Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Council leader’s not willing to step aside
SNP request special meeting before full assembly
SNP councillors have reiterated calls for North Lanarkshire leader Jim Logue to stand aside during an ongoing police investigation – and have formally requested a special council meeting.
Opposition members unanimously agreed to submit a demand the issue goes before a full assembly of all 76 councillors, following a complaint of alleged corruption being made against the Airdrie Central councillor.
The Advertiser understands the meeting is likely to go ahead this Monday. It must be held on or before Wednesday to comply with council procedures after being requested by more than a quarter of elected members.
Councillor Logue has previously labelled the fraud allegation “completely spurious” and described the SNP’s calls for him to stand down from the leadership as “nonsensical”.
He told the Advertiser yesterday of the special meeting request: “It’s very disappointing certain individuals are trying to make political capital.
“When something goes to a regulatory body, they need to be given the space and time required for things to run their course and for them to make their determination.”
Councillor Logue also said yesterday he is yet to be contacted by police, saying: “I’ve heard nothing at all” – but previously noted: “I look forward to discussing the matter at their convenience.”
The complaint to police related to directorships of two North Lanarkshire Leisure (NLL) subsidiary companies, named ECSA and No Limits Leisure, during Councillor Logue’s time as chairman of the leisure arm’s-length organisation.
As well as asking the council leader to step aside, opposition members will also propose motions requesting immediate publication of audit reports on NLL and on “allegations of fraud and corruption around council procurement and contracting arrangements”.
SNP leader David Stocks, who also represents Airdrie Central, said: “The group view is while the police investigation is ongoing, the leader should stand down until it is complete.”
He added of the two requested reports: “I believe if these papers had been released in full when we asked for them, we wouldn’t be having this meeting.”
The North Lanarkshire row has also reached Holyrood, with Coatbridge MSP Fulton MacGregor, a former councillor, writing to Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale and calling for her to intervene to ensure the special meeting motions are successful.
Depute SNP leader Tom Johnston said: “We haven’t taken this decision lightly, but we made a promise to the people who elected us to fight for openness, transparency and accountability within this council.
“North Lanarkshire Council has developed a poor reputation over the years and Councillor Logue’s refusal to step aside is a further example of everything that is wrong in this area.
“I’m asking all councillors to support the three items that will go before this special meeting – it’s imperative opposition councillors and the public have the opportunity to see the content of these reports.”
Group business manager Allan Stubbs, the Coatbridge North councillor, added: “This is the last available action we can take – we’ve asked the leader to step aside voluntarily, and for a copy of the report. Both have been refused so we’re left with no other options.”
Labour depute leader Paul Kelly responded to the request for the meeting by saying: “We absolutely welcome the opportunity to talk about the smear campaign against Jim Logue. He has spent his political life fighting the type of practices he is now being falsely accused of being involved in. The truth is, this is a smear instigated by a bitter former Labour councillor and the bandwagon has been jumped on by the SNP.
“What’s even worse is the SNP have gone as far as to question the unimpeachable integrity of the council chief executive in their desperation to score points against a Labour leader. That is utterly pathetic.
“Jim Logue is confident the police will find no case against him but understands they have to be allowed to look into the complaint, no matter how spurious it is. Meantime, we are focused on delivering great services – he will not be stepping aside.
“Given we will have to sit through a pointless special council meeting, we will be seeking to use it to call on all councillors to support a demand to the Scottish Government that councils be treated fairly when it comes to budget allocations.”