Council Wars
Here's an article from today's Herald - which highlights some rather strange goings on at Inverclyde Council.
Four council officials have apparently been suspended over some madcap scheme that saved Inverclyde Council £250,000 - but cost over £500,000 on external consultancy fees.
Any sensible person will be asking why these officials are not resigning their highly paid positions - instead of being suspended - presumably on full pay.
But in the sometimes crazy world that our local councils live in - they's probably be allowed to retire early - with a healthy boost to their pensions.
"Troubled council elects new leader"
by Gerry Braiden
26 Feb 2011
"INVERCLYDE Council, which has been beset by upheaval and rancour in recent months, has elected a new leader after the previous holder of the post stood down for family reasons.
Iain McKenzie, who was the deputy leader, replaces Stephen McCabe as head of the Labour-led administration.
The move follows a change at the helm of the largest opposition party, the SNP, with Innes Nelson taking the reins there last week and comes a month after four senior officials were suspended from the west of Scotland authority.
Mr McKenzie said: “I feel honoured and privileged to have been elected leader of Inverclyde Council and I am ready to work as hard as I can to continue the transformation of the area, and to build on the many efforts to improve the lives of our communities.”
Mr McCabe said: “I would like to wish Councillor McKenzie the very best in his new and demanding role. I know he will do a very good job.”
Mr McCabe, 46, who has four children under the age of 16 and is a senior official at a housing association, will continue as group whip, having given up the leadership citing family and his career outside politics.
Four senior officials were suspended after a scheme designed to save the authority several million pounds delivered £250,000 despite more than twice that being spent on consultants."
Four council officials have apparently been suspended over some madcap scheme that saved Inverclyde Council £250,000 - but cost over £500,000 on external consultancy fees.
Any sensible person will be asking why these officials are not resigning their highly paid positions - instead of being suspended - presumably on full pay.
But in the sometimes crazy world that our local councils live in - they's probably be allowed to retire early - with a healthy boost to their pensions.
"Troubled council elects new leader"
by Gerry Braiden
26 Feb 2011
"INVERCLYDE Council, which has been beset by upheaval and rancour in recent months, has elected a new leader after the previous holder of the post stood down for family reasons.
Iain McKenzie, who was the deputy leader, replaces Stephen McCabe as head of the Labour-led administration.
The move follows a change at the helm of the largest opposition party, the SNP, with Innes Nelson taking the reins there last week and comes a month after four senior officials were suspended from the west of Scotland authority.
Mr McKenzie said: “I feel honoured and privileged to have been elected leader of Inverclyde Council and I am ready to work as hard as I can to continue the transformation of the area, and to build on the many efforts to improve the lives of our communities.”
Mr McCabe said: “I would like to wish Councillor McKenzie the very best in his new and demanding role. I know he will do a very good job.”
Mr McCabe, 46, who has four children under the age of 16 and is a senior official at a housing association, will continue as group whip, having given up the leadership citing family and his career outside politics.
Four senior officials were suspended after a scheme designed to save the authority several million pounds delivered £250,000 despite more than twice that being spent on consultants."
