposits, grim faced candidates, humiliation and an emphatic reversal of years of progress.1 At first glance the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ fall appears the starkest, coming from a higher base at both Holyrood and local government (Black 7th May 2011 [online], Lindsay 5th May 2012 [online]).
    [Show full text]
  • 20 Years of the Scottish Parliament
    SPICe Briefing Pàipear-ullachaidh SPICe 20 Years of the Scottish Parliament David Torrance (House of Commons Library) and Sarah Atherton (SPICe Research) This is a special briefing to mark the 20th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament. This briefing provides an overview of the path to devolution; the work of the Parliament to date, and considers what may be next for the Scottish Parliament. 27 June 2019 SB 19-46 20 Years of the Scottish Parliament, SB 19-46 Contents The road to devolution ___________________________________________________4 Session 1: 1999-2003 ____________________________________________________6 Central themes of Session 1 ______________________________________________7 Party political highlights __________________________________________________7 Key legislation _________________________________________________________8 Further information______________________________________________________8 Session 2: 2003-2007 ____________________________________________________9 Central themes of Session 2 _____________________________________________10 Party political highlights _________________________________________________10 Key legislation ________________________________________________________ 11 Further information_____________________________________________________ 11 Session 3: 2007-2011____________________________________________________12 Central themes of Session 3 _____________________________________________13 Party political highlights _________________________________________________15 Key legislation ________________________________________________________16
    [Show full text]