Cllrhits backat council taxdebt rumour

Independent councillor Elspeth Maclachlan has denied rumours that she was in council tax debt when she voted at PKC’s budget meeting in February.

Ms Maclachlan, who is standing in the Perth City North ward, moved to quash the suggestions yesterday.

She told the PA that had she been in arrears it would have been illegal to sit through the meeting, and that she would have been asked to leave. Under the councillors’ code of conduct members with two months’ arrears are not allowed to vote on matters such as council taxes.

She said: “Every councillor present at the Budget meeting was aware of that fact,” she added.

“I turned up and representing the constituents I have served I voted. Therefore I was up-to-date on my council tax.”

The former SNP councillor says she has a letter stating she was in the black by the date of the budget.

She continued: “I really think that in an age when many people struggle to heat their homes, sanctions exist, people are losing their mobility cars, and visits to the foodbank are increasing, people should have better things to do with their time.

“Local elections have a lower turnout than other elections and many voters were suffering from election fatigue even before the announcement of a general election. Negative campaigning is not the way to encourage people to go out and vote.”

A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council confirmed that all councillors who voted on the budget were entitled to do so.