THE Conservatives running one Scottish council have been accused of misleading the public on key manifesto pledges.
The SNP asked South Ayrshire council leader Martin Dowey to explain when decisions were made on retaining Ayr’s High Flats, scrapping the new leisure centre, and the allocation of £1 million to each council ward.
It came after Dowey told Ayrshire Live in late May that proposals for the leisure centre had been taken off the table "with immediate effect". He also said that £1m would be sent to each ward in the council region.
SNP leader Peter Henderson argued that such statements made to the press and community councils had led some of the public to believe that Tory pledges had been carried out, when nothing had actually been done.
In a written question, councillor Henderson asked: “There are procedures set out in Standing Orders relating to meetings for changes to council policy and decisions. Can you confirm when council decisions in respect of the leisure centre and High Flats being reported in the local press and stated at public meetings were changed please?”
Councillor Dowey responded: “There has been no change to the council decisions in respect of the High Flats or the leisure centre.”
The Tories run South Ayrshire as a minority administration and would struggle to win the votes needed to carry out their campaign pledges. In early July, their attempts to reverse plans to demolish the High Flats were defeated by the opposition.
SNP councillor Laura Brennan Whitefield further asked: “It has been reported that the administration is proposing to allocate £1m to each of the council wards. Has budget provision been made for this proposal in revenue or capital budget?"
In a written response, councillor Dowey stated: “An allocation of £1m per ward was included in the Conservative budget presented in March 2022. The Conservative budget was not approved.”
Councillor Henderson responded to Dowey’s answer: “It states here there has been no change to council decisions with respect to the High Flats and leisure.
“That is not what the public statements made in the press and at community councils has stated.
“Since this administration come into being there has been no change in council decisions.”
Brennan Whitefield also followed up on Dowey’s written response to the £1m ward allocation.
She said: “I thank the leader of the council for his response. I am slightly perplexed Councillor Dowey, you know how the budget process works, of course you do.
“This £1m per ward has been in the public domain and announced at community councils.
“Do you have the money for this or is it another promise you don’t plan to keep.”
After the meeting, Henderson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The public pledges made since taking over the administration are clearly not correct and for the public misleading.
“As with all democratic decisions the council must comply with procedures and adhere to policies and be open and transparent.
“In order to alter policy the council as a body must vote by a majority to change this.
“It is not open for someone to announce deviation from budget or policy without first having it agreed at council by all members.
“The answers received make it clear that despite publicly proclaimed changes in the press and at community groups there are no changes.
“It is important that elected officials maintain integrity and truthfulness in promises made and do not give a false impression or false information.
“If the administration do not understand the procedures then advice can and is given, failure to clarify or obtain correct advice is incumbent on elected members before making public statements.”
