Stephen Clackson

Sadly, neither Cllr Scott (shortlisted “Lifetime Legend”) nor I brought back trophies from the LGiU/CCLA Councillor Awards ceremony held on 5^th November at the City Chambers in Glasgow, nevertheless, by way of consolation, we did each receive a finalist’s certificate (see photo below) in recognition of our being shortlisted.  I was informed that the “Community Champion” category, for which I had been shortlisted, is always the most popular and that this year they had a great many nominees to draw up the shortlist of four from, so I needn’t feel too disheartened.  This year’s winner in this category was Cllr Jan Brown of Argyll & Bute Council.  I congratulated her and mutually commiserated with Cllrs Lois Speed (Angus) and Duncan Cumming (East Dunbartonshire), the other two contenders in this category.  One of the great benefits of attending the event was getting the chance to speak to top councillors from other areas and find out what they are doing for their communities.  I wish OIC councillors in general had more opportunity for such interactions.  Sometimes I feel OIC can be a bit insular, which, even though we are an islands council, we don’t need to be.  A photograph of the Clackson contingent at the ceremony is shown above.  Some of the other contestants not only had family and friends with them (like Cllr Scott and I did) but were also supported at the ceremony by fellow councillors and officers from their respective local authorities.  More photographs from the Councillor Award ceremony can be found at https://lgiu.org/events/cllr-awards/cllr-awards-2025-the-winners-scotland/

After the Councillor Awards ceremony, I stayed on in Glasgow to attend the meeting of the Scottish Councils’ Committee on Radioactive Substances (SCCORS), also held at the City Chambers (photos of which I included in Issue 148 of my Letter).

Other meetings I have attended this month include, in Kirkwall:  confidential members’ briefings;  a seminar on our Learning Estate Investment Programme;  planning training (specifically for large-scale developments where the whole council is involved in the decision, not just the Planning Committee);  a seminar about the use of mobile devices in schools;  a meeting of the Sport & Leisure Member/Officer Working Group on Active Schools & community sports;  and a seminar on public sector reform.  A ’flu-like bug prevented my attending the UHI Orkney graduations, an event I very much look forward to each year.

Out in the Isles, I went along to a meeting of Stronsay Community Council (which was filmed by Hazel Falck who is making a documentary about community energy and democracy).  The aforementioned ’flu-like bug scuppered my planned Shapinsay visit, but I hope to be flying out to North Ronaldsay on the 1^st December for a meeting of their community council.

Outside some Isles’ schools there have been problems with the functioning of the lights on the 20mph signs, and these are being addressed.  I have been making enquiries about how the timing of the lights can be set so they come on outwith the school day for after-school activities and community events, for example.  The initial approach should be made to the respective school’s headteacher, who can then arrange through the education department to have the times programmed into the central management system at School Place.