No confidence motion in top team fails

A motion of no confidence in council leader Jim Logue and his deputy Paul Kelly has failed to gain the support of the Labour and SNP groups.

Both sets of North Lanarkshire councillors had discussions at their respective group meetings on Monday afternoon about the motion, issued last week and calling for the “immediate resignation” of the leadership over their handling of informing members about charges brought against Airdrie representative David Fagan.

Each group rejected its call for an emergency council meeting on the topic, meaning the motion is now unlikely to garner the amount of support required for it to be further considered by the council.

Council leader Jim Logue told the Advertiser: “The preferred view of the Labour group was not to support the motion; the SNP also came to the same conclusion independently, and the majority of independents also.

“We came to a unanimous group decision. Most people saw the motion for what it was – while it was ostensibly about the management of this issue, in reality it’s about me and is an attack by somebody removed from their position.

“I and the conveners are focused on improving services for communities; and while this infantile politicking is going on, the majority of members are focused on new initiatives.”

He criticised former Labour convener Sam Love for bringing forward the motion, saying he “has been unremitting in making personal attacks against myself and Paul Kelly”, and expressed disappointment that predecessor Jim McCabe had told the Advertiser he would, writes Councillor Logue “have managed the communication and internal processes in a different manner”.

Opposition leader David Stocks said of the SNP group’s decision: “After discussion, it was felt that we couldn’t back the motion because of sub judice.

“Everybody appreciates how difficult the situation was. We gave every opportunity for people to have their say and most took that opportunity; after talking it through it became clear that we couldn’t support it and there was no amendment [ to the contrary] or vote.”

Councillor Logue said: “The current position is that David Fagan has been charged with an alleged offence. At no time has he appeared in court or been convicted.

“One of the most respected tenets of Scottish law is that one is innocent until proven guilty and as such one should not indulge in comments of speculation which potentially could materially affect formal legal processes.”

Leader Jim Logue