‘No confidence’ vote over NLC leadership
as a group not as individuals.
“A number of members are off on holiday but a group meeting will be held next Monday.”
Councillor Paul Kelly, depute leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said: “To be clear, the act that David Fagan has been charged under was made available to us on September 29. It was only on that basis that he could be suspended by the Labour Party, and he was suspended that day. Even now, we are still not aware of the precise allegations against him.
“When we were informed that he had been charged – but not what he had been charged with - on September 8, both myself and the council leader sought assurances from the chief executive that he had taken all necessary measures. We were assured that this was the case.
“It is clear that David Fagan has taken no part in any council activity since September 8. That includes meetings, visits and surgeries. Any suggestion that there has been any risk created as a result of the steps taken by the political or executive leadership of the council is wholly wrong.
“David Fagan is subject to live legal proceedings. It is pathetic that some would seek political opportunity when those proceedings are ongoing.
“It is disgraceful that those same people would suggest that either the council leader or myself would seek political advantage in the actions we have taken.
“The idea that we would openly speculate about the detail of the allegations against David Fagan when we did not know that detail, and openly discuss a live legal case, is clearly ridiculous.”