Falkirk Council: Councillors standing down after long service

Billy Buchanan’s term as Provost of Falkirk Council drew to a close last week as he chaired a full council meeting for the final time before the election.

He plans to stand again on May 5 but many fellow councillors with similar long service are stepping down.

The Independent councillor who has represented Bonnybridge for 30 years, told councillors it been “an honour and a privilege,” although his colleagues remarked that it had not been an easy time, with the pandemic stopping all gatherings and forcing meetings online.

Tributes were paid to councillors who are stepping down by their respective group leaders at the final council meeting, held last Wednesday.

The SNP group will be losing its former leader, David Alexander who retires after 34 years, with members from all parties praising his ability and dedication to his constituents.

The SNP also say goodbye to Councillor Gordon Hughes, who has represented the Upper Braes since 2007. His group leader, Cecil Meiklejohn, thanked him for his contributions at council and committee, saying they were always “enjoyable, interesting and on occasion, intriguing.”

Former SNP councillor Niall Coleman, who resigned from the party last month, has also confirmed he won’t be standing again.

The Conservative group are losing two long-serving councillors who, for many years were the party’s only representatives.

Former group leader Malcolm Nicol, who was first elected in 1987, took a three-year break due to ill-health from 1997 to 2000, but otherwise has continuously represented his party for more than 30 years.

The current group leader, James Kerr, paid tribute to the man who he described as his mentor, saying: “His dedication to the Scottish Conservative & Unionist group in Falkirk has been immense.”

And he was also full of praise for another veteran, Falkirk South councillor John Patrick, who first joined Falkirk Council in 1996 in a by-election for what was then the Woodlands ward.

Provost Buchanan described Mr Hughes and Mr Patrick as “true gentlemen”, while he called his good friend Malcolm Nicol “a living legend”.

The Labour group will say goodbye to three councillors in May.

The Labour group leader Robert Bissett paid tribute to his colleague Joan Coombes, saying she “someone who always challenges the status quo”. He said he had great admiration for how Joan is a “proper socialist who stands up for what she believes in” and said she would be missed.

He also had warm words for Allyson Black, a former depute provost, who had served Grangemouth for 15 years. A former psychiatric nurse who was a member of the health board and the IJB, the board that oversees health and social in Falkirk, Mr Bissett said: “Her passion is to help people and that’s what she’s done very effectively over the last 15 years.”

Denny and Banknock councillor Jim Blackwood, a former union convener who became the chair of the Labour group, will also be leaving.

Mr Bissett said: “Jim was always fair and dedicated to the community and he will be missed.”

Retiring Conservative Malcolm Nicol added his own tribute to outgoing colleagues, including political opponent, Councillor David Alexander. He also praised another veteran adversary who will not be standing again – Dennis Goldie, who he described as “a great Provost who was always pushing the district.”

Mr Goldie resigned the Labour whip last November and has been sitting as an Independent since then, however he did not attend the final meeting.

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