Local By-elections

'The breaches were by their nature, individually and cumulatively, of a serious nature and the respondent [Gerard O'Brien] failed to meet the standards expected under the code over a long period. Given the number, nature and seriousness of the breaches, that training/mentoring had already been employed and the fact that there did not appear, in the opinion of the Hearing Panel, to be a prospect of the respondent modifying his conduct, especially in his relationships with council employees, the Hearing Panel concluded that disqualification was therefore the appropriate sanction.' Standard Commission, 6 th March 2009.

Bannockburn (Stirling) 30 th April 2009

There was a by-election in the Bannockburn ward of Stirling Council following the removal of Labour Cllr Gerald O'Brien on the 6 th March 2009 and his ban from being elected for at least 18 months by the Standards Commission following repeated breaches of the Councillors Code of Conduct.

Bannockburn ward is in the Stirling Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Anne McGuire MP). It lies mostly within the Ochil Scottish parliamentary seat (held by the Scottish National Party's Keith Brown MSP) while the south-west corner of the ward lies within the Stirling constituency (held by the Scottish National Party's Bruce Crawford MSP). In May 2007, three Cllrs were elected: Gerard O'Brien and Margaret Brisley for Labour and Alasdair MacPherson for the Scottish National Party.

The Labour hold following Cllr Luffman's ban and removal from office leaves the composition of the 22 seat council, which is run by an SNP minority administration at seven Scottish National Party, eight Labour, four Conservative & Unionists and three Liberal Democrats.

Timeline:
Stirling has seen a number of close contests with leadership of the council decided by a cut of the cards. The political drama has continued in recent years:
31 st May 2007: Labour and Lib Dem Cllrs in Stirling took advantage of the absence of three Tory Cllrs to convert a technical meeting into a leadership vote and elect Labour's Chorrie McChord as leader of the council. The issue was to be decided by a cut of the cards on 28 th June.
10 th June 2007: Cllr Gerard O'Brien (Labour, Bannockburn) was appointed Depute Provist of Stirling Council by 12 votes (himself, seven Scottish National Party and four Conservatives) against 10 votes for Cllr Graham Reed (Lib Dem) who received the support of the three Lib Dems and the other seven Labour Cllrs.
20 th June 2007: Police in Stirling investigated alleged threats made against Cllr Gerard O'Brien (Labour, Sauchenford) by a fellow Labour councillor following his appointment as depute provost due to support from Scottish National Party and Conservative Cllrs on the 14 th June.
12 th March 2008: the ruling Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition on Stirling Council was defeated in a vote of no confidence. A minority Scottish National Party administration took control of the council with Cllr Graham Houston (Scottish National Party, Dunblane & Bridge of Allan) as Council leader.
27 th March 2008: Cllr Margaret Brisley (Labour), Provost of Stirling Council and Depute Provost Gerard O'Brien (under suspension from the Labour party) were removed from their posts at a special meeting of the Council.
6 th March 2009: Cllr Gerard O'Brien (Labour, Bannockburn) is removed as a councillor for repeatedly breaching the Councillors Code of Conduct.

Bannockburn Ward, Stirling Council.

Cllrs for Bannockburn

Violet Weir Labour Newly elected Cllr	Magaret Brisley Labour	Alasdair MacPherson Scottish National Party

Bannockburn, 30 th April 2009

First Preference Votes

Candidate	Logo	Party	1 st Pref	Share	Quota	Count	Status	Seat
Violet Weir		Labour	1,131	39.89 %		7	Made Quota	1
Bill McDonald		Scottish National Party	1,067	37.64 %		7	Not elected
Tommy Brookes		Independent	229	8.08 %		7	Eliminated
Catherine Berrill		Conservative & Unionist	173	6.10 %		6	Eliminated
Breda O'Brien		Independent	89	3.14 %		5	Eliminated
Ethne Brown		Liberal Democrat	82	2.89 %		4	Eliminated
Duncan Illingsworth		Green	36	1.27 %		3	Eliminated
Paul Campbell		Independent	28	0.99 %		2	Eliminated

