Ex-Labour Councillor Douglas Campbell, March 2001.
| 'Brenda was previously replaced as vice-convener of strategic services because she was ill. She wasn't considered again as recently as a few months ago because she was considered unfit. Then, suddenly she was being offered a convenership if she returned to the group. Clearly, this was a bribe.' Ex-Labour Councillor Douglas Campbell, March 2001. | |
A third councillor has quit the Labour Group of South Ayrshire Council. The councillor in question, Douglas Campbell, is the full time constituency organiser for George Foulkes MP, deputy Secretary of State for Scotland. George Foulkes's wife Elizabeth is the Labour Provost of South Ayrshire.
The current Council composition is 14 Labour, 13 Conservatives and 3 Independents.
REBEL councillor Douglas Campbell has called on Council Leader Andy Hill to quit, claiming he tried to buy votes.
The local Labour group lost control of South Ayrshire Council last Wednesday night when Councillor Campbell became their THIRD councillor to resign and join a new Independent group.
It is a daring move for the life-long Labour man who risks not only his political career but his job as constituency organiser for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley MP George Foulkes.
Speaking to the Post on Monday, Councillor Campbell denied his actions were a move to oust Councillor Hill from the top job and take over. He said: "This isn't some grand plan of mine. I don't see by what I've done I could ever lead the Labour group.
"This might be the end of my political career - and my job - but I am prepared to risk everything over this." According to Councillor Campbell, heads will have to roll if the rift in the local Labour group is to be healed.
He added: "It became too difficult for me to sit on a Labour group that tried to bribe my wife (Councillor Brenda Campbell).
"I knew on the Sunday that attempts were being made to woo Robert Campbell back into the Labour group. Votes seemed more important than anything else.
"In Bobby's case he was led up the garden path into believing that some sort of apology was going to be offered in return for his support.
"Brenda was previously replaced as vice-convener of strategic services because she was ill. She wasn't considered again as recently as a few months ago because she was considered unfit.
"Then, suddenly she was being offered a convenership if she returned to the group. Clearly, this was a bribe.
"People have known about the difficulties in the Labour group for a while now. With mediation and frank, open talk maybe problems can be resolved.
"But bearing in mind the unconstitutional nature of Andy's recent behaviour, I feel as if people will have to fall on their swords." Councillor Campbell claims he does not intend to resign from the Labour Party and will continue to vote in line with Party policy.
He also claims that the high-profile former Council Leader brought in to thrash out a deal to bring both Brenda and Bobby Campbell back into the Labour fold before last week's crucial meeting of the full council was DUPED.
He said: "My employer is aware of the situation and the reasons for my decision. I believe the broker acted in good faith and was wholly unaware of the latest position in relaÐtion to Bobby and Brenda.
"Sandra Osborne (MP for Ayr) is an excellent community MP for the district of Ayr, Prestwick and Troon and she has my full support." Councillor Campbell's future as convener of the community protection and support services committee has still not been discussed.
He added: "That would be a matter for the administration but, because of what I've done, I have to accept that if they dump me I will lose £10,500 a year.
"I'm not in this for a bit of fun or having a dig for the sake of it. Because of the way the staff have been treated over reorganisation and the problems in the group, an AGM should be held urgently in order to reconcile the difficulties."
Councillor Hill responded by saying: "The resignation from the Labour group of South Ayrshire Council by Councillor Douglas Campbell was his own decision and follows in the footsteps taken by his wife, Councillor Brenda Campbell.
"I regret that I must constrain my comments on Councillor Douglas Campbell's decision and on the comÐments attributed to him in the press for a straightforward reason.
"Among procedures which must be correctly adhered to is one which permits a period of time during which any appeal, if any, may be lodged against a decision regarding leaving the council's Labour group or indeed the Labour Party. What should be kept in mind however is that Councillor Douglas Campbell was elected to South Ayrshire Council by the constituents of the Ayr Lochside Ward as an official Labour Party candidate.
"As such, the councillor was expected by the Labour group officers, by his political colleagues - and I would have thought by the constituents who elected him - to conform to the rules associated with the Labour group."
Council Leader Hill maintained: "There is a clear democratic method of seeking to make alterations within the group, including seeking an alternative leader in just the same way that other constituted organisations such as sporting clubs or business associations conduct their business.
"If Councillor Douglas Campbell had concerns then he should have followed the laid-down procedures within the group.
"His decision to resign from the group suggests he is not prepared to adhere to these procedures. Instead, he has chosen to step outside these rules and is attempting to bring pressure to bear for his own unspecified reasons."
