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Glasgow Times
9 hours ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Tributes for East Renfrewshire councillor Betty Cunningham
She had served her constituents in Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor for 26 years and her dedication to the area was recognised last year when she received a Lifetime Legend award at the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and CCLA annual councillor awards. Books of Condolence have been set up at the council offices in Barrhead Main Street and at Eastwood HQ for members of the public to pay their respects. Betty was first elected in 1999 and was Provost of East Renfrewshire Council from 2003 to 2007. She received an OBE from the Queen in the New Year's Honours List of 2011 for services to East Renfrewshire and Malawi. She had first travelled to the African country in 2007 and set up a charity – the Betty Cunningham International Trust – which built a health clinic and nursery schools. Council leader Owen O'Donnell, who signed the Book of Condolence at the Council's Eastwood HQ, said: "Betty's passing has left me with a great sense of grief and sorrow which will be shared by the wider Labour family, council staff and colleagues, the many lives she touched in Barrhead and East Renfrewshire and much further afield in her beloved Malawi. "This all still feels so raw and a time of personal grieving. We will have time in the days and weeks ahead to more fully celebrate her life together. Social justice and the sense of what is right and wrong was ingrained in Betty's DNA. "She was a ferocious fighter for the people of Barrhead and beyond and would leave then Prime Minister Tony Blair and First Minister Jack McConnell trembling in her wake! "She had the biggest heart but was also great fun and someone you wanted to spend time with. "Betty was no prouder than when she received the Lifetime Legend award at the LGIU awards last year. "This was a fitting award and well-deserved tribute to mark her career. READ MORE: Send us photos of your May newborn to appear in Barrhead News "My thoughts and prayers remain with her family at this time who graciously welcomed me into their home so I could say my final goodbyes in the hours before Betty passed away. "Betty will remain an inspiration for us all." Provost Mary Montague, who signed the Book of Condolence in Barrhead, added: "Betty's death is a sad loss to her family, colleagues, staff, and many people locally and far and wide. Strong in character and often in her language, she was formidable in fighting for the best interests of Barrhead and East Renfrewshire. "She was a determined champion for a just cause and, for anyone who found themselves in a difficult situation and asked Betty for help, they got it. "Betty was a paradox of fiercely not pulling her punches when necessary to a woman of incredible empathy, compassion and love for fellow human beings. "She was particularly supportive to my family at the time of a close family bereavement and a fundraiser for defibrillators was on her very full agenda of benevolence. "She is well known for her many achievements for good causes like Malawi, but many will carry with them the memory of her quiet, loving, personal support. "My condolences and my heart go out to Betty's family whom she loved with a passion and I hope they see from the hundreds of lovely messages on social media, just how much Betty was appreciated and the extent of her legacy of public service." Steven Quinn, chief executive of East Renfrewshire Council, said: "As a new chief executive spending time with Betty as she took me around Barrhead (or Borrheid as I was often corrected), it was incredible to witness at first hand her passion and dedication for her community and the work she had done to support so many people. "Betty was always thinking of others and took a special interest in helping people who were facing challenges in their lives. It was a privilege to get to know and work with Betty. "Her death is a massive loss to her community and to East Renfrewshire Council. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time." There were also tributes to Betty from across the political spectrum. (Image: Paul O'Kane) Local MSP Paul O'Kane said: "Betty Wood-Cunningham OBE was Barrhead through and through. "She loved the bones and the stones of this place, and she was immensely proud to represent it on the council for over two decades. "She worked day in and day out for local people and was always to be found on her mobile phone sorting out a constituent's problem (often with quite a few expletives thrown into the conversation). "As Provost, she represented East Renfrewshire across the country and worked hard to make everyone feel like they were a VIP when the Provost came to officiate at an event. This often included a run in the 'Provost's motor'. "She raised thousands of pounds for charities from supporting talented young musicians locally to local churches, hospices and of course her beloved Malawi. "She was fiercely political and fiercely Labour - standing up for working people was in her DNA. "On a personal level, she was my political mammy and a dear friend. For all the times she chided me or we had our disagreements, there were countless more examples of her kindness and generosity to me and my family. READ MORE: East Renfrewshire ranked best in Scotland for 19 different council services "She was one of a kind - from the foot of the town to receiving her OBE from the late Queen at the Palace she was always Betty. "I will miss her terribly. May she rest in peace." Councillor Gordon Wallace, leader of the Conservative group on East Renfrewshire Council, said: "I was greatly saddened to learn of Betty's death. She will be greatly missed, not least by the people of Barrhead for whom she so tirelessly and passionately represented for over 25 years." And SNP group leader, Councillor Tony Buchanan, added: "Betty was a stalwart in her community and a fearless fighter on behalf of that community. "She was feisty and would not tolerate anyone who would decry her beloved Barrhead. "She was also a great believer in equity at both home and abroad, the latter through the work of her Malawi charity. "Betty stood up for people who needed support, gave them a voice and made sure the council delivered for them."