Count Details

Adjustments				Exclusion of Campbell	Exclusion of Illingworth	Exclusion of Brown	Exclusion of O'Brien	Exclusion of Berrill	Exclusion of Brookes
Candidate	Logo	Party	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7
Violet Weir		Labour	1,131	+ 3 1,134	+ 7 1,141	+ 21 1,162	+ 13 1,175	+ 21 1,196	+ 92 1,288 Elected
Bill McDonald		Scottish National Party	1,067	+ 5 1,072	+ 6 1,078	+ 17 1,095	+ 15 1,110	+ 52 1,162	+ 66 1,228 Not elected
Tommy Brookes		Independent	229	+ 3 232	+ 3 235	+ 5 240	+ 32 272	+ 31 303	- 303 0 Eliminated
Catherine Berrill		Conservative & Unionist	173	+ 3 176	+ 2 178	+ 16 194	+ 7 201	- 201 0 Eliminated
Brenda O'Brien		Independent	89	+ 5 94	+ 2 96	+ 3 99	- 99 0 Eliminated
Ethne Brown		Liberal Democrat	82	+ 1 83	+ 8 91	- 91 0 Eliminated
Duncan Illingworth		Green	36	+ 0 36	- 36 0 Eliminated
Paul Campbell		Independent	28	- 28 0 Eliminated
Non-transferable votes			0	+ 8 8	+ 8 16	+ 29 45	+ 32 77	+ 97 174	+ 145 319

Bannockburn, 3 rd May 2007

First Preference Votes

Candidate	Logo	Party	1 st Pref	Share	Quota	Count	Status	Seat
Alasdair MacPherson		Scottish National Party	1,469	33.15 %	1.32	1	Made Quota	1
Margaret Brisley		Labour	1,376	31.05 %	1.24	2	Made Quota	2
Gerard O'Brien		Labour	883	19.93 %	0.80	3	Made Quota	3
Alastair McCulloch		Conservative & Unionist	323	7.29 %	0.29	3	Not elected
Stephen Evans		Independent	216	4.87 %	0.19	3	Not elected
David Alistair Smith		Liberal Democrat	164	3.70 %	0.15	3	Not elected

Count Details

Adjustments				Surplus from MacPherson	Surplus from Brisley
Candidate	Logo	Party	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3
Alasdair MacPherson		Scottish National Party	1,469 Elected	- 361 1,108
Margaret Brisley		Labour	1,376	+ 0 1376 Elected	- 268 1,108
Gerard O'Brien		Labour	883	+ 63.65 946.65	+ 167.10 1,113.75 Elected
Alastair McCulloch		Conservative & Unionist	323	+ 36.37 359.37	+ 6.23 365.60 Not elected
Stephen Evans		Independent	216	+ 52.83 268.83	+ 15.38 284.22 Not elected
David Alistair Smith		Liberal Democrat	164	+ 58.49 222.49	+ 13.44 235.92
Non-transferable votes			0	+ 149.66 149.66	+ 65.84 215.50

Labour takes control of council

From BBC News, 18 th May 2007

Labour has taken control of Falkirk Council following the local government elections on 3 May.

Falkirk was previously led by an SNP/Independent administration but Labour has gained the support of two Independent members to take control.

Labour councillor Pat Reid was named as the authority's new provost.

Meanwhile in Stirling, former teacher and now Labour councillor Margaret Brisley was elected to represent the authority as its new provost.

She was nominated by Labour group leader Corrie McChord and seconded by Liberal Democrat group leader Graham Reed.

First meeting

A decision over which party will hold the balance of power on the local authority is due to be taken at a full council meeting next Thursday.

Ms Brisley's appointment was made at the first meeting of the new council since the election. It returned eight Labour councillors, seven SNP members, four Conservatives and three Liberal Democrats.

Meanwhile in Falkirk Council, the election returned 14 Labour, 13 SNP, two Conservative and two Independent councillors - Billy Buchanan and Alex Waddell.

Council fights confidence motion

From BBC News, 29 th February 2008

The SNP group on Stirling Council is tabling a motion of no confidence in the ruling Labour/Liberal Democrat administration.

The SNP councillors claim not enough progress has been made since May's election and they should take over.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats said they had delivered for the people of Stirling and would continue to do so.

