Promoted by
Pam Currie, National Secretary
on behalf of the Scottish Socialist Party, 70 Stanley Street, Glasgow, G41
1JB
favourite (and not so favourite things)
If Shetland is so rich, how come at least 7% of the population is living in economic or social deprivation?
About council candidate Kevin Learmonth
I
am 39 years old, and work in the computer industry. My office is in North
Lerwick, and my work mostly involves financial and accounting systems, web
sites and training. My clients range from small sole trader businesses to
multi-million pound enterprises. On a day to day basis I am very familiar
with technology, financial accounting and the complexities of the
Shetland economy. I work with people from a variety
of backgrounds from managing directors to part time staff, from local entrepreneurs
to public officials.
I have 2 primary school age bairns, and live with my wife near Scalloway.
I will bring a wide range of skills to the council: business awareness, financial understanding, socialist principles and a desire to change things for the better. I rank loyalty and integrity very highly. I hate cheating and bullying. There are some on the current council whom I may disagree with, but I know they act with integrity, I respect that, and would be happy to work alongside them.
I want you to elect me to the council to get things done, to be practical and effective. I have principles, and will stand by them, I will push for accountability, greater democracy and more transparency in council decisions.
I believe elected representatives should develop policy, and allow officials the space to implement it. Too often councilors have absolved themselves of responsibility. By not taking decisions, by not having a coherent policy they have passed the buck to officials and council workers, who then get blamed if anything goes wrong. The mess over single status is a good example of this.
Like you, I think there has been too much money frittered away on too many
dodgy schemes. Smyril Line, SSG
Seafoods, and SOES to
name just a few. Between them accounting for tens of millions of pounds of
missing public money. Your money.
I also believe that the Charitable and Development Trusts should be run by democratically elected trustees, rather than councilors. The structure, composition and function of the proposed Shetland Community Development Trust should be open to public scrutiny before it is formed.
I work well with other people, but I am not afraid to speak out when things are clearly wrong or unjust. I like properly thought out, effective solutions, rather than quick fixes. I believe some of these previous quick fix solutions created the problems we now have with State Aid investigations.
In my spare time I like nothing better than taking to the hills with a fishing rod and experiencing Shetlands wilder landscapes. I am a former chair of the Shetland Board of Young Enterprise Scotland, and still involved with the Shetland Board. I have participated in many community campaigns and projects in Shetland and beyond.
Get in touch, tell me what you need the council to do, ask me what my views are on a subject close to your heart. I do not claim to have all the answers, but I do want to hear from you, phone me: home 880253, work 697503.
Kevin Learmonth
Lerwick North candidate