Now questions asked over the Time Capsule

Calls have been made for the council to investigate council leader Jim Logue’s conduct as part their anti-corruption investigation.

The Wishaw Press have obtained a letter sent to chief executive Paul Jukes urging him to investigate allegations the council leader’s past involvement in the Time Capsule’s revamp.

It comes after the council launched an anti-corruption investigation in serious fraud allegations earlier this year.

The writer, who asked not the be named by the Wishaw Press, asks about the relationship between councillor Jim Logue and Mr Derek Gamble and about £85,000 work given to refurbish the Time Capsule in Coatbridge in 2012.

Both were directors of the Time Capsule Trust and North Lanarkshire Trust at the time.

The letter raised concerns about cash paid to Mr Gamble’s business in respect of the refurbishment of the Time Capsule. It went on to state: “Mr Gamble does not appear to have played any part in the tender process and NLC’s in house Design Services should have been contracted to carry out the works.

“These details should be readily available from the minutes of one or both companies.“

The letter goes on to ask why councillor Logue was director of ECSA and why was it set up.

It added:“This company does not appear to have ever been mentioned in NLC or NLL reports and it does not appear on Councillor Logue’s stated list of interests. For what purpose was ECSA UK Ltd set up?

“I would hope that these matters are reported to the media in keeping with recent concerns raised about the integrity of North Lanarkshire Council and some of their elected members.”

Councillor Logue insists he has no relationship with Mr Gamble and he was an independent director of the Time Capsule.

The council leader insisted Mr Gamble’s firm had the technical knowledge to carry out work to refurbish the Time Capsule which had been closed for 15 months. Councillor Logue said the Board agreed to approve the work for Mr Gamble’s firm.

He said:“We took legal advice and there was provision in the law that it was okay to give him the contract. I am happy to share this .

“Derek Gamble never took part in any board discussions about the contract.”

A council spokesman said:“As with any correspondence received at any time, the chief executive is looking into the points raised.

“The sums payable to the business of Mr Derek Gamble – around £59,000 – were unanimously approved by the board of the Time Capsule, which included councillors Jim Logue, Jim Smith and Ian Ferrie as well as independent directors.

“This was declared properly in the annual accounts and the board were satisfied that Best Value was achieved through this contract.

“Following the transfer of the Time Capsule to North Lanarkshire Leisure Ltd, a further sum of around £26,000 was paid

“An internal audit review of the circumstances of the Time Capsule refurbishment found no evidence of wrong-doing.

“ECSA UK Ltd was established as an administrative company for North Lanarkshire’s successful bid to be a European Capital of Sport in 2011. As chair of North Lanarkshire Leisure at the time, Councillor Logue was a director. No director received any remuneration.

“The company no longer trades now that North Lanarkshire’s time as a capital of sport is complete.”