After May's elections there were eight Labour councillors, seven SNP, four Conservatives and three Lib Dems.

It was expected the meeting to discuss the motion of no confidence would be held on 13 March. SNP group leader Councillor Graham Houston said: "Last week's budget was the final straw: a gimmick tax cut and the same old pledges they've been making year after year and never delivered.

"It's time for change in Stirling Council, and the SNP group are prepared to rise to this challenge and provide the fresh ideas and leadership this council presently lacks.

"We have a vision for more effective governance, and the delivery of the basic services that people expect: well-maintained roads and streetscapes; properly cut and lifted grass; improved refuse collection; and new social housing to address the long-term neglect.

"Therefore, we will table a motion of no confidence in the Labour / Liberal administration, and seek the support of Stirling councillors to form a new SNP administration."

Liberal Democrat group leader Graham Reed rejected the criticisms and said they had delivered for the people of the area.

"Waste services in Stirling are now some of the best exemplars in Scotland, we have joint highest recycling rates," he said.

"We've replaced all the senior schools, except one, which is now undergoing a major uplift and we put new funds into primary schools.

"We have put up a massive amount of money to address the issue of road improvements and structural layouts.

"If the SNP believes that we are a failed administration I'd like to know on what grounds they make their claim against the facts I've just mentioned."

Councillor removed from office

From BBC News, 6 th March 2009

A Stirling Labour councillor has been banned from being elected for at least 18 months by the Standards Commission.

Gerard O'Brien, 39, was removed as a councillor for repeatedly breaching the Councillors Code of Conduct.

The disqualification is the first in Scotland since the inception of the code in 2003.

Mr O'Brien, who was first elected in 2001 and serves the Bannockburn ward, was found to have pressured planners and was "rude" to other officials.

The ban means he is disqualified from being a councillor, being nominated for election or being elected.

According to the Standard Commission's findings, Mr O'Brien repeatedly sent emails on a range of issues to officials within council departments which were "disrespectful" and "unwarranted".

They also found he attempted to influence planners by telling them they would be reported in the press or to the Labour group.

'Massive disrespect'

In its decision document, the commission said: "The breaches were by their nature, individually and cumulatively, of a serious nature and the respondent [Gerard O'Brien] failed to meet the standards expected under the code over a long period.

"Given the number, nature and seriousness of the breaches, that training/mentoring had already been employed and the fact that there did not appear, in the opinion of the Hearing Panel, to be a prospect of the respondent modifying his conduct, especially in his relationships with council employees, the Hearing Panel concluded that disqualification was therefore the appropriate sanction."

In response, Mr O'Brien, who is a former deputy provost of Stirling, insisted he had not been given the chance to refute the accusations.

He said: "It's an unjust decision which I will take to Stirling Sheriff Court.

"It has showed massive disrespect to me and the people of Bannockburn who voted for me."

The SNP-controlled council currently has seven SNP members, seven Labour members, four conservatives and three Liberal Democrat members.

The Nationalists seized control of the local authority in March last year following a vote of no confidence in the ruling Labour group.

A by-election for Mr O'Brien's seat will be held later this year.

'Bizarre' O'Brien gets council ban

By Iain Howie in the Stirling Observer, 6 th March 2009

BANNOCKBURN is set to become a political battlefield after a by-election was sparked by the suspension of a ward councillor.

Labour councillor Gerard O'Brien's 18-month suspension for breaching the councillors' code of conduct means his seat on Stirling Council is now up for grabs.

The by-election, the Observer understands, will take place on or around June 4, when the European Parliament elections are due to be held.

Mr O'Brien was first voted into Stirling Council in 2003 in the Sauchenford ward, replacing former provost Tommy Brookes.

Councillor Brookes was ousted from the council following alleged irregularities over his role in a proposed land deal as chair of the Cowane's Trust but he was later cleared after a 16-minth-long police inquiry.

The Standards Commission for Scotland suspended Councillor O'Brien, a former depute provost, after it concluded he had breached the code of conduct on three broad areas.

It agreed with findings that Councillor O'Brien had:

Failed to show respect to council officials;

Put pressure on planning officers over a planning application, and,

Publicly criticised a council employee.

