Sir, – I note that Finance Secretary John Swinney has used his financial muscle against rebellious councils by threatening to withhold funding for the council tax freeze: £88 million to maintain teacher numbers and £250m for health and social care, together with other sanctions if they dare to raise council tax.
Thus, councils, which have for some eight years frozen the tax at the behest of the SNP, have had to pull back again from the brink with their tails between their legs.
This restraint overthe years has causedthe loss of many thousands of essential jobs with the unlikelihood these workers will find suitable alternative employment.
Equally, services to the disadvantaged and needy in Scotland have suffered greatly.
Given these facts, consider what is most likely to happen following the elections in May, which the SNP expect to win.
We are in a do-not-rock-the-boat scenario at the moment but watch carefully however, the buffers will immediately be removed and councils will be free to impose council tax hikes in the future, all of which are likely to be hefty andpunishing.
This is a classicexample of the type and style of democracydoled out by the SNP Government and how it is prepared to ruleScotland with an iron fist which no one dareschallenge.
David L Thomson. 24 Laurence Park, Kinglassie.
Petition backs postal fight
Sir, – With regard to your reports on postie Stewart Walker winning his sacking case, once again Royal Mail isrefusing to adhere to a tribunal judgment as it did in the case of David Mitchell.
The two cases are slightly different in respect of what thedismissals were for, but, in the end, there was the same outcome.
In both cases, the postal company’s managers have had a fixed view of guilt and will not be deflected from that,even though there has been no concreteevidence to substantiate its views.
How many other posties are going through, or have gone through this treatment by Royal Mail?
There have already been two strikes in Cupar, with more on the cards.
The employment law has a gap in it which allows Royal Mail to challenge the tribunal decision. This is why there is a petition which David Mitchell started to get this law changed.
Jenny Macintyre. Stramarn, Chance Inn, Cupar.
Inquiry needed into Royal Mail
Sir, – You featured another jaw-dropping story about a postie winning an employment tribunal against Royal Mail.
It was reported that Stewart Walker had 20 years’ service and a clean conduct record. Your report also quoted his lawyer as stating the evidence given by the managers should be treated with caution and that they held a fixed view of the claimant’s guilt.
Royal Mail’s whole internal disciplinaryprocess needs to bethoroughly investigated at the very highest level.
Hilary Lumsden. Kerns Cottage, Chance Inn, Cupar.
Short-sighted view of care
Sir, – I have followed the story of Angus Council’s intention to remove tenancy support officers (TSOs), from, and to downgrade, the council’s sheltered housing.
The council has been told of the needs of the elderly, by the elderly, but appears not to listen.
People freed up much-needed accommodation to enter sheltered housing, knowing that they would have greater security and support. Their families had the comfort that help was never far away and that should overnight accommodation be needed when visiting, that this could be arranged through the TSO.
TSOs provide a service beyond the call of duty. Much of what they do will not be known until they are removed.
The people who could have given the councillors the full story about the TSO role and what hidden tasks they perform, outwith the job description, the TSOs themselves, were denied the opportunity to speak.
As far as sheltered housing users are concerned, the wardens are essential, but the council believe they can be replaced by volunteers.
Angus Council has invested millions of pounds on sheltered care housing with the result that many of our elderly who would otherwise have needed to enter nursing care, are ableto live with an elementof dignity and independence.
The Scottish Government self-directed support (SDS) policy, as I understand it, is available to all who qualify, regardless of where they live, so why the need to remove the whole ethos of sheltered housing unless it is just a back-door attempt to make savings using SDS as an excuse.
SDS should be anadd-on if anything, rather than an alternative to sheltered housing with TSOs.
It seems not allcouncils are adopting this route.
George Park. 2 Brechin Place, Arbroath.
Forum backs drink curbs
Sir, – Further to the recently refused Aldi and Caird Rest Home liquor licence applications I am surprised and disappointed to read your two reports of criticism being levelled at Dundee’s licensing board.
The presumption to probably refuse new liquor licence applications for premises outwith the Waterfront development is a balanced and well-targeted decision.
The policy is just one of many parts of a suite of measures and interventions underway since 2005 and could becentral to improving Dundee and Scotland’s difficult relationship with alcohol.
Unrealistically cheap takeaway alcohol and blanket availability are acknowledged widely as being the root causes of our current problems.
The majority opinion at Dundee Licensing Forum agrees withthe council’s positionon this partial moratorium.
The forum is open to all. Additionally the local authority appoints members who represent licensing standards officers, licence holders, the chief constable, persons having health, education or social work functions, area residents and young people.
Jonathan Stewart Snr. Chair, Dundee Licensing Forum, The Royal Arch Bar and Bistro, 285 Brook Street, Broughty Ferry.
Dreadful state of Fife roads
Sir, – You reported that Fife Council needs to spend about £90 million on road repairs.
This is yet another example of Fife Council applying cost-cutting in the short term and then in the long term being forced into major reconstruction of roads.
Little or no essential maintenance of roads is carried out and this is even more evident in the current wet weather.
Run-offs from the road into roadside ditches are now hardly ever cleaned out and the ditches and drains under roads are neglected.
This results in bad ponding on roads which leads to erosion and road damage, not to mention the danger of moreaccidents. As a farmer, I see all this water backing up in my fields because of blocked drains and ditches, which I cannot touch.
Letters to the council are a waste of time.
The next action will be crop damage claims to Fife Council which will then cost them even more. And all because the council is so short-sighted.
Andrew F. Gilmour. Londive, Montrave Home Farm, Leven.
Scots can vote to end austerity
Sir, – Since the referendum, the SNP has branded itself as being anti-austerity. However, it has been happy to pass on austerity cuts to our public services.
Scottish Labour has now shown that there is an alternative (February 2). We can choose to ask individuals who earn more than £20,000 to pay a bit more tax and use that money to invest in education and social care in Scotland.
Kezia Dugdale’s proposal to raise the income tax rate by 1p is a test for the SNP.
It can choose to ignore it and commit to thousands of job losses, or can back Ms Dugdale’s plan to protect services the vulnerable need.
The policy is also a test for former Labour voters who now back the SNP.
These are not the intransigents who want independence at any cost, but people whosimply want Scotland to be a fairer country.
Dr Scott Arthur. 27 Buckstone Gardens, Edinburgh.