A Perth and Kinross councillor has been cleared by a watchdog of an alleged breach of the councillor’s code of conduct.
Councillor Lewis Simpson was accused of breaching the code by suggesting to a constituent that elected representatives other than himself could be “persuaded” to ask probing questions at a planning meeting concerning the controversial Cross Tay Link Road.
The Strathmore councillor was said to have used the term “persuaded” in an email sent to the constituent on October 16, 2020 - a day before the local authority’s planning committee was scheduled to consider an application for the formation of the link road.
Perth City Centre councillor Eric Drysdale, understood to have received the same email by mistake, argued in a complaint councillor Simpson’s use of the word “persuaded” could give rise to suspicion committee members might be open to having questions fed to them.
Councillor Drysdale is understood to have further argued any implication or suggestion that committee members might not consider planning applications properly and objectively was unacceptable as it could undermine public confidence in the decision-making process.
However a panel set up to examine the complaint has since determined councillor Simpson’s use of the word “persuaded” was not a suggestion his colleagues could be pressured or influenced into forming a particular opinion about an application as had been claimed.
The panel noted in reaching its conclusion it may have been helpful for councillor Simpson to have explained in his email that any committee member approached to ask a question at the meeting would have to be careful not to pre-judge or be seen to be pre-judging the matter.
The chair of the Standards Commission for Scotland’s hearing panel, Mike McCormick, remarked afterwards: “The panel considered that while Councillor Simpson could have chosen the wording of his email more carefully, it was not sufficient to constitute a breach of the code.
“A member of the public, in receipt of the email in question and with a knowledge of the relevant facts, would be aware that there was nothing to prevent councillor Simpson, or indeed anyone else, from asking a committee member to raise a question at the meeting.”
Mr McCormick added: “Though this case did not result in a finding of breach, it does serve as a reminder of the need for clarity in communication at all times – councillors should ensure that their correspondence, with all parties and especially with constituents, is unambiguous, transparent and avoids any appearance of improper conduct.”
The PA approached Cllr Simpson for comment on the findings yesterday but was told it would not be appropriate for him to comment at this time.