The councillor was yesterday (Thursday) suspended with immediate effect following the hearing in Bridge of Allan last week. He was not available for comment.

Former colleague Councillor John Hendry said: "We are extremely disappointed that it has come to the suspension of a councillor.

"We've (Labour) had difficulty with Councillor O'Brien's bizarre behaviour for some time and it's unfortunate that he has not complied with his colleagues."

He added: "I think it should be said that as a representative of his community, Councillor O'Brien had taken on their problems in a very sympathetic manner.

"However, it was sometimes the way in which he followed up these problems which caused this outcome."

Commission members heard of 10 instances where he had breached the code.

The councillor did not attend the meeting, but sent a letter in response. The meeting also heard that Mr O'Brien had not taken part in discussions to agree to a joint statement of facts regarding the hearing.

The hearing heard evidence from council department directors including former director Brian Devlin from environmental services and Mick Stewart from planning.

Mr Devlin told the commission panel that Councillor O'Brien had continually e-mailed department directors and junior officials when he didn't get his way over issues he was concerned about.

He also said that the working relationship he had with the councillor was dramatically different between his face to face conversations to those carried out by e-mail.

The ex-environmental services boss said that Councillor O'Brien would "continually harangue" him and others after they refused to install a crash barrier over a railway bridge near Cowie.

Mr Devlin said that, despite taking expert advice, including one that said that the barrier could actually cause a worse accident, Mr O'Brien seemed unhappy with the response and would find other reasons for the barrier to be considered.

And he said more than 50 pieces of correspondence were fielded by him from the councillor.

Believing the matter to be finished, Mr Devlin said he was "bewildered" to find the councillor had issued a press release warning of a "major Scottish rail disaster".

Referring to another request by the councillor, Mr Devlin said that housing officers were "bombarded" and being "swamped" with emails from him and that many were "at the end of their tether".

Despite this, Mr Devlin said that in face-to-face meetings with Councillor O'Brien, he was a "different person" who congratulated him on 28 years' service to local authorities when he stepped down from the director's role recently.

The hearing also heard that O'Brien had directly contacted planning officials when retrospective planning permission was sought for a business based in Bannockburn which was run by the wife of another councillor.

O'Brien told them that the councillor could have to leave his role and might not be able to support his family because of the department's refusal.

This was a clear breach of the code of conduct.

Council vote shifts power to SNP

From BBC News, 12 th March 2008

The ruling Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition on Stirling Council has been removed after a vote of no confidence.

The motion was carried by 11 votes to 10 after the SNP group received support from the Conservatives.

The coalition resigned following the vote and the SNP will now lead the council as a minority administration.

Labour has controlled the local authority since 1997 but was forced to form a coalition with the Lib Dems following last year's election.

The council was the last in Scotland to agree an administration.

Stirling Council has 22 elected members comprising eight Labour, seven SNP, four Conservative and three Liberal Democrat members.

Cllr Gerard O'Brien, who is a suspended Labour member, was not in attendance at Wednesday's vote.

Seven Nationalist councillors put forward the no confidence motion almost a fortnight ago.

SNP councillor Graham Houston was appointed leader after the administration resigned.

Mr Houston said: "The people of Stirling voted for change in May, now that change will finally be delivered.

"The new SNP council will not just implement the council tax cut put forward by the previous administration, we will freeze council tax for the full three years.

"After decades of Labour control in Stirling, the SNP will bring a breath of fresh air to the council."

Conservative group leader Cllr Alistair Berrill said: "Labour has been in power in Stirling for over 10 years.

"During that time council tax levels rose yet satisfaction with services is at an all time low."

He added: "We will not take jobs for this support, nor do we make any unreasonable policy demands but instead we will continue to act as a constructive, yet critical opposition of the new administration."

Bannockburn election date

By Stephen Robertson in the Stirling Observer, 25 th March 2009

THE date for the Bannockburn by-election has been set.

It takes place on Thursday, April 30, and votes can be cast in the Alpha Centre, Fallin; Cowie Community Centre; Balfour Centre, Plean; and Bannockburn Primary School. Voting stations will be open between 7am and 10pm.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, April 6, at 4pm. Forms are available from the elections office at Old Viewforth.

