Councillors cleared of code abuse

TWO members of the ruling coalition on Aberdeenshire Council have been cleared of allegations that they abused the councillors' code of conduct by allowing their surgeries to be used for campaigning by a Westminster candidate.

Conservative councillors Jim Gifford, vice-chairman of the policy and resources committee, and Moira Ingleby, chair of the Marr area committee, were reported to the Standards Commission, after they both advertised their intention to hold "joint surgeries" with Ross Thomson, the Tory candidate for the Gordon seat.

Mr Thomson, who at 21 is the Tory's youngest candidate in Britain, had also referred to his participation in the surgeries in his Twitter blog.

An advert for a "joint surgery" involving Ms Ingleby and Mr Thomson, carrying the council logo, had also appeared in a local newspaper.

But a report, issued by the Standards Commission for Scotland to the two councillors, concluded neither councillor had breached the code of conduct.

Councillor Gifford, who represents Mid Formartine, welcomed the decision. He said:

"Before we held joint surgeries we took advice from council officers. Unfortunately, the advice we received was wrong.

"At a full council meeting in October, council colleagues decided by a huge majority not to report the matter themselves to the Standards Commission. It is very satisfying to know the chief investigating officer agrees with us all."

Councillor Ingleby, whose ward covers Huntly, Strathbogie and the Howe of Alford, said: "This has been a very unpleasant experience. It is particularly upsetting when you are working hard to do your best for constituents."

She added: "I am concerned that time and public money has been spent on this issue when it could have been put to better use."