A LABOUR councillor booted out as chair of a scrutiny panel without being given a reason has said there is an “atmosphere of contempt” around the local authority.
The Conservative administration on South Ayrshire Council moved to bin Labour’s Philip Saxton from his post as chair of the Service and Partnerships Performance panel on Thursday.
His job on the key scrutiny body is being taken by Alba councillor Chris Cullen.
However, council Leader Martin Dowey could not give any reason for the decision other than saying “this is politics.”
Saxton made clear his feelings about the move.
He said: “I have served as the chair of the scrutiny panel since 2022 and I have never missed a meeting in person and I have never missed a briefing in person.
“The chair of the scrutiny panel is normally given to the opposition party members and depends on the number of members on each group. The Chair of the Audit and Governance Panel was given to the SNP and the Service and Partnerships panel was given to Labour. This was a democratic way to allow the opposition to scrutinise the administration’s performance.
“Since this administration was elected in 2022, I can’t remember a full council that’s not included changes to panels, to standing orders, to meetings with outside bodies. Each change tells a story and each change has consequences.
“But it is my view that the administration has succeeded in reducing the fundamental principles of democracy by changing the standing orders and changing the makeup of scrutiny panels.
“Each time I come to the county buildings I feel empty. There’s an atmosphere of contempt – an atmosphere of demand rather than democracy that is transferring to officers as well as members.
“I used to enjoy being a councillor in opposition and in administration. We represent people through this area as a council, not just as an administration.
“So I would like to ask Councillor Dowey, as leader of the council ... why is he replacing me with a member who left the SNP and joined the Alba party – a nationalist party when he represents a Unionist party?”
Saxton also suggested that his failure to back the administration had led to his removal.
He said: “I do recall, but perhaps you [Dowey] remember, the other conversation some time ago when you were asking me for support.
“I now know the consequences of saying no.”
He also warned Cullen: “The deal you have reached to get the position comes at a price.”
Cullen immediately responded: “I hope that isn’t an accusation that I am accepting a bribe to take a chair.”
Saxton responded: “No, I didn’t say that.”
SNP group leader, Councillor Julie Dettbarn, backed Saxton, saying: “I really understand why Councillor Saxton is as upset as he is today, and why that may have caused him to see things that he automatically would not have said normally.
“I have never seen or had any indication from anyone that Councillor Saxton wasn’t doing a good job as chair of that scrutiny panel, so I would like to ask the leader of the council why he’s been removed from that chair when it’s evident that he was doing a good job.
“It seems a low blow to take someone off a chair when they have been doing what appears to be a reasonably good job of it.”
Dowey pointed out in response to Saxton’s reference to a nationalist councillor being brought in, that Labour worked with the SNP in the last administration.
He added that party rules prevented him from doing deals with both the SNP and Alba.
He continued: “This is politics, Philip, which you know and that answers Julie’s question.
“We have decided to replace Councillor Saxton, if it goes through, and that’s it.”
SNP Councillor Craig Mackay took issue with the fact that the administration were putting forward a nomination to chair the panel that scrutinises its own work.
Councillors voted 15 – 12 in favour of replacing Saxton with Cullen.