Vote set for 'disqualified' seat

From BBC News, 26 th March 2009

A by-election to replace disqualified Stirling councillor Gerard O'Brien will take place next month.

The Labour politician was banned from office for 18 months by the Standards Commission on 5 March for breaching the Councillors Code of Conduct.

Voters in the Bannockburn ward will be invited to choose his replacement on 30 April.

The date was announced by Stirling Council's returning officer Keith Yates.

Mr Yates said: "In order to ensure the people of Bannockburn and the Eastern Villages are fully represented on Stirling Council as soon as possible, I have decided to set the date for the Bannockburn by-election for Thursday, 30 April."

Polling will take place between 0700 and 2200 BST in Fallin, Plean, Bannockburn and Cowie. The SNP-controlled council currently has seven SNP members, seven Labour members, four conservatives and three Liberal Democrat members.

The Nationalists seized control of the local authority in March last year following a vote of no confidence in the ruling Labour group.

Tory leader's girl stands for council

By Kaiya Marjoribanks, in the Stirling Observer, 1 st April 2009

STIRLING Conservatives are hoping to keep it in the family with the announcement of a 19-year-old student as their candidate for the forthcoming Bannockburn by-election.

Catherine Berrill is the daughter of Alistair Berrill, leader of Stirling Council's Conservative group. The former Stirling High School pupil has lived with her family in Bannockburn for 10 years and is currently a second-year law student at Edinburgh University.

She said: "I love the area but, growing up here, I know many of its issues at first hand.

"You always hear the same complaint from young people: 'there's nothing for us to do round here'. That can lead to problems all round.

"We need a much tougher line on crime, on vandalism and graffiti and on improving the local environment.

"We need Stirling Council to take more of a lead in Bannockburn and the Eastern Villages. For years Labour has ruled on Stirling Council and we have suffered from their complacency and inaction. Now we have an SNP administration but there is no sign of any improvement."

Catherine said: "If elected I will fight for a better deal for local people. Stirling city centre may not be far away in terms of geography but council headquarters at Viewforth can seem a very distant place to the people of Bannockburn, Plean, Cowie, Fallin and Throsk.

"It is time Stirling Council woke up and listened to its people."

The by-election ­ sparked by the disqualification of Labour councillor Gerard O'Brien following a Standards Commission inquiry ­ takes place on April 30.

Stage set for Bannockburn battle

From BBC News, 8 th April 2009

The wife of a councillor who was removed from office by the Standards Commission is among eight candidates hoping to replace him.

Breda O'Brien will stand as an independent candidate in a by-election to represent the Bannockburn ward on Stirling Council.

Her husband Gerard O'Brien became the first councillor in Scotland to be disqualified from the office in March.

He was removed after breaching the councillors code of conduct.

Former Labour provost, Tommy Brookes, will also contest the election as an independent candidate.

He was ousted from the council in 2003 after allegations were made about his role in a proposed land deal.

No confidence

A subsequent police inquiry cleared him of wrongdoing.

Local man Paul Campbell will also stand as an independent with Violet Weir standing for Labour.

Ethne Brown, the wife of Stirling councillor Ian Brown will contest the seat for the Liberal Democrats, while Catherine Berrill, daughter of the authority's Tory group leader Alistair Berrill, will stand for the Conservatives.

Local businessman Bill McDonald will contest the seat for the SNP and Duncan Illingworth will stand for the Scottish Green Party.

The SNP-controlled council currently has seven SNP members, seven Labour members, four conservatives and three Liberal Democrat members.

The Nationalists seized control of the local authority in March last year following a vote of no confidence in the ruling Labour group.

The by-election to replace Mr O'Brien will take place on Thursday, 30 April.

Ex-provost and Mrs O'Brien to contest by-election

By Kaiya Marjoribanks, in the Stirling Observer, 8 th April 2009

A DEPOSED provost, the wife of a disqualified depute provost and the wife of a sitting councillor are among eight candidates announced for the Bannockburn ward by-election.

Tommy Brookes, formerly Labour but who is standing as an independent, was ousted from Stirling Council in 2003 when he was Provost, following alleged irregularities over his role in a proposed land deal as chairman of the Cowane's Trust. He was later cleared after a 16-month long police inquiry.

