SSP PLAN TO SUBMIT 'NO CUTS' PETITION TO COUNCIL

Published 26 Jan 2012 09:30

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THE Scottish Socialist Party are set to submit a formal application to the Chief Executive of North Ayrshire Council, requesting that they be allowed to submit a petition containing hundreds of signatures of people from across the district, demanding the council refuses to implement further cuts and, instead, sets a budget to meet the needs of local communities.

The SSP hope to submit the petition to the February 1 meeting at which the council will set its budget for the next financial year.

In line with the council's standing orders, the SSP will also seek permission to address the budget meeting in support of the people who have signed the petition.

The SSP's Campbell Martin, a former councillor and MSP, commented:

"The decisions taken by councillors at the budget meeting will impact on people across North Ayrshire, many of whom are struggling to survive because of cuts already made by the Tory-Lib Dem Government in London, the SNP Government in Edinburgh, and the Labour administration of North Ayrshire Council.

"Over the past few weeks, the SSP has gathered the signatures of hundreds of local people, all demanding councillors stand up for local communities, set a 'no-cuts' defiance budget, and support a campaign to demand back the millions of pounds governments in London and Edinburgh have slashed from funds that should have come to North Ayrshire.

"We will follow proper procedure and will officially request that the council receives the people's petition before they set their budget, and allows us to address the meeting in order that we can set out the views of those who have signed the petition and demand councillors set a no-cuts budget."

The SSP have said they will continue to gather signatures at street stalls in local towns ahead of the council's budget meeting.

The party has also written to trade unions representing council workers, inviting them to join with SSP members to lobby the council on the day of the budget meeting.

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