Local Government Elections are to be held on May 4 which is just 10 weeks away.

The Labour Party has selected their candidates for Dumbarton and the Vale and the SNP’s candidates will be in place this week.

There will of course be other candidates declared between now and March 29, when nominations close. I note from the Clydebank Post Provost McAllister is trumpeting the Labour Group’s so-called achievements over the past five years.

Let’s be clear, many of the capital build programmes being talked up have been made possible as a result of funding received from the SNP government and indeed have been supported locally by SNP councillors.

It has become very wearying to hear Martin Rooney and his colleagues continually complaining about how the Scottish Government settlement is too little, about the Council Tax freeze, about Housing Associations getting more money in grants to build social housing than councils do.

Not a year has passed since 2012 without Martin sending his annual whingeing letter to the Finance Minister at the Scottish Parliament, “Please sir can I have some more”.

He should change his name to Oliver.

It’s also no surprise that we hear little about the Scottish Government cash awarded to this council for raising attainment in our schools other than yet another complaint, this time from Councillor Mooney who objects to the latest tranche being given to Head Teachers to use as they best see fit. He thinks he knows better how to spend it.

We hear nothing said about their weird and wonderful plans on education such as cutting the school day or moving Renton and St Mary’s Primary schools against the wishes of the parents, wasting almost £1million in the process by ripping up a much-used sports pitch.

Had they consulted with parents on both these issues before presenting half-baked plans they would have realised how out of touch they are with the voters.

May 4 gives you the chance to elect an SNP-led council who will work with the Scottish Government rather than complain about it. Finally, I have decided on grounds of age not to put myself forward for re-election. I hope you feel I have served the community well over the past five years. I feel confident that a younger breed of SNP candidates being put forward will have much to offer and I ask you to give them the same chance you gave me.