Cockamamy Council (19/02/16)

Lots of readers from North Lanarkshire have been in touch to ask how they can help support the campaign to knock some much needed sense into this cockamamy, Labour-run Council.

Now I don't have all the answers (who does), but a key aim for me would be to bring about a genuine culture of openness and transparency which has been absent for the past 20 years, ever since North Lanarkshire Council (NLC) was created, in fact, back in 1996.  

For example, how can the NLC workforce have any confidence in pay arrangements from a Job Evaluation Scheme (JES) which were cooked-up behind closed doors? 

For all people know the same thing could be happening again with the latest 'review' of jobs (including Home Carers posts) which was forced on the Council after its case collapsed at the long-running Employment Tribunal in Glasgow.

So what is needed, if you ask me, is a fierce determination to turn the tide - involving lots of people so that 'many hands make light work' of a big challenge.

The Scottish Parliament elections in May present an ideal opportunity to turn the heat up on North Lanarkshire's Labour-run administration and its dwindling number of supporters in the local community.

In May 2015 voters in North Lanarkshire sent every Labour Westminster MP packing and if I had my way, a key question for every candidate in the looming Scottish Parliament elections would be:

"Do you support an independent inquiry into North Lanarkshire Council's handling of equal pay?" 

Because that really would set the cat amongst the pigeons by shining a light on the behaviour of the Council's political leadership and its senior officials over the years.

After all 'daylight is the best disinfectant', as they say.