Fife SNP ‘making something out of nothing’ claim over criticism of councillor’s committee role
FIFE’S SNP group leader has been accused of “making something out of nothing” after raising raised over a councillor’s involvement in a committee planning meeting.
It is understood that Labour councillor Kathleen Leslie, who recently switched to the party after resigning from the Scottish Conservatives, is to step down from her position as convener of Fife Council’s Education Scrutiny Committee later this month.
SNP group leader Craig Walker expressed his concerns that Cllr Leslie was still expecting to take part in an agenda planning meeting despite her impending resignation.
“If she is no longer going to be the Convener, she should not continue to exercise the influence of the convener,” he said. “The education scrutiny committee belongs to the whole committee, not to the outgoing convener.” He added: “You can’t have it both ways. If you’re stepping down from the responsibility, you should step down from the influence that comes with it.
“The new convener should be able to take responsibility for the committee’s priorities, rather than inherit an agenda shaped by the outgoing convener just days before she leaves the role.
“This isn’t about Councillor Leslie’s right to attend the committee as an elected member. It is about ensuring that education scrutiny is independent, transparent and properly accountable.
“Fife Labour needs to explain why this arrangement is considered appropriate and what moral basis allows an outgoing Labour convener to continue shaping a scrutiny committee’s agenda immediately before resigning, after hanging onto the role for seven weeks after they should have resigned.”
Fife Labour group leader, council leader David Ross, hit back at the suggestion that Cllr Leslie should not be involved.
“This is just the SNP trying to make something out of nothing,” he said. “Cllr Leslie has already indicated that she will be standing down from the position of chair of the scrutiny committee, but it is entirely appropriate – and in line with past practice – for her to participate in the agenda planning for the next meeting.”
Cllr Leslie quit the Conservatives at the beginning of July when she said she was “increasingly unable” to support the Tory Party’s positions on “everything from migration to foreign policy to welfare reform.”
The Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy councillor said she was a “better fit” within the Labour party.
The next Fife Council Education Scrutiny Committee meeting is due to take place on September 8.