Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Cllr Logue still council leader
Tories back Labour to keep him in post
Jim Logue remains in his post as North Lanarkshire Council leader after the motion at Monday’s special meeting calling for him to temporarily step down was defeated 4033.
The SNP group’s call was voted down as the Conservative group and both independents on the authority sided with the minority Labour administration in agreeing to note the “ongoing police investigation and await the outcome”.
Airdrie Central representative Councillor Logue spoke during the 75-minute debate to reiterate that “for the avoidance of doubt, the police have still not made any contact with me”, and to condemn the “smear campaign” against him.
The special meeting was called by SNP members after it emerged police were investigating a complaint of alleged corruption made against the council leader; understood to relate to his directorships of two subsidiary companies of North Lanarkshire Leisure during his time as the organisation’s chair.
Coat bridge North councillor Allan Stubbs, the SNP’s business manager, proposed the motion by saying: “We operate on the basis of innocent until proven guilty and none of us are asking for Councillor Logue’s suspension from his party or the council.
“We have to work with the limited information available; the primary factor is that the most senior elected representative of this council is under investigation following allegations of fraud and corruption.
“This motion is neither personal nor political but necessary for the reputation of this council; I believe most people think he should step aside.”
Depute council leader Paul Kelly responded: “I’m disappointed we all find ourselves here wasting valuable time.
“Since Jim Logue took over the leadership, he removed a number of former councillors and took bold action in questioning procurement practices.
“The SNP group are giving no respect to process and have fallen for a smear by an out-of-touch old guard.”
Councillor Logue weighed in midway through the debate – watched by dozens of observers in the council chamber’s public gallery – to say: “My reaction to what I’ve heard so far is a mixture of sadness and embarrassment.
“It’s a matter of great regret that SNP members choose to make capital, and I can see some more experienced members are embarrassed. Any elected member could be targeted by malicious and spurious allegations; this is utterly indefensible and reprehensible.
“One non-specific allegation results in headlines; it shows the smear campaign against Paul Kelly and me and other members of the administration. It’s not the first time and it probably won’t be the last time.
“When regulatory bodies are involved, elected members should show respect for the associated process.
“There’s much to be proud of in this council – in housing, education, infrastructure, environment – and the negative press coveraege merely damages the reputation of North Lanarkshire at a time when we’re trying to attract industry.”
A total of 24 different councillors spoke in the debate; with Labour members describing the allegations as “smears”. Airdrie North member Tommy Morgan called for the motion to be voted down for “justice, due process and the rule of law”.
Coatbridge North SNP councillor Kirsten Larson said: “It’s smoke and mirrors rather than being transparent; we were elected to scrutinise.”
Party colleague Agnes Magowan asked the council leader if he knew “he was supposed to declare an interest in these companies”, with Councillor Logue responding: “I asked explicitly, ‘should I register’ [ the subsidiaries in the councillors’ register of interests] and they said no.
“In 2017, the auditor says they should have been. I took legal advice in 2011 and it was unequivocal.”
Depute council leader Kelly said following the meeting: “The council decided today that the leader should do what he has been doing since this smear campaign started – focus on what’s important to the people of North Lanarkshire.
“Councillor Logue has spent his political career fighting against precisely the kind of practices he is now falsely accused of being involved in. For example, he instigated an investigation into procurement last year which changed the way the council buys services and led to disciplinary action against a number of employees.”
SNP group leader David Stocks said: “We have put our case to the council on behalf of the public and the council has made its decision.
“The police must now be allowed to carry out their investigation without hindrance and we will not be making further comment on this issue until the police release their findings.”