The time for you to decide who represents you as your four Councillors for Steornabhagh a Tuath is here again and after serving nine years as councillor, four years for Laxdale and five years for Stornoway North in the Cearns, Guershader, Lower Laxdale and North Perceval Road areas, I am delighted to offer myself for election for a third time.
Just like the last election 5 years ago it will be the single transferable vote system (STV) for a multi Member ward, which gives no indication of how this is to be delivered by Members or what the Elector can expect as to who will take up their case. This can only be decided by cooperation between the 4 Elected Members after the Election and is a worrying uncertainty with many opposing political view points coming from those putting candidates forward.
In this matter I as one of the 4 serving Councillors wish to thank my 3 Independent fellow Members Iain Mackenzie, Roddie MacKay and Murdo Macleod for their support in managing and sharing without question the agreed areas of responsibilities for all aspects of Ward and Council duties. I wish to see Iain and Roddie returned with myself on 3rd May and thank Murdo for all his encouragement and insight since he first encouraged me to stand in 2003; I wish him a long and happy retirement from all in the Ward.
May I thank all of you for your support through the difficult last five years it has been an honour to serve you.
Personal details: Neil Campbell -
General manager at BIFAB Arnish – providing work for up to 150 personnel and associated investment in the community to provide our parent company with structures for the Oil, Gas and Renewable fabrication fields focusing on Offshore Wave, Wind and Tidal structures.
Wife is Kyrine Macmillan Campbell – born and brought up in Coulregrein, Cearns shop assistant and hairdresser, daughter of Mabel and Jerry (late docker and crofter).
Family: Son, Malcolm Neil, 29, unemployed catering student. Daughter, Johan, 26,
BSC in Micro-
Hobbies: walking our dogs, fishing, TV quizzes, D.I.Y. car & home, motor sports, local affairs.
Commitment If elected I commit to serve to the best of my ability the people of
the Ward with an honest, open, constructive and objective outlook on all issues to
the future development of the community – that is my pledge; To make myself available
and approachable, hold regular meetings, to attend activities and Community meetings
when requested in all matters. To be in touch and informed; Deal with all matters
in a personal, sympathetic and discretionary manner. My experience gained over the
last 2 terms has convinced me the True Independent Councillor has the objective,
balanced un-
Summary I believe I can contribute on your behalf towards the difficult, exiting and challenging times ahead for the Comhairle in the coming years.
Helping to maintain, improve and grow our remaining key industries, Social Services and new ventures where these can be delivered through inventive alternative funding measures including expanding Social Enterprises and Partnership working inside and out with the Comhairle for the good of all our Community.
Special interests Service Committees, Working Groups (MOWG’s) and external bodies I have served on as a councillor are:
Environmental & Protective Services -
Local Area Housing MOWG where we agree housing strategy and local area development plans.
Chair of Fisheries Joint Consultant Committee (JCC) made up of individuals representing the fishing, processing and producers areas of all fishing and aqua marine activities in the Western Isles. Chair of Operations Committee Hebridean Housing Partnership www.hebrideanhousing.co.uk where we delivered 5 large new build schemes within the SY North Ward the last being the Manor Drive scheme. Chair of Third Sector Hebrides www.thirdsectorhebrides.org.uk where we have achieved Western Isles wide job creation and grew the various business arms to an annual turnover in excess of £1million including Staran Transport & Services and Hebridean Chocolates, winning 5 sector peer awards alone in 2011. Laxdale Community Council where I worked with Community Representatives to deliver Community Improvement Projects including School activity areas and resources, Cearns Resident Association where through Ward Funding as above we try and improve the lives of residents by Environmental projects and Residents events and trips.
Party politics I believe an Independent view is the best way to address LOCAL issues with no outside party line or interference. I have no connections with any political parties seeking election to our council. While as an INDEPENDENT candidate I do not align myself with any political party, I will be willing and look forward to working closely with any political groups where common issues and interests are to be dealt with.
Local Issues
Employment is the major ongoing issue facing the Western Isles today. We need to
readdress the efforts made to turn around the loss of families to the mainland and
provide long-
Traditional Industries:
Fishing & Aquaculture: For the last Comhairle term I chaired the Fisheries Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) to bring members from all aspects of the industry together to make representations to UK Government, Scottish Government and the Comhairle also bodies such as SNH and Marine Scotland where we hope our comments will help to deliver change and sustainability to a fragile economic industry. The JCC is currently hoping to deliver a new scheme to bring assistance into the industry to aid with vessel purchase and upgrades for all not just first time entrants under 40 years old.
Harris Tweed: As a one time single width weaver and strong extended family tradition in the Harris Tweed Industry (father was a design director with Clansman Group) I have supported the Comhairle Tweed fund from inception to the revolving fund it now provides to sustain weavers with a liveable wage through seasonal drops in orders. Hoping the parts and new loom resources also introduces new blood into this unique Western Isles Industry.
Crofting: At a disadvantage here having been a Townie all my life, but very aware of the long awaited changes in the running of the Commission with recent announced election results and hope to see a policy delivery in more crofts available to the young families wishing to take up this rewarding traditional industry. Hopefully we are at a turning point to secure a long time solution to geese population explosion which at time of writing is been blamed on an unprecedented number of animals aborting unborn young.
Salmon Farming Industry: If involved after election I would hope to bring this industry together with the recognised Inshore Fisheries Group to debate and plan together for the common good not in isolation to the detriment of each other and Communities, this is a challenge for all involved.
