Communities feel let down by ‘those who should be representing us’
Following the article in the Shetland Times (13 August) regarding the Shetland Islands Council chief executive’s approach to the proposed meeting of the Shetland Recreational Trust and Shetland Charitable Trust, Save Scalloway Pool Action Group wish to voice our deep concern and disappointment on how this was done.
The initial email Maggie Sandison sent to the trusts did not show fairness and respect (words quoted from the Council’s Code of Conduct for employees) to our group and the whole community who have been affected by the closure of the pool, in fact it set the tone of the meeting as very negative from the outset.
She was also quoted to have said in her email to the trusts “I can understand from your perspective the hype being built around us meeting must be annoying given the correspondence we’ve all received this week”.
Save Scalloway Pool Action Group did send information and suggestions on possible solutions to the chief executive in the spirit of being helpful in their deliberations, but for this to be seen as annoying is again very disrespectful to the group and to the community who have been fighting to save our pool.
The Code of Conduct in the section Working Together states staff should demonstrate a positive attitude by being open minded, fair and respectful.
The chief executive’s task from the council meeting of 25 March was clear – she was instructed by the council to seek information from the trusts to enable her to report back to Members on options for a sustainable long-term plan to maintain the operation of the Shetland Recreational Trust and the Scalloway Pool into the future. The meeting concluded only one option and that was the pool remain closed and therefore the councillors noted the report.
We feel the community and Save Scalloway Pool Action Group have been shortchanged in this process. Though the action group and community have been willing to work together with the council and the trusts there has been little to no opportunity to do so.
Is this the future? Communities to be involved only when the council and trusts deem it to be important or to be part of their agenda, leaving our communities feeling powerless, unengaged and let down by those who should be representing us.
Sonia Inkster
Save Scalloway Pool Action Group
