SNP ministers criticised as resident dissatisfaction with council services worsens …

By Bill Heaney

Large numbers of residents in West Dunbartonshire think that public services provided by West Dunbartonshire Council are rubbish.

New figures from the Scottish Household Survey showing that only 39% of people believe their council provides high quality services.

This is a statistically significant decrease from 42% in 2023 and under a third of respondents (29%) agreed that their local council is addressing the key issues affecting the quality of life in their local neighbourhood.

The numbers who thought council services were acceptable has plummeted to 29%, which is a statistically significant decrease from 32% in 2023.

Scottish Liberal Democrat communities spokesperson Willie Rennie said:  “It’s no wonder people are less satisfied with services when councils have been hamstrung by SNP ministers who cling to power and money in the centre like a dragon on a hoard.  

“Local authorities are doing their best but an increasing proportion of their spending decisions are dictated by SNP ministers half a country away.

“We need real reform to push powers over both revenue raising and spending out to communities and help them to provide the reliable local services that people are crying out for.”

In West Dunbartonshire, the Labour Council’s own complaints column receives hundreds of complaints about poor services from bin collections to grass cutting to policing to social care to anti-social behaviour which make it clear that WDC is failing to deliver in a whole host of services delegated to it.

Critics do not have to search for complaints. They are served up to them every week by “the team” – the anonymous people to whom they are passed on – who are supposed to be creating a good public image for WDC. It’s like throwing buns at an elephant, a white one at that. If this is good for the council then I am a banana. Ed.

Top of page picture is of the council offices at 16 Church Street, Dumbarton, with workforce regularly  demonstrating against poor pay and conditions of service.