THE new Tory-led administration at Scottish Borders Council has been accused of having a “blank sheet of paper” instead of policies to address the region’s challenges.

The claim comes from Councillor Stuart Bell, leader of the nine-strong SNP opposition group, who has rejected a call from SBC leader Councillor Shona Haslam for his party’s help in drawing up a so-called “governing document”, outlining priorities and targets for the next five years. 

We have obtained a copy of a confidential email which Councillor Haslam – one of 15 Conservatives elected in May and now heading a ruling coalition with seven Independents – sent to all 12 opposition councillors on June 1.

In that letter she states: “Party politics rarely comes into local government and I am keen to ensure the governing document of this council reflects all the good ideas that were brought forward during the [May 4 election] campaign.

“Our calls for better schools, better roads and better services were reflected across party lines and I am hopeful that on many of these issues we can move forward with consensus.

“Therefore I would like to hear your views on the direction and purpose of this new council.

“I cannot promise to include everything you want, otherwise it would be a very long document, but please come prepared to discuss what it is you want to see happen.

"I have spoken about working together and building consensus. These were not just words and I have fully committed to ensuring that the views of all our areas, people, groups and interests are reflected in this process.”

Asked if his group had taken up the invitation, Councillor Bell told us this week: “Emphatically not.”

He pointed to the council meeting of May 18 when the new administration voted to exclude any opposition members from its powerful executive committee.

In a response agreed by all his SNP colleagues, Cllr Bell says: “You have started off your period of administration by failing to treat us, or our views, with respect.”

He takes issue with Cllr Haslam’s assertion that party politics “rarely comes into local government”, adding: “You yourself are a member of a political party who in May asked the public to send a message that we don’t want a second independence referendum. It was on your boards at all the polling stations.

“While I profoundly disagreed with that campaigning position, the public voted for you and other Conservatives as individuals, but they also voted for your party’s position. I assume your campaign positioning was not just a ploy to gain electoral success and that there is more to your policy position than an empty slogan. Whatever you intended, it is still party politics.

“Party politics certainly came into heated debates at many meetings of the last council and rightly so in my view because different groupings of councillors represent different value systems within society.

“We might not significantly disagree about objectives, but there are relevant differences both on priorities and how to achieve objectives.

“The public voted for me because of the views I represent both as an individual and a politician. I do not intend to subsume my clear political views into a compromise that you choose to shape.”

He tells Cllr Haslam the role of council leader “involves taking a stance”.

“Leadership is not just about listening or stating you will do what the public wants you to do. You owe it to the Borders public to tell us what you stand for. All I have seen so far is a blank sheet of paper. It is up to you to write on it first, rather than pool everyone else’s ideas.”

Cllr Haslam said she was “disappointed” the SNP had chosen not to be part of the process, adding: “I remain committed to meeting with colleagues of all parties to discuss ideas, pull together thoughts and identify joint priorities in the best interests of the people we represent.”

She said a draft of the governing document, including a corporate plan from council officers outlining outcomes, impacts and key performance indicators, would be drawn up this month with a final draft presented to all councillors for approval on August 24.