Also standing as an independent is Breda O'Brien, wife of former depute provost Gerard whose disqualification sparked the by-election. Gerard recently became the first councillor in Scotland to be disqualified by the Standards Commission after it concluded he had breached the councillors' code of conduct. He had originally stood for Labour, succeeding Tommy Brookes. Stirling could, however, have a Mr and Mrs on its council after the Lib-Dems selected the wife of one of their current councillors to stand in the by-election.

Ethne Brown, wife of Councillor Ian Brown, retired from Stirling University six months ago after more than 20 years as a teacher there and elsewhere in Forth Valley and Paisley.

While working in the university she was a volunteer informal advisor on bullying and harassment for staff and students and an accredited caseworker for members of the university and college union.

Prior to her teaching career she was a health visitor in Argyll and Clyde and Greater Glasgow health boards.

She said: "I've always had an interest in people and politics.

"For three years I was chairperson of St Ninians Community Development Trust, which aims to provide financial support for local groups and community councils.

"I attend meetings of Stirling Community Health Partnership/Public Partnership forum, which is an arena for public dialogue about health and community support."

Ethne, who is also involved in a number of other local groups and organisations, says health, improvements in further education, youth activities, affordable housing and securing a warden for Plean Country Park will be among her priorities if elected.

The SNP candidate has been announced as Bill McDonald. He and his wife Julia run a monumental sculptor business in St Ninians and are said to be well known to local people. He said: "I have lived and worked in the Bannockburn area for most of my life and am well aware of the local issues and the concerns which we all share.

"Years of Labour neglect cannot be changed overnight but I promise I will work with my SNP colleagues on Stirling Council to deliver for the people of Bannockburn."

Bill served 18 years in the services, including the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. His father and grandfather were miners, working in local pits.

Duncan Illingworth is standing for the Scottish Green Party. He stood in the last council elections in 2007 for the Dunblane/Bridge of Allan ward and runs his own local gardening firm.

And Plean man Paul Campbell is also standing as an independent.

As revealed in last week's Observer, the Tories have unveiled their candidate as Catherine Berrill, daughter of the council's Tory group leader Alistair Berrill.

And Labour's candidate is local community nurse Violet Weir.

The by-election takes place on Thursday, April 30, and votes can be cast in the Alpha Centre, Fallin; Cowie Community Centre; Balfour Centre, Plean; and Bannockburn Primary School. Voting stations will be open between 7am and 10pm.

Bill McDonald to contest Bannockburn

From Bannockburn SNP, April 2009

Bill McDonald has been selected to contest the Bannockburn by-election for the SNP. Bill and his wife Julia run a successful monumental sculptor business in St. Ninians and are well known to local people.

"I have lived and worked in the Bannockburn area for most of my life and am well aware of the local issues and the concerns which we all share. Years of Labour neglect cannot be changed overnight but I promise that I will work with my SNP colleagues on Stirling Council to deliver for the people of Bannockburn."

Bill served 18 years in the services, including the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. His father and grandfather were miners, working in local pits.

Bannockburn SNP councillor Alasdair MacPherson said "I am delighted that Bill has been selected to contest this by-election for the SNP. Like me, Bill is passionate about social justice and has a track record of campaiging for disabled groups and know that he will make a first class councillor. We will work together to improve the quality of life for residents in the Bannockburn ward. Bill is a hard working and enthusiastic person with a strong local connection, I look forward to working with him when he is elected".

Candidates state their case for seat

By Kaiya Marjoribanks, in the Stirling Observer, 22 nd April 2009

CANDIDATES have been campaigning in the run-up to the Bannockburn ward by-election on Thursday, April 30.

Among those standing is former Stirling Provost Tommy Brookes.

The ex-Labour party member is standing as an independent and said: "I have lived all my life in Plean so I know only too well the problems that currently exist in all of our villages. "Over the years I've worked tirelessly to improve living standards in the Stirling area and in my own village.

"Having stood under a party ticket for many years as a serving council, I feel strongly that an independent representative is definitely the best option for the villages.

