A Councillor has welcomed the changes to Fife Council’s portfolio holders after the resignation of leader Alex Rowley and called for an end to “petty point-scoring”.
Neil Hanvey, who is Fife Council SNP group spokesman for health and social care, said: “It is refreshing to see the new leadership’s recognition of the significant failings in thepolitical leadership of the social work service and their prompt action to address this.
“I hope that we see a more proactive and collaborative approach from the new appointees who will be covering the previous remit.
“We have heard much rhetoric in recent days about improving working relationships across the political groups and I am committed to doing the very best for Fifers.
“However, there must be genuine willingness from all sides and the petty point-scoring, claim and counter-claim must stop if we are to address the huge financial pressure and ever-increasing demand on social care and health.”
As reported by The Courier last week, Councillor David Ross, former depute leader of the council, takes over as leader from Mr Rowley, who has stepped down since being elected as MSP for Cowdenbeath.
Councillor Lesley Laird, the council’s executive spokeswoman for business, enterprise, economy and planning, has been elected as depute leader.
Councillor Judy Hamilton will now take responsibility for housing and building services, Councillor Gavin Yates takes responsibility for community health and well-being (including the remit for the transfer of adult and older people’s services from social work to health and social care partnership and for leisure, culture and local services).
Other portfolio responsibilities remain the same: Councillor Bryan Poole is responsible for education, children, young people and families; Councillor Pat Callaghan is responsible for environment and transport and Councillor Linda Erskine is responsible for finance and corporate services.