Interview 3 - Chris Hind (Labour council candidate)

[AlanG]

Councillor questions:

Name: Chris Hind

Party: Labour Party

Position in Party: Candidate for Bowbridge. Election Agent for Kate Maclean

Other relevant groups: Trade Union Representative for 23years
Where running: Bowbridge

Previous terms of office: none, but was election agent for tay bridges by election

Reason for joining party: “I’d like to make a difference”. Wants to fight for a change within society and its easier to do that in a party than as an individual.

1. WMD, whether chemical, biological or nuclear, have been getting lots of press, what will your position be on the UK’s own WMD many of which are stored at or near Faslane? For example would you support other councils banning of the transportation of their parts through the city boundaries?

Is a Pacifist, doesn’t believe in violence or support oppressive regimes. Was against the war for these reasons. Also scared by American spokesman saying “We are the new Rome”, they want to be a new imperial power, and doesn’t want America to treat Britain the way Rome treated Greece. Would continue to support Dundee’s status as a nuclear free zone. Would like to see more use of alternative energy sources such as wind or hydro power (we both joked no solar for Scotland hehe)

2. What are your plans for council tax within the city? Dundee has one of the highest rate sin the country and increases year on year, but what improvements to services have we seen, and can we expect to see within the next four years?

Agrees with a local income tax, similar to the SSP’s proposed Scottish Service Tax.

3. What are your policies on coalitions within the council, are there any parties/individuals you would rule out joining with to form a majority council and equally, any you would happily join with.

Agrees coalition can benefit the community, but is dangerous as it can give minority groups or individuals the ability to subvert democracy. Is against a one party state though.

4. What is your position on PFI and PPP? Will you be fighting for or against any current or future planned projects in Dundee?

As a trade unionist, believes there are better ways to fund hospitals, schools etc. Believes the setting up of not-for-profit organisations is a better way. Current PFI staff should be paid at the same level as their equivalent council workers.

5. What is your positioning on drugs? Would you support any “Met” like softening on cannabis possession, or opening of cannabis cafes in Dundee?

Supports cannabis decriminalisation , but is opposed to loosening of controls on harder drugs. Believes cannabis is less dangerous than alcohol, especially when concerned with the alcohol abuse and the aggressive tendencies it exerts.

6. What is your policy on boundary changes within the city? Whether this is a return of Monifieth etc into the cities boundaries or the creation of a Tayside wide council?

Believes Invergowrie, Monifieth etc should be returned to inside Dundee’s boundaries. 90% of them work in Dundee, they use the facilities in Dundee and benefit from Dundee. Dundonians subsidise their cheaper council tax, fact is they benefit completely with their kids being educated in Dundee. Dundee gets the worst deal whatever way the figures are currently looked at due to the high amount of pensioners, the huge amount of poor housing and the large student population.

7. What is your position on the building of mobile phone masts within your constituency, especially when near schools or other controversial buildings?

Would oppose them on top of schools, hospitals and other sensitive buildings until there is conclusive evidence either way of them being harmful or not.

8. As you probably know Dundee is twinned with the city of Nablus in Palestine. Given the recent trouble there what can you do and plan to do for the building of stronger ties and supporting of the people of that city?

Was opposed to the twinning 20years ago. But since then he has seen the sufferring and oppression the people of Nablus have had at the hands of the Israelis and the way they’ve been let down by the other Arab countries. Doesn’t like the political posturing of some other councillors on the issue and now fully supports the twinning. We now have strong cultural links to the area as the Al’makhtoun Institute for Islamic Studies shows.

9. Finally are there any policies you wish to implement and I have not addressed?

Standing for BowBridge because he wants to make a difference. Thinks there is a case for the Scottish Executive SIPS funding to be reviewed and extended to other areas of the city. There are issues with Youth facilities and would like to see more initiatives to help get kids off the streets. If elected will hold teenage surgeries to speak to the kids and ask what THEY want to happen, as thinks they are dissollusioned with politicians. Would like to try and combat the cycle of youth crime and work with local initiations for outlook work. There is no point in building community centres for kids if they don’t want to use them, they should be consulted to find out what facilities they want. Wants to be a community based politican as just now there are far too many who are more concerned with posturing and furthering their own careers than helping the community they represent.