By Paul Reoch

A SHAMED employee of Perth and Kinross Council has resigned due to “inappropriate behaviour” with a child or children, The Courier has learned.

All council staff are subject to rigorous checks through Disclosure Scotland, but documents obtained using the Freedom of Information Act have shown a council official was under investigation in 2004, with the matter being referred to the Scottish Executive.

The person concerned left their post before action could be taken and as a result it is not known what the matter involved.

A Perth and Kinross Council document states, “Concerns had been raised over a member of staff and their inappropriate behaviour.”

The document goes on, “As a result of this a full investigation took place and the outcome of the investigation was to proceed to a disciplinary hearing.

“The employee resigned from Perth and Kinross Council on October 25, 2004, the day before the disciplinary hearing was due to take place.

“A decision was then taken to refer the employee to the Scottish Executive to be placed on the Disqualified from Working with Children List under the terms of the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003.”

It continues, “A full referral was submitted to the Scottish Executive on November 5, 2004.

“The referral was sent back to Perth and Kinross Council on November 12...

“As the individual was no longer an employee of Perth and Kinross Council, it was not necessary to resubmit the referral.”

A letter was sent to the council’s then-head of education George Waddell, from the Scottish Executive on November 12.

It said, “Could I suggest that in any resubmission you clarify whether, on the evidence collected in advance of the disciplinary hearing, you would have considered dismissing the individual concerned?”

A council spokesman said, “Perth and Kinross Council makes checks via Disclosure Scotland for any teachers who are relocating from another local authority or who have not been checked since 1989.

“In all other cases, checks on teachers are undertaken by the General Teaching Council.”