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Council gives green light to plans for credit union near Glasgow
The proposal, which will see the service open in Barrhead, was given the green light at a meeting of East Renfrewshire Council's (ERC) Cabinet this morning (May 29). The local authority said the decision follows a long-standing commitment to reinstate a credit union in the area, which had been further strengthened with the closure of the last remaining bank in Barrhead on May 21. The bank also served the broader communities of Neilston and Uplawmoor, and a further bank closure in Newton Mearns was also announced in March. The last bank in Barrhead shut this month (Image: Colin Mearns) ERC Leader, Councillor Owen O'Donnell said: ''I am delighted that this proposal has been approved. "The reintroduction of a credit union in East Renfrewshire was one of my Administration's election manifesto commitments and I am pleased that we are able to deliver on this for residents. 'Although we still have much work to do, in particular in securing a permanent location, I am confident that along with our partners in Pollok Credit Union, East Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, Barrhead Housing Association, Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire and along with our council colleagues in money advice and rights and housing we will be able to deliver more than just a credit union and provide additional vital support services to members.' READ NEXT: Mum raises concerns about battery storage facility The proposal gives the council the go ahead to work in partnership with Pollok Credit Union Ltd and other community planning partners to re-establish a credit union presence in East Renfrewshire, and provide up to £200,000 of council resource as seed-funding to support the branch until it can cover its costs. On this basis, the credit union would provide a local shop-front branch in Barrhead, open at least three days a week, as well as online and telephone provision and future development of outreach provision across wider areas of East Renfrewshire. Credit unions are not-for-profit savings organisations and members pool their savings to provide each other with credit at a low interest rate. The Pioneer Mutual Credit Union on Main Street closed in 2021 (Image: Newsquest) East Renfrewshire has been without a local service of this kind since the demise of the Barrhead-based Pioneer Mutual Credit Union in 2021, which had 3,500 members at the time of closure. READ NEXT: Residents in 1,500 homes to be left without water 'Having access to in-person financial services, such as a bank or credit union, is critical for many people in our communities,' added Councillor O'Donnell. 'Not everyone has internet access, the confidence to use it, or the means to travel out of the authority, so with the closure of the last bank presence in Barrhead, the need has never been greater. 'We are committed to helping our communities thrive and we can now move forward with our plans and work with our partners to bring back a credit union to East Renfrewshire.'
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
East Renfrewshire backs 8% council tax increase
Council tax rates in East Renfrewshire will increase by 8% from council set its budget for next year at a meeting on said it had used a range of measures to deal with its budget gap of £7.1m, including using reserves and implementing new council tax settlement means a band D property will pay £1,528.44, up £113.22 on last year. Council leader Owen O'Donnell said: "Following many years of extremely challenging financial pressures, there are cautious grounds for optimism in relation to the council's finances." Mr O'Donnell, who leads a Labour/Independent administration, added: "There will still be significant challenges ahead and difficult decisions to make, but for the first time in my period as council leader, I can see a path to a more positive future allowing us to focus on delivering even better services to our residents." Care charges delayed Meanwhile, a separate proposal to introduce charges for non-residential care in East Renfrewshire has been delayed - and will come into effect from 1 April 2026. The council had approved the £20 per hour fees for non-residential care, which include social supports, day opportunities and community-based services, despite strong opposition from parents and had previously called the fees "unfair" and immoral" and warned the charges could "reduce opportunities" for disabled council said the delay would allow time for financial assessments to take April 2026, the council will also know if the Scottish government intends to abolish these charges nationally.