"Party politics is no longer the answer, with councils being run from central office. What's now needed is a local man who understands local issues, an individual prepared to fight for what's best for residents, not just for what's in the interest of parties bent on political gain."

Originally from Renfrewshire, independent candidate Paul Campbell moved to Plean six years ago with his mother. He says he decided to stand over a number of local issues, including his concern over Plean Country Park.

He said: "As part of the council's management review, the park appears to have lost its dedicated manager. I have started a petition to demand a rethink over this situation.

"It appears that an area of the park which is often used for picnics is now having rubble dumped on it, which is outrageous.

"Our last two local councillors have been the subject of controversy. I am just a local man who wants to get things done and put all in the past. I'm in this to help local people."

LibDem Ethne Brown, wife of Councillor Ian Brown, retired from Stirling University six months ago after more than 20 years as a teacher there and elsewhere in Forth Valley and Paisley. She said: "I've always had an interest in people and politics.

"For three years I was chairperson of St Ninians Community Development Trust, which aims to provide financial support for local groups and community councils.

"I attend meetings of Stirling Community Health Partnership/Public Partnership forum, which is an arena for public dialogue about health and community support. "Since retiring I've become a member of the patient public panel,

which makes a contribution towards high standards of health care services in Forth Valley.

"Looking at statistics on Bannockburn and the Eastern Villages from the last census you can see challenges for improvement to everyone's wellbeing, including that 50.1 per cent are semi or unskilled, unemployed, or at the lowest grade or on benefits.

"I would like to improve further education for improving skills, including offering education or recreational interests for those permanently sick or disabled."

The Scottish Green Party candidate has called for railway station plans for the ward to be put on the fast track.

Candidate Duncan Illingworth says that if the proposals aren't progressed now they could be left languishing in the sidings behind costly transport projects elsewhere.

He is concerned that the new Forth Road Bridge and other road building schemes, proposed by other political parties, will delay delivery of the new station for up to 10 years.

He added that by treating it seriously now it could bring forward major financial and environmental benefits for communities in Bannockburn and the Eastern villages.

Mr Illingworth said: The Eastern villages and Bannockburn desperately need a transport system that is fit for the 21st century and a new railway station for these communities cannot come quickly enough.

"The other parties transport policies have been based on 'more of everything': more roads, more bridges, more rail and more airports.

"However, when the money becomes tight, it's the rail they cut and the public transport they delay, never the road-building schemes.

"White elephant projects such as the Second Forth Road Bridge and the Kildean-Uni link road will drain money away from projects such as Bannockburn station, I will work hard to redress the balance and get public transport schemes quickly on the table that can give communities the affordable public transport they need."

"I believe that the alternative approach of the Scottish Green Party challenges the jaded approach of the other parties and pushes them towards more sustainable ways to tackle social and economic issues.

"Home insulation and public transport projects for example not only improve people's quality of life while cutting carbon emissions but they also create long-term sustainable jobs.

"The other parties talk about a sustainable approach to social and economic issues with the aim of cutting carbon emissions but when it comes to the crunch they fall back on the old solutions thus jeopardising all our futures."

Earlier this year the Scottish Government indicated its support for a bus and/or rail serviced Park and Ride scheme in the area through the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

The station has been proposed in the draft Regional Transport Delivery Plan from TACTRAN, but no funds to build the station have been allocated and even the suggested timescale for completion if funds did become available is at least eight years away.

A site just off the A91 between Skeoch roundabout and Station Road has previously been identified for the station, which was priced at between £8.3 million and £10.3 million for a study on behalf of the former Scottish Executive in 2007.

Also standing are: Violet Weir (Labour), Bill McDonald (SNP), Breda O'Brien (Independent) and Catherine Berrill (Conservative).

VOTING in the by-election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) System used at the last local government elections in May 2007.

Returning officer Keith Yates said: "On the ballot paper voters will be asked to number the candidates in order of preference, placing a 1 against their first choice, a 2 against their second choice, 3 against the third choice and so on. Voters can number as many or as few candidates as they wish."

Residents on the Register of Electors will shortly receive a poll card giving details of where they should vote and the postal voting arrangements.

