Concerns about Councillor Tweed
Dear Editor, It is known to most constituents in Trossachs and Teith Ward that SNP Councillor Evelyn Tweed is anything but camera shy or adverse to self-promotion and acknowledgement for her effort in public service, especially given the frequency with which her photograph appears in local media outlets.
However, it is hardly surprising, given that she is a busy councillor, and it would appear especially so when it comes to Housing.
Councillor Tweed is the council administration portfolio holder for Housing.
However, she has also been appointed to Rural Stirling Housing Association as the councillor for their Board and also Forth Housing Association as an ‘observer’.
It became a cause of concern for me when I discovered Councillor Tweed has been at the heart of decision making with all three bodies concerned with the development and provision of housing in the Stirling Council area.
If not a conflict of interest, one could argue that it is not healthy for the same councillor to be appointed to both external agencies, especially as Councillor Tweed is in a privileged position of having access to the commercially-sensitive working practices of both housing associations, which could easily compromise the integrity of any decisions involving commercial bids from both agencies.
At the very least, another councillor ought to have been appointed to Forth Housing Association to avoid even the remotest hint of a conflict of interests in this very emotive area of council work and activity.
The situation, as it stands cannot be good or reflect well on the integrity or transparency of bidding processes within Stirling Council, when there is an individual at the heart of decision making who has connections with both housing associations, access to sensitive data with both organisations potentially in competition with each other, and has the same individual as the portfolio holder with ultimate responsibility for any decisions made.
Gerry McGarvey, Gartmore
A Trossachs and Teith SNP spokesperson said: “This unfortunate letter reads like sour grapes from Mr McGarvey who was Labour’s failed candidate in Trossachs and Teith at the council election this year after having previously contested parliamentary constituency elections elsewhere across the country to no avail.
“It is surprising that Mr McGarvey seems to be unaware that in the joint Administration on Stirling Council, all positions were agreed by both Labour and SNP Councillors.
“That said, his comments in relation to how busy Councillor Tweed has been since she was elected to Stirling Council are welcome and have been echoed from residents across the ward.
“She is fulfilling a requirement to have elected representation on the boards of local housing associations and is dedicated to working with Administration colleagues to improve housing across the Stirling area.
“Mr McGarvey might not like it, but Councillor Tweed and her administration colleagues will continue to work hard to deliver for the people they were elected to represent.”