Martin Rooney: Last News

Cuts to school bus services, reduced hours at recycling centres and council parking enforcement have all been approved as the local authority moved to close its £21million budget gap.

West Dunbartonshire’s housing chief claims there is a “housing emergency” in the region with “massive challenges” around homelessness.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s leader has labelled Scottish Government funding for the area “destructive and unethical.”

The potential of police hubs in Dumbarton and Alexandria town centres will be raised by West Dunbartonshire Council’s leader later this month.

Council workers in West Dunbartonshire are considering a better pay rise offer from the Scottish Government - with West Dunbartonshire Council saying they ‘desperately’ need funding from the Scottish Government to manage the proposed improved offer.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s leader has accused the Scottish Government of cuts to local authority budgets “that would make Margaret Thatcher blush.”

Supporting residents with cost-of-living hikes and regenerating the area while making “tough decisions” to close an upcoming massive budget gap are among priorities set out by the new Labour council leader.

The new leader of West Dunbartonshire Council will be confirmed tomorrow after Labour took control of the region at the local elections.

Labour have taken control of West Dunbartonshire Council, winning an outright majority for the first time since 2012.

A bitter spat has erupted between SNP and Labour members before this week’s election, with both parties accusing each other of attempting to deceive voters.

Those elected as councillors on May 5 will make decisions on behalf of residents about vital local services including roads, parks, schools and planning.

Candidates were grilled by the public at a lively hustings organised by the Clydebank TUC in Dumbarton last week.

An “unfathomable” decision to slash £2million of funding for West Dunbartonshire’s most deprived children has been slammed as new stark figures revealed the attainment gap is widening.

West Dunbartonshire council is considering buying a £24,000 oil painting while proposing to charge disabled people for vital services.

Get the latest parenting news sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletterSchool clothing grants could double to £300 if Labour topple the SNP in next year’s local council elections, it has been claimed.Leader of the West Dunbartonshire Labour group, Councillor Martin Rooney tabled a motion at a recent council meeting proposing the rise to be implemented between 2022 and 2027.It comes after the Scottish Government funded an increase in the grants available for primary pupils to £120 from £100 and to £150 for secondary pupils.But the local Labour group said West Dunbartonshire Council should be going a step further and asked all parties to support a move to fund a £300 grant to all eligible pupils by 2027.Councillor Rooney said: