MP told to keep neb out of row
Angry exchange over Peak `privatisation’
Stirling MP Steven Paterson has been told to butt out after wading in to a row over membership of the board of Active Stirling.
Mr Paterson, a former councillor himself, hit out at the Tory/Labour Administration for not including the filling of councillor vacancies on the board in the agenda of its latest meeting.
The SNP had previously sought to fill two of the four vacancies to the board after the resignation of the two Labour, one Tory and one Green councillor.
However, following advice from council officers, the Tory and Labour councillors voted down the nominations. There is currently no council representation on the board of the arms-length organisation which delivers sport provision on behalf of the council, employing around 400 staff.
The Administration began the tendering process for sports services earlier this year despite opposition from local MSP Bruce Crawford, MP Mr Paterson and SNP councillors.
The SNP say sports services now face potential privatisation with “tens of thousands of pounds wasted on the unnecessary tendering exercise”.
Steven Paterson said: “This is a worrying time for service staff and users who provide affordable access to sports facilities, such as The PEAK, for people across the area. This process is unnecessary and risks the privatisation of these services – which would see service users having to fork out for an expensive VAT bill, rendering it unaffordable for many. I am deeply concerned the board continues to have zero representation on it from locally elected councillors at this crucial time when so many employees face uncertain futures. This is a disgraceful and reckless failure by the administration.”
A Stirling Labour spokesperson said: “Perhaps Mr Paterson might want to complain to the SNP councillors who didn’t mention this once during the meeting. Given that is what opposition councillors are paid for and a member of Steven Paterson’s office staff attends the SNP councilllors’ meeting every Monday you would think they could have sorted this out amongst themselves. This is sadly yet another ill informed outburst by our supposed MP, who despite resigning as a councillor seems to still be obsessed with council matters. If he focused more on his actual job he might not be the fifth most expensive MP in Britain or find himself having to pay back expenses claims for dog sitting.”
A Council spokesperson said: “At the council meeting in March, following officer recommendation, it was agreed not to appoint any elected members as directors of Active Stirling Ltd until the tendering exercise for Stirling’s sports and leisure provision is completed. To do otherwise would be a clear conflict of interest and compromise the process.
“The council is looking at the best ways to build on and safeguard the future of sport, physical activity and wellbeing provision in Stirling, developing the incredible potential of leisure in the area for the next generation. Our aspiration is for Stirling to become the number one sports and recreation destination in Scotland. A place that provides the best opportunities for everyone who lives, works, visits and spends their leisure time here, both in the rural and urban areas.
“The next stage is the commissioning of a strategic partner to work with the council to put in place the building blocks of Stirling’s sporting future. The partnership will focus on achieving best outcomes for everyone, providing the opportunity for Stirling to achieve its intended sport, physical activity and wellbeing outcomes over the next 25 years.”