Come clean urges MSP

Alleged corruption in NL

A MSP has demanded a secret report into corruption at the council be published and in full.

Alex Neil, the MSP for Shotts, has been advised that this report has been with the council leader Jim Logue and chief executive Paul Jukes for at least a month and its contents have allegedly already led to disciplinary action against some council employees including at least one sacking for alleged corruption.

The SNP MSP said he has been told the report alleges that there has been widespread corruption, possibly going back 15 years, in the council’s procurement systems, with contractors getting inflated prices and improper tendering practices taking place in return for payments and favours.

Mr Neil said: “This report has clearly been suppressed by the Labour administration until after the local council elections.

“It is now incumbent on the new council leader and the chief executive to ensure the full contents of this report are made public and no longer kept secret.

“The public should know how their money has been wasted on corrupt practices and who the guilty parties are, and what criminal proceedings will be taken.

“There also needs to be a statement made as to what action the council is taking to clean up its act to put an end to what appears to be endemic corruption, possibly at both political and official levels.

“Both Police Scotland and the Accounts Commission must now launch an urgent, independent and comprehensive i n v e s t i gat i o n into corruption within North Lanarkshire Council and take whatever action is needed to punish those involved and ensure that measures are implemented to prevent such corruption happening in future.”

Paul Jukes, chief executive of the council, said: “I have repeatedly made clear that the report will be released to all members of the council when the disciplinary process is at an end and not before.

“Any allegation of criminality is a matter for Police Scotland and the council has kept the police informed of its investigations.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said this week: “Any allegations of corruption made to Police Scotland will be fully investigated.”

Paul Jukes