CLAIMS that former Provost Bobby Campbell surfed Internet porn sites from his office at Ayr County Buildings are to be publicly investigated. A full meeting of South Ayrshire Council on Thursday ruled that, after nine months, an independent inquiry is to be held into the allegations. The move was welcomed by Councillor Campbell who has continued to maintain his innocence.
Speaking after the meeting he said: "I'm very happy that at last I am going to have the chance to clear my name. I have gone through nine months of hell and have always maintained that I didn't do this." The motion to hold the inquiry was proposed by fellow Independent Councillor Brenda Campbell and was approved by a majority of 16 to 12 in favour of the move.
Mrs Campbell said: "I am disgusted at the way Councillor Robert Campbell has been treated. An investigation should have taken place at the time. His family has suffered considerably for a number of months now." Bobby Campbell quit the Labour group in the wake of the scandal last year but continued to serve as an Independent councillor.
He added: "I will stand up in any court in the land and say that I didn't do this thing. I have a diary that says I wasn't in the office on the days these offences are supposed to have taken place.
"I am glad that this is going to be investigated at last and that the results of it are going to be made public.
"It has been a long drag for me and my family. My good name has been dragged through the mud." Two suitable independent people from out with the council will be charged with the task of conducting the investigation. All council officials and elected members will be ordered to co-operate fully with the enquiry team who will make public their report. Councillor Campbell went on: "I don't know when it will start but I hope it will be soon.
"The bottom line for me is that when I am finally cleared I want a full apology from those responsible for doing this to me - and no matter what, I will maintain my innocence till the day I die." The council also approved a motion calling for an independent inquiry into recent allegations of bullying. Two people will be recruited from outside the council to investigate the claims.
LABOUR Provost Liz Foulkes hung on to her job despite a move by opposition Tories to oust her. The motion to allow a new Provost and deputy to be selected was defeated by just one vote after the newly-formed Independent group split ranks over the issue.
Conservative councillors had hoped that a change to the council's Standing Orders would allow them to call a special meeting and field their own candidate against the current incumbent.A full meeting of South Ayrshire Council heard on Thursday how Provost Foulkes worked round the clock to carry out her civic duties. Proposing the motion, Tory councillor Robin Reid claimed that the move was purely political.
He said: "This motion is not about the competence of the current incumbent and is no way a reflection on her or her deputy's competence but their power is very substantial." The motion proposed that, where no political party holds a clear majority - as is now the case in South Ayrshire in the wake of three Labour members' resignation from their group - a special meeting of the council could be called for the sole purpose of electing a Provost and a Deputy Provost if one-fourth of members agreed. But the move was severely criticised by Council Leader Andy Hill who claimed it was a direct attack on a civic post.
He praised the role played by Provost Foulkes and said: "It is a sad day when we are about to politicise someone carrying out their civic duty. If this challenge had been on the leadership of the council, then I could accept it. "We have an ambassador in the present incumbent who works her fingers to the bone, sometimes seven days and seven nights a week.
"This woman carries the flag for the council and I think it is a very sad day when this civic post is politicised." The motion to seek a new Provost and Deputy Provost was defeated by just one vote 15 to 14 - with Independent Councillors Douglas and Bobby Campbell voting with the Labour Group and their fellow Independent Brenda Campbell siding with the Tories. Provost Foulkes does have mainly civic responsibilities but she also has a casting vote in situations where the vote at a council meeting is tied. SOUTH Ayrshire Council has appointed Tom Cairns as its new depute chief executive.
Accountant Mr Cairns has been the council's director of financial services since 1996. He has a wide range of local government experience, having held positions with Strathclyde Regional Council, Strathkelvin District Council, Glasgow District and East Kilbride District Council.
And he has had considerable experience in dealing with comÐpulsory competitive tendering, has a Master of Arts degree and is a member and past president of the Scottish Branch of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
The interview panel also conÐfirmed that Mike McCabe would be 'matched in' as director of educational services; that Graham Peterkin should be appointed as director of development, safety and regulation and Ronnie Sheed be appointed as director of environment, land and property. Leader of the Council, Councillor Andy Hill said: "On behalf of the interview panel, I congratulate all the officials on their new appointments.
"They will help us play a key role in managing the council as it faces up to continuing challenges of the 21st century and to ensure that services are delivered in the most cost-effective and efficient way.
"The appointments are part of a wider restructuring which will see the size of the council's management team being reduced, with a consequent financial saving of around £500,000 a year on our wages bill."
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