Conduct probe sees councillor suspended

Allegations of bullying and intimidation made against Colin Stewart

A Perth and Kinross councillor has been suspended from the local authority due to an ongoing investigation into his conduct.

Colin Stewart was handed the interim suspension by the Standards Commission amid allegations of bullying and intimidating behaviour.

The allegations against the former Conservative councillor, who now sits as an independent, have come from Tory colleagues and the council’s chief executive.

Council leader Murray Lyle has accused the politician of sending “unacceptable text messages and emails” as well as being “aggressive” and “intimidating”.

Mr Stewart denies the allegations, insisting he has always acted in the public interest.

A councillor has been suspended from the local authority amid allegations of bullying and intimidating behaviour.

In August, councillors Colin Stewart and Callum Purves were suspended by the Conservative administration due to complaints about a cancelled meeting of the Integration Joint Board.

While an investigation is currently being carried out by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland (ESC), the Standards Commission has placed Mr Stewart under an interim suspension until it is complete.

Allegations against Mr Stewart involved Caroline Shiers, Roz McCall, Kathleen Baird, Angus Forbes and the chief executive of Perth and Kinross Council, Karen Reid.

Council leader Murray Lyle claims Mr Stewart “sent unacceptable text messages and emails to a Councillor Shiers, had questioned Councillor McCall aggressively and had intimidated her, had shouted at a Councillor Baird and had spoken aggressively to a Councillor Forbes and blocked his path in a corridor.”

Provost Dennis Melloy also alleged the suspended councillor had “attempted to pressure him into releasing ‘private’ council papers, had berated him for not doing so.”

Mr Stewart denies all the allegations against him and the Standards Commission accepted there was “some conflicting information” in the complaints.

Mr Stewart said: “I’m obviously disappointed by this decision to impose an interim suspension on me, but it’s important to note that this decision is not, and should not be seen as, a finding on the merits of the complaints or the validity of any allegations made against me. I believe that I have acted entirely appropriately in my actions as a councillor and as a board member and have always done what I believe to be in the public interest.”

During the suspension he will be banned from attending all meetings of Perth and Kinross Council and any committee or sub-committee.

The suspension is for three months, while the ESC carries out the investigation, expected to be completed in January 2020.

“I believe that I have acted entirely appropriately in my actions as a councillor and as a board member

COLIN STEWART