Support for new businesses: This is the hardest sector to offer hope and change to in this economical climate, but with an emergence of successful social enterprises I have encountered as chairperson of Third Sector Hebrides I am encouraged by the resilience and adaptation of young entrepreneurs to reduced available funding which hardens my resolve to support these ambitious people to deliver new business ventures based in the Western Isles.
Housing: I joined the board of Hebridean Housing Partnership in 2001 as a Tenant Member to better understand what this change would mean for council house tenants going forward. For 5 years the Shadow Board moulded the organisation into a fit for purpose RSL under governance of the Housing Regulator as a not for profit registered charity. We have delivered all promises set out in our charter and were officially recognised in Sept 2006.
Since then I served as a council board member since 2003 the last 4 years as chair
of Operations Committee where we delivered 5 large new build schemes within the Stornoway
North Ward, the last being the Manor Drive scheme. HHP now face 25% reduction in
Housing Assistance Grant (HAG) which is delivered by the Scottish Government to fund
new build housing schemes and has very little access to private finance within the
Western isles. This will be hard to balance in this economic climate and has the
possible effect of dropping new build completions from 50 units per year to 10-
Environmental and Conservation Rules: These are forced onto the Communities that have single handily preserved these environments from generation to generation. When a designation is enforced we see little to no investment and very often like Broad bay, a stagnation and loss of the common habitat.
We have to stand firm or accept our future is tourism only, tipping our hats to the wealthy visitor. The impression given by the current powers that they are hell bent on turning the Western Isles into an extended St Kilda. I will fight to retain all present development opportunities from removal by SNH, Marine Scotland and any other quango to the benefit of our People.
Local Government Tax: All Local Authorities have an option, accept the Council tax freeze or do without the extras available when you comply. We have to work clever within the dictated funding restrictions as we do not have the luxury of a wealthy local population that could fund local service inflationary costs or desired improvements. I will continue to support the budget process of public consultation and inventive restructuring to deliver a balanced fair budget while striving to protect jobs at all times.
Sabbath Observance: These are a personal choice for all as long as their choices do not directly impinge the rights of other sections of society. I personally do not use Sunday ferries where choice is available, but was deeply angered by the method the Scottish Government allowed to be used to deliver the service. I would not personally use a local sport centre on a Sunday, but will support a trial period to find a solution which delivers equality to all involved.
Windfarms/Renewables: I will have to declare a major interest as GENERAL MANAGER – BIFAB Arnish – Providing work for up to 150 personnel and associated investment in the community to provide our parent company with structures for the Oil, Gas and Renewable fabrication fields focusing on Offshore Wave, Wind and Tidal structures.
I think the major onshore wind farms consented within the Western Isles will be the last of the onshore developments other than Community ones that will be built. I support these Community developments.
We now have to turn our attention to the race to take ownership and designate our possible offshore renewable assets as we see increased activity from Marine Scotland and SNH where we will have no attractive areas for development and every resource will be directed to the Northern Isles.
This goes hand in hand with the urgent decision needed to see the Crown Estate assets being redistributed amongst the Communities they have taxed for so long.
Gaelic Language: A lasting heritage from our forefathers, which needs to be supported to continue the modern adaptation to a working everyday tool used in Education and the Arts.
School Closures: Looking to the future is a prerequisite of decision making especially where we are removing a traditional community amenity such as a school. If we fail to take action to provide for our future children with fit for purpose schools then we have assisted in the ongoing decline of all our Communities. It is very divisive to preserve a few at great cost to the remaining viable Schools.
Lochboisdale Ferry: I have supported its introduction for a number of years and hope it will be delivered in the next term.
Transport costs will be on the radar throughout the lifetime of the New Council with no clear answers as yet on RET (subsidy) and ADS business class also a very vague unclear ferry review process that is not so far delivering the commitment needed from the Scottish Government to the people of the Western Isles.
Fuel Poverty is again the scourge of the family home in the Western Isle with the constant increase in costs of utility fuels, the national level now sitting at 40% of homes in this crisis situation. We have had a huge success in home insulation and energy efficiency improvements but are still blighted by discriminatory fuel prices and limited service providers with limited alternative choices and tariff’s to suit the needs of the poorest in our fragile Communities. Some options would be to direct Community Renewable Energy funds into subsidising expansion of the Town Gas System to cover the Ward, also installation of proven Air/Ground source heating units as upgrades to open fires and All Electric heating systems.
Fuel Prices: The fight goes on and most of our hopes now lie with the ongoing Office of Fair Trading investigation and I hope they do what they say on the tin and deliver a fair deal for the people of the Western Isles and all Island Communities.
Winter Gritting: Needs to be brought out into the public domain and fit for purpose. Gritting needs to be in place before people travel which I would consider is before 7am in all main route areas. Tough choices needed to be taken which may see a sole contractor in place, similar to that of Highland Authority.
Improving Roads: £80 million is the forecasted price to deliver a fit for purpose network, we have managed £5 million per year and without a massive windfall cannot see this realistically changing. Spent wisely we can improve over a very long program time.
South Uist Range: I supported this campaign to retain this vital industry in Uist and saw the use of the fledgling Taskforce approach which is continuing to sustain life line services to the Western Isles.
NHS: Has financially recovered through great turmoil, but still needs to be shaped from within to deliver fit for purpose services to its patients and fully embrace the shared services approach within the Partnership Group.
Neil Campbell, Independent
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath / Stornoway North