A Lanarkshire MSP has slammed the SNP group in North Lanarkshire for appointing one of their councillors as chair of the council's audit and scrutiny committee.
Meghan Gallacher, who served as the former chair of the panel when serving as a Scottish Conservative councillor under the previous Labour administration, says that the decision by the SNP removes the ability for opposition members to properly scrutinise them.
Audit Scotland has said that openness and transparency is best achieved within councils where the chair of scrutiny or audit committees are not members of the ruling administration.
However, following a council meeting earlier this month, SNP councillor Denis Johnston has been appointed to the role.
Ms Gallacher said: “I was proud to serve as the chair of audit and scrutiny in the last term as an opposition member.
“It wasn’t without its challenges though, with SNP members making misogynistic and discriminatory remarks towards me.
“However, I was undeterred in fulfilling my key role in scrutinising the policies and decision-making of the then Labour administration.
“This makes it all the more galling for me to see that long-held process ripped up by SNP members who have appointed one of their own councillors to chair this committee.
“It is all too typical of them wanting to avoid scrutiny on their decisions so they have parachuted in one of their own members to try and avoid that.
“It’s the worst possible message for the new administration to send out to the people of North Lanarkshire.
“They’ve even admitted it themselves that they know this isn’t best practice. So what are they so afraid of?
“The SNP should reverse this decision immediately and appoint a new chair to this committee from the opposition benches.
“If they don’t it confirms that they are shamefully not willing to be held accountable for decisions that will directly impact the lives of people living in North Lanarkshire.”
An SNP Group spokesperson insisted it was committed to appointing a convener from the main opposition group later in the council.
The spokesperson said: “It is somewhat ironic that Meghan Gallacher, who enjoyed a salary as audit and scrutiny committee convener during her time in council, whilst propping Labour up in administration, is now expressing faux outrage after the fact.
“Meghan Gallacher should focus on “getting on with her day job” as a MSP rather than obsessing with anti-SNP rhetoric, and perhaps she could ask her Tory colleagues in the council to take note of CIPFA [Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy] advice, rather than selective observation.
“It states that all audit committees are non-executive bodies whose role is to make recommendations rather than to decide policies directly and that the impact of the committee is through influence and persuasion rather than direct decision making. The committee’s effectiveness does not depend on the delegation of powers or the political background of the Chair but rather being able to demonstrate objectivity and independence, and having a membership that will work together.
“Our logic is clear and supported by local people, we have committed to transition to appoint a convener from the main opposition group in line with a review mid-term recognising our desire to fulfil best practice.
“Our administration is committed to delivering for the people of North Lanarkshire, addressing recent years of Labour and Tory rule and making our communities the place to live, learn, work, invest and visit.”
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Why not head to our page and give us a like and share.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here .
