Meeting of the Parliament 08 March 2023
As I said, questions remain, which is why we are looking for a ministerial statement to be added to the business programme. Those questions include: is that a one-year reprieve? Will the big noise projects that other local authorities are funding now be funded by this devolved Government instead? What changed following the minister’s response last week? Will the Government condemn the disgraceful comments that SNP councillors in Aberdeen made about Sistema Scotland?
When I was the co-leader of Aberdeen City Council, I had four budgets to set. Four times, council officers offered up big noise Torry as a potential saving, and, four times, I rejected that, because I knew the impact that the project has on those who are most vulnerable. Now, however, we have a shambles of an administration running Aberdeen City Council, which is led by SNP councillor Alex Nicoll, and that is, shamefully, propped up by the Liberal Democrats. They did not just defund the project; they verbally attacked Sistema Scotland with a disgusting attack on the good work that it does in a shameful attempt to discredit it.
Councillor Allard, who is a former member of this place, and someone who is meant to represent Torry—the very community that Sistema Scotland is supporting—said:
“Sistema had no impact on the people that needed help the most”.
He also said:
“Let’s be very clear, if we had the money, we wouldn’t do it either”.
The other SNP councillor for Torry, Councillor Fairfull, said:
“The council could not fund a project that has not deliver expected outcomes”.
What an absolute load of mince. The evidence reports are there for Councillors Nicoll, Allard, Fairfull and Yuill to read if they could be bothered to.