------ Original Message ------
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Sent: Tuesday, March 11th 2025, 18:25
Subject: Apparent Abuse of Senior Councillor Remuneration

To: Chair Audit & Scrutiny Committee Cllr Andrew Morrison and

Committee Members Cllr Tony Buchanan (Vice-Chair), Provost Mary Montague, Councillors Paul Edlin, Annette Ireland, David Macdonald, Gordon Wallace.

Cc: Chief Auditor Michelle Blair

Dear Chair and Committee Members

I would request that you raise this matter at the next Audit & Scrutiny Committee Meeting and investigate why East Renfrewshire Council Tax Payers are being denied access to The Chief Auditor, East Renfrewshire Council by Council Officials.

It is a serious matter to deny access to the Chief Auditor to investigate transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

I really must protest in the strongest terms that on a matter where

a Councillor Committee Chair has apparently taken money for only chairing 9 of 34 Meetings held since May 2022 and apparently taking the full remuneration (apparently £5,341 for chairing only 1 meeting out of 11 in 2024) and apparently taking this money for work they have not carried out,

that Council Officials have overturned Cllr Wallace's instruction to contact the Chief Auditor and denied access to the Chief Auditor to investigate transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

Committee Member Cllr wallace has stated that he has responsibility -

'All elected members have a shared responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds... '

- I wrote to the Chief auditor (16/2/2025) attached below on the instruction of Cllr Gordon Wallace.

'you may consider submitting your concerns in writing to Ms Michelle Blair, Chief Auditor, East Renfrewshire Council Headquarters, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, G46 6UG or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .,'

Council Leader Cllr Owen O'Donnell also instructed that the Chief Auditor be contacted

'...it is an option for you to put your concerns in writing to Ms Michelle Blair, Chief Auditor, East Renfrewshire Council Heaquarters, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, G46 6UG or by email:...'



I received this email (with no signature/name) denying me access to the Chief Auditor -
------ Original Message ------
From: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sent: Friday, February 21st 2025, 15:59
Subject: Chairing/Non Chairing of Planning Application/LRB Committees 

OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE

Further to your e-mail of 16th February to Michelle Blair regarding the above issue, I write to advise that officers are of the view that you have already received a comprehensive response from the Leader of the Council in relation to this matter. As such, the Council does not intend to respond to any further requests from you for information on this topic .

Yours faithfully,
Legal Services

The Leader of the Council Cllr Owen O'Donnell did not address the issue of this apparent Senior Councillor Remuneration Abuse.


The Chair of Planning Application/LRB Committees  has only chaired 9 of 34 Meetings held since May 2022

- apparently taking in 2022 from May 2022 approx £3,264 for chairing 5 meetings out of 12 (with Remuneration £24,467 - Basic £19,571 salary)

- apparently taking in 2023 £5,029 for chairing 3 meetings out of 11 (with Remuneration £25,128 - Basic £20,099 salary)

- apparently taking in 2024 £5,341 for chairing 1 meeting out of 11 (with Remuneration £26,686 - Basic £21,345 salary)

Only chairing 9 of 34 Meetings held since May 2022 and apparently taking the full remuneration (apparently £5,341 for chairing only 1 meeting out of 11 in 2024) and apparently taking this money for work they have not carried out, would appear to be a serious abuse of the system.

Again,

I really must protest in the strongest terms that on a matter where

a Councillor Committee Chair has apparently taken money for only chairing 9 of 34 Meetings held since May 2022 and apparently taking the full remuneration (apparently £5,341 for chairing only 1 meeting out of 11 in 2024) and apparently taking this money for work they have not carried out,

that Council Officials have overturned Cllr Wallace's instruction to contact the Chief Auditor and denied access to the Chief Auditor to investigate transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

It is a serious matter to deny access to the Chief Auditor to investigate transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

I would request that you raise this matter at the next Audit & Scrutiny Committee Meeting and investigate why East Renfrewshire Council Tax Payers are being denied access to The Chief Auditor, East Renfrewshire Council by Council Officials.

Thanks


------ Original Message ------
To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sent: Sunday, February 16th 2025, 10:10
Subject: Chairing /Non Chairing of Planning Application/LRB Committees - Apparent abuse of Senior Councillor Remuneration

To: Ms Michelle Blair, Chief Auditor, East Renfrewshire Council

Dear Michelle

Please read below email (February 11th 2025, 07:21) from Cllr Gordon Wallace instructing me to write to you, and my reply (February 11th 2025, 10:58) below(to which he did not give response).

Would appreciate if you will give details of your involvement in these matters(apparent abuse of Senior Councillor remuneration system), if they are referred to you.

