Ex-Scottish council leader accused of £188,000 scam told to step down from financial committee

A former Conservative council leader is being told to step down from a key financial committee after being accused of a £188,000 scam.

Andrew Polson denies swindling a woman of the money in a property scheme. However, he still sits on East Dunbartonshire Council’s audit and risk management committee.

Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer said: “Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but it is obviously wrong for Cllr Polson to sit on a committee overseeing council finances when he has been charged with financial offences.

Glasgow Sheriff Court

“For the sake of public confidence in the council, he clearly needs to step down. Otherwise, this sends an incredibly poor message to the people of East Dunbartonshire.”

Court papers show Polson is claimed to have made false representations to form a business partnership with a woman, with ‘AA Lettings’ carrying out administration, servicing, maintenance, renovation and leasing of properties.

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Polson allegedly opened a bank account for the firm and told the woman he would purchase a property in Bellshill under joint ownership, inducing the woman to pay £40,500 for her share of the property. However, the joint title was not secured.

It is claimed Polson also told the woman she would receive an equal share of the £500-a-month rent, which did not happen, and a further £200 was taken from the woman each month for expenditures to which no benefit was provided.

The papers also state he induced her to pay £146,000 for another property in Bearsden in a similar manner and had not paid any of the rent money due to the woman.

Polson pleaded not guilty and a 15-day trial has been set for September, with two further hearings in April and June.

Cllr Polson told the Daily Record: “As is standard procedure following Thursday’s byelection, all committee membership, including mine, are set to be reviewed at the full council meeting on Friday.

“Until then, I remain a member of the audit and risk management committee and continue to fulfil my duties. As this is an ongoing legal matter, I have no further comment.”

East Dunbartonshire Council said Cllr Polson did not attend the last audit and risk management committee meeting, but was still a member.

Cllr Polson was elected as a Conservative, but was suspended in 2022 shortly after the allegations are said to have happened and now sits as an independent councillor.