2nd councillor reported to Standards Commission

COUNCIL chiefs are trying to “silence” councillors and prevent them from doing their jobs properly, it was claimed this week.

Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillor Andrew Wood, above, hit out after he became the second elected member in a matter of months to be reported to the Standards Commission.

The independent councillor wrote an article last month which criticised Dumfries and Galloway chief executive Dawn Roberts.

She responded by informing Councillor Wood she had reported him to the standards watchdog – just as she did with Annandale South Councillor Ian Carruthers recently, accusing him of bullying.

Councillor Wood said: “It would appear that council officers are trying to close down any debate or discussion around what’s really going on in the council.

“Elected members are supposed to scrutinise council operations, the spending of taxpayers’ money, and also hold officers to account.

“As soon as you do that these days, you are accused of bullying or bringing the council into disrepute. That’s not right.

“Council officers are weaponising council standing orders to carry out this silencing of elected members.”

Councillor Wood has been vocal about the council’s poor handling of changes to bus services provision across the region.

He was angry that council chief executive Dawn Roberts used her powers to sanction the investment of £2.66m on 12 new buses in the aftermath of Stagecoach leaving the region and gaps in services.

Several councillors weren’t best pleased that they didn’t have say on such a major spending decision. Lochar Councillor Linda Dorward branded the move “unacceptable”.

However, after writing an opinion piece article in the Nithsdale Times last month criticising the chief executive over the buses saga, Councillor Wood received an email from her stating that she was reporting him to the Standards Commission.

Councillor Wood said: “I wasn’t at all surprised. In recent years I’ve seen the gradual erosion of powers that councillors have, and if you dare to criticise a council officer, you are threatened with being reported to the Standards Commission.

“I’ve been a councillor for nearly 19 years, and in the entire tenure of the previous two chief executives, I never witnessed a single councillor being reported.

“Now, that’s myself and Ian Carruthers both reported in quick succession.

“It’s absolutely outrageous that Ian was reported. He was asked by full council to do a review on the restructuring of the council.

“He flagged up a serious issue – and they’re trying to silence him over it.”

Council chief executive Dawn Roberts was contacted to comment on the situation. A council spokesperson responded: “It would be inappropriate for the council to comment on matters relating to individual councillors or members of staff.”