The polling places are the same as the May 2007 elections: Alpha Centre, Fallin; Cowie Community Centre; Balfour Centre, Plean; Bannockburn Primary School.

The hours of poll will be from 7am until 10pm. Votes will be counted in the Council Chambers, Old Viewforth, Stirling following the close of polling places.

To vote at the by-election you need to be on the register of electors. If you want to check whether you are on the register or arrange to have a postal or proxy vote contact the Electoral Registration Officer, Hillside House, Laurelhill, Stirling FK7 9JQ: telephone 01786 892289. Postal and proxy application forms are available from www.saa.gov.uk/central or can be obtained in local libraries.

Labour celebrate Stirling by-election victory, beating SNP

From Scottish Labour, 1 st May 2009

Labour is today celebrating a by-election win in Stirling Council, after local nurse Violet Weir beat her SNP opponent in the Bannockburn Ward.

  Violet has worked as a Community Staff Nurse for the past 10 years with the local NHS.

  Violet Weir, newly-elected Labour Councillor for Bannockburn, said:

  "I am delighted to win and promise to work hard for my community. I will work hard for all the people who live here, and be a strong voice on the council."

  Anne McGuire, Labour MP for Stirling, said:

"I send my congratulations to Violet. She is a great campaigner, and she will be a great fighter for what she believes in.

  "The people of Bannockburn, Cowie, Fallin, Throsk and Plean have chosen.

  "This is a great result for Labour in Stirling.

  "This is a blow to the SNP, and a wake up call to Stirling Council that people are unhappy with the SNP administration, who are making bad decisions.

  "There is no doubt that their plans to close old folks homes made people very angry.

  "I look forward to working with Violet in the months ahead, because we all need to work together to help Scotland get through these difficult times."

Labour's Scottish Parliament Leader, Iain Gray said:

  "Violet Weir was a superb candidate for Labour and will make an excellent councillor serving the local community.

  "The result was excellent for Labour and I look forward to speaking to Violet again to congratulate her personally."

SNP achieve 8% swing from Labour in by-election

From the Scottish National Party, 1 st May 2009

Commenting on the result of the Bannockburn by-election in Stirling Local Authority where Labour's vote plummeted and the SNP achieved an 8% swing from Labour the SNP's MSP for Stirling Bruce Crawford said:

"This is an excellent result and a solid performance for the SNP in what should have been a safe Labour seat. Labour received over 50% of the vote in May 2007 and to lose 20% of that shows how Labour is falling apart in Scotland. It also puts the Westminster seat firmly in our sights.

"May 2007 was a historic high point for the SNP with our best ever national result yet. We are continuing to advance on that high water mark as voters have increasing confidence in the party and our council administration. It is a highly satisfactory result for the SNP administration in Stirling.

"It must be hugely discouraging for Labour that their support has fallen back from that election in what was their first national defeat in 50 years.

"That Labour cannot lift themselves up from that low point despite their claims of 'leading the world' casts a serious question over Brown's bad week."

Bannockburn Ward By-Election Result 30th April 2009

By Councillor Alasdair MacPherson Bannockburn SNP, 6 th May 2009

Firstly I would like to congratulate Voilet Weir in her victory and I look forward to working constructively with her for our constituents in the Bannockburn Ward.

Bill McDonald and I would like to thank everyone who voted SNP last week; your support is most appreciated. This was so nearly a sensational result for the SNP. To come within 60 votes of victory in what used to be considered Labour's heartlands was a truly amazing achievement and testament to the hard work of our candidate Bill McDonald and our campaign team.

The 8% swing from Labour to the SNP was massive and will form the foundations for our campaign for the European Elections in June and the Westminster elections next year. Labour's share of the vote collapsed by over 12% and their voters are not now just deserting Labour to vote SNP in their hundreds, but they also want to join our party. We have nearly 50 membership enquires from the Eastern villages alone.

This result is a vote of confidence in the SNP administration at Stirling Council and the Scottish Government and I am proud of that.

I am grateful to Cll John Beare for providing information concerning the by-election and for Bannockburn SNP for providing the result.

Links

• Stirling Council (appears to be offline)
  
  
• Bannockburn Branch (Scottish National Party)