Des welcomes the recent call for consultation surrounding the Council's winter priorities.

Des, speaking after Cathy Jamieson MSP lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament urging councils to consult with local communities and groups about their winter priorities, welcomed this proposal describing it as "necessary, democratic and plain commonsense" and calls on Cllr Willie Coffey MSP to support this motion.

Des Browne said:  "Cathy Jamieson is right to identify the need for councils to consult with their local communities and council tax payers about priorities for clearing streets and pavements in the event of severe winter weather - it's necessary, democratic and plain commonsense.

"I was inundated with complaints from constituents in Kilmarnock and Loudoun angry at the obvious lack of action by this SNP/Tory controlled East Ayrshire Council.  What was this Council's response to these concerns and calls for help? An email from a minor council official quoting Douglas Reid's policy of priorities - this administration's response was simply inadequate, insensitive and incompetent.  That response didn't help one pensioner get to the shops, help one patient get to a doctor's appointment, nor did it relieve the sense of isolation, and abandonment that many of my constituents felt.  Cathy's action makes sense - in future, councils need to consult those who have to live with the consequences of their decisions about priorities rather than merely quoting back at them priorities about which people were never consulted.

"My expressions of the legitimate concerns of my constituents have been met with a co-ordinated barrage of political spin and accusations.  I have never made any complaint about the efforts of the dedicated council workers.  My criticisms were, and remain, about the absence of political leadership from the SNP and the Tories. They were aimed at this administration's inadequate planning and poor resources.  No amount of spin by SNP or Tory councillors will erase from the memories of my constituents the unnecessary and avoidable hardship they went through when roads and pavements could have been treated and made passable. 

"Douglas Reid's Winter Plan failed at the first fall of snow. I warned him last year and first wrote to him in the middle of December about this.  He had plenty of notice.  The Met Office issued severe weather warnings well in advance of the big freeze and the Council's political leadership simply waved it off in a flurry of paper and emails. Streets and pavements in many housing schemes never ever became a priority and people had to wait in cold houses for the thaw. This must never happen again.  East Ayrshire Council should look at their winter plans, consult local communities about how well they have worked and change them for the better.  We all now expect Cllr Willie Coffey MSP to support Cathy Jamieson's motion in the Scottish Parliament."