Colleagues’ backing for Purves and Stewart

The two councillors suspended over the fall-out have been backed by other members of their board.

Callum Purves and Colin Stewart were suspended due to complaints made over a cancelled meeting of the Integration Joint Board (IJB) in July as the councillors raised concerns over the way the meeting was handled.

Both Mr Purves and Mr Stewart have been backed by the other two councillors sitting on the IJB – SNP councillor Eric Drysdale and independent Xander McDade.

Mr Drysdale said: “I am very concerned and disappointed about the circumstances surrounding recent shortnotice cancellations of crucial meetings of the IJB, especially at a time when we are faced with significant operational and financial challenges.

“What matters here above all else is that governance difficulties need to be quickly and efficiently resolved so that everyone’s focus can continue to be on ensuring that we deliver the best health and social care services we possibly can for the people of Perth and Kinross and the wider Tayside region.”

Mr McDade said: “I did not see Councillors Purves or Stewart behave in a way that is unacceptable.

“They challenged the chair – as did others – over his decision to unilaterally cancel an agreed meeting of the board and he has now broken his own promise to hold a special meeting in July to discuss the very serious issues raised by the independent inquiry.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Peter Barrett backed the suspension, saying: “I fully support the action taken by Mr Lyle in response to the numerous complaints which have been made against Mr Purves and Mr Stewart.”

“It is disappointing that neither Mr Stewart nor Mr Purves seem to recognise such serious complaints that their behaviours have fallen far short of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and the standards required of elected members.”

SNP group leader Dave Doogan said: “The SNP’s priority will remain focused on maintaining the council’s delivery of high quality public services to our communities and we will not be distracted from this work by in-fighting.”