by Bill Heaney
West Dunbartonshire Council has shown clearly that it is out of touch with residents.
Particularly on matters such as budget cuts, which it claims to have carried out wide consultations on.
It is embarking on yet another one, asking local people how they would like to see council tax spent.
This begs the question: Why don’t councillors just go around the doors in their wards and ask their neighbours for their priorities?
I take it they did this when they were canvassing for votes?
But for the council members, getting a seat for themselves on the council appears to be more important than doing the job. It wouldn’t be the money that’s involved, or would it?
The Labour administration has little or no idea how to run the council properly.
The SNP group has shamefully refused to take over and has treated this offer from Labour as a political hospital pass.
The latest controversy to emerge on this front is the decision to close West Dunbartonshire’s crematorium along with the Book of Remembrance on a Saturday.
It is plain that Saturday is the most convenient day for a funeral, for all the reasons common sense informs us are best, such as getting a day off work to attend.
Community Party councillor Jim Bollan and SNP councillor Sophie Traynor.
The councillors who made the move to have this decision overturned are SNP councillor Sophie Traynor, the youngest member of the council, and Community Party representative Jim Bollan, the oldest.
The public will be pleased, and arrogant Labour, who have been cutting their own throats since they won by a landslide at the General Election, will be dismayed.
Clydebank Crematorium
West Dunbartonshire Council
Councillor Sophie Traynor, who was the SNP candidate for the Dumbarton constituency in the Scottish Parliament election, commented: “I was proud to support and speak to Cllr Jim Bollan’s amendment to reinstate Saturday cremations and weekend access to the Book of Remembrance at Dalnottar Crematorium.
“The original decision to remove this was made during the 2026/27 budget-setting meeting in March, after the Labour Administration approved it.