Did you tell Cllr Wallace when he says

'you may consider submitting your concerns in writing to Ms Michelle Blair, Chief Auditor, East Renfrewshire Council Headquarters, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, G46 6UG or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .,'

that you as Chief Auditor, East Renfreshire Council are the person to deal with this matter?

What investigations do you carry out?
What is considered an abuse?
Who do you contact for information?
What powers of investigation do you have to investigate if a case of apparent abuse of Senior Councillor remuneration is made known to you?
What powers/penalties/sanctions do you have if remuneration has been abused?

It is my understanding -

In accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders, any Elected Member can bring forward a motion to Council to remove a Senior Councillor from such a role. A Senior Elected Member may also decide to step down from their role.

Once appointed as a Senior Elected Member they have entitlement to the allowance set out in the Scheme until they resign or are removed from that position as above.

Can you request Elected Members bring forward such a motion to remove a Senior Councillor from their role ?

The Chair of Planning Application/LRB Committees  has only chaired 9 of 34 Meetings held since May 2022

- apparently taking in 2022 from May 2022 approx £3,264 for chairing 5 meetings out of 12 (with Remuneration £24,467 - Basic £19,571 salary)

- apparently taking in 2023 £5,029 for chairing 3 meetings out of 11 (with Remuneration £25,128 - Basic £20,099 salary)

- apparently taking in 2024 £5,341 for chairing 1 meeting out of 11 (with Remuneration £26,686 - Basic £21,345 salary)

Only chairing 9 of 34 Meetings held since May 2022 and taking the full remuneration (including £5,341 for chairing only 1 meeting out of 11 in 2024) would appear to be a serious abuse of the system.

Cllr wallace has also stated that he has responsibility -

'All elected members have a shared responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds... '

What responsibility do you and Cllr Wallace have regarding investigating/applying sanctions in this matter?

Your help will be appreciated.

Thanks

------ Original Message ------
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Sent: Tuesday, March 18th 2025, 09:12
Subject: Re: Apparent Abuse of Senior Councillor Remuneration

To: Chair Audit & Scrutiny Committee Cllr Andrew Morrison and
Committee Members Cllr Tony Buchanan (Vice-Chair), Provost Mary Montague, Councillors Paul Edlin, Annette Ireland, David Macdonald, Gordon Wallace.

Cc: Chief Auditor Michelle Blair

Dear Chair and Committee Members

Would appreciate courtesy of acknowledgement and response accepting request that you raise this matter at the next Audit & Scrutiny Committee Meeting and investigate why East Renfrewshire Council Tax Payers are being denied access to
The Chief Auditor, East Renfrewshire Council by Council Officials.

Again,

I really must protest in the strongest terms that on a matter where

a Councillor Committee Chair has apparently taken money for only chairing 9 of 34 Meetings held since May 2022 and apparently taking the full remuneration (apparently £5,341 for chairing only 1 meeting out of 11 in 2024) and apparently taking this money for work they have not carried out,

that Council Officials have overturned Cllr Wallace's instruction to contact the Chief Auditor and denied access to the Chief Auditor to investigate transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

It is a serious matter to deny access to the Chief Auditor to investigate transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

The Chair of Planning Application/LRB Committees  has only chaired 9 of 34 Meetings held since May 2022

- apparently taking in 2022 from May 2022 approx £3,264 for chairing 5 meetings out of 12 (with Remuneration £24,467 - Basic £19,571 salary)

- apparently taking in 2023 £5,029 for chairing 3 meetings out of 11 (with Remuneration £25,128 - Basic £20,099 salary)

- apparently taking in 2024 £5,341 for chairing 1 meeting out of 11 (with Remuneration £26,686 - Basic £21,345 salary)

Only chairing 9 of 34 Meetings held since May 2022 and apparently taking the full remuneration (apparently £5,341 for chairing only 1 meeting out of 11 in 2024) and apparently taking this money for work they have not carried out, would appear to be a serious abuse of the system.

Your help will be appreciated.

Thanks

------ Original Message ------
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Sent: Tuesday, March 18th 2025, 16:46
Subject: Re: Apparent Abuse of Senior Councillor Remuneration
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL

I acknowledge response of your email however do not accept your request as this matter is not competent for discussion at the Audit & Scrutiny Committee.

The appointment of councillors to senior roles is a matter for elected members to determine as a whole-Council and it has been further explained that it is for elected members to bring forward any motion to remove a councillor from such a post at a whole-Council meeting.

You have designated elected members who serve your ward area to whom you may wish to express your opinion on this matter. 

They may or may not decide to pursue your representations further and that is a matter for them to decide.

As I do not serve the ward area you reside within, and this matter is beyond the remit of the Committee I chair, I shall conclude by stating I have no further business to transact on this matter.

Kind regards,

Cllr Andrew Morrison

Newton Mearns North & Neilston, Ward 2
Scottish Conservative & ist Party