A TORY council chief is facing the threat of a no-confidence vote over accusations he had been “economical with the truth” over a planned trip to America.
We revealed previously how Stirling provost Douglas Dodds had plans for a taxpayer-funded jaunt to the tiny city of Dunedin on the Florida coast.
He has since abandoned the junket – but past statements on the trip have thrown into question the official version of events.
When The National asked Stirling council about the planned trip last week, we were told the local authority’s civic panel was yet to make a decision on the matter and that it would be “inappropriate to comment further”.
But footage of a Dunedin city commission meeting from April 18, 2023 show an official telling others at the meeting Dodds had confirmed he would visit next year.
She said: "The provost has confirmed that he will be coming in April next year."
Alasdair McPherson, an independent councillor for Bannockburn, said Dodds should resign, suggesting the US official’s comments showed the provost had confirmed he would visit before it was approved by the local authority.
He said: “It is very clear that Dodds has inherited some traits from his former boss Boris Johnson who had to resign for telling lies – so he should resign now for bringing the office of provost into disrepute.”
A spokesperson for Stirling council denied the local authority had told the American city council Dodds definitely would visit.
They said: “Dunedin City Commission had been advised by Stirling Council’s democratic services team that approval from the council’s civic panel would be required to permit foreign travel.
“As the provost decided to not make the visit, the item was withdrawn from discussion from the civic panel meeting with no decision being made.”
