Councillors have approved plans to splurge £24,000 on an oil painting while proposing to make millions of pounds of cuts to services.
The local authority last week agreed to splash out on “Evelick” – a painting by Scottish artist Alison Watt – which has a price tag of £24,000 excluding VAT.
The Labour group reacted with fury over the plans, however council leader Jonathan McColl of the SNP stressed that the money was ringfenced solely for the purchase of fine art.
A rescheduled meeting of the local authority’s cultural committee approved the spend after a motion from Labour councillor John Millar opposing the purchase did not receive a seconder.
Last week, we reported how axing lollipop patrollers, cutting back street cleaning and switching to three-weekly bin collections are all options being considered to save cash as West Dunbartonshire Council faces a funding gap.
Members were told that, if successful in an application for funding, then the total purchase price could reduce to £12,375.
Leven councillor Millar’s motion came after Labour group leader Martin Rooney said he was “appalled” by the plans.
Councillor Rooney said: “I’m absolutely appalled that the SNP council are giving this serious consideration.
“Everybody knows that West Dunbartonshire has some of the worst areas of deprivation in Scotland, child poverty was already on the rise, life chances for our young people are below the national average, we have families struggling to buy food, pensioners who are facing sky-high fuel bills, demand for help from foodbanks is increasing as donations are squeezed.
“The real matter of urgency in our area is the cost of living crisis but the SNP council’s priority is to spend almost £24,000 on an oil painting that will be locked away in a cupboard.
“It’s absurd at the best of times but completely bonkers in the middle of a cost of living crisis.”
And that sentiment was echoed by Councillor Millar, who said: “Why do we need to buy it? What are the local connections to it? And what are we going to do with it?”
“We’re in the middle of a cost of living crisis at the moment.
“Although the money is coming from an area where it can’t be touched, I couldn’t agree with it while people are struggling to make ends meet.
“Purchasing this picture on the back of people struggling to make ends meet doesn’t sit right with me.
“While we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis we should refrain from purchasing this picture.”
However council leader Jonathan McColl, who supported the motion by Bailie Denis Agnew to purchase the work, said that it would have no impact on measures to tackle the cost of living crisis.
He said: “Art isn’t my thing.
“But swimming also isn’t my thing. And nobody will ever suggest that we don’t spend money on swimming pools because there’s a cost of living crisis.
“We have to represent everyone across the area, and create facilities and activities for all cross-sections to enjoy and improve their mental wellbeing and health.
“If this pandemic has taught us one thing it’s that we need to get out of our houses and enjoy activities and life.
“It’s also important that we are purchasing artwork with a specific fund for that, so it’s not impacting services, as a way to attract tourists to our area.
“I can absolutely see where Councillor Millar is coming from. On the face of it, if you didn’t actually look into the detail I would agree with people asking why the council are spending up to £24,000 on a picture for when they are struggling to feed their weans.
“I absolutely see that.
“Unfortunately this money can’t go towards feeding weans. It’s from a capital fund, the law does not allow us to spend it on revenue services.”
