By Alan Richardson

THE Data Protection Act apparently prevents Perth and Kinross Council from releasing the names of 12 councillors taking “golden handshakes” ahead of next year’s elections.

The council seemed to be surprised by a request from The Courier yesterday to provide the names of those stepping down, taking publicly-funded payouts of up to £20,000 with them, despite the deadline for claiming the payments falling last Friday.

A spokesman claimed that, even though councillors are elected public figures and will be receiving public cash, the documents in which they applied for the severance are private and releasing any details from them would breach the Data Protection Act.

Although parties have not finalised their selections for the elections, a dozen of the 41 Perth and Kinross members are standing down, meaning a total bill of between £60,000 and £240,000.

Despite the council’s stance, the identity of the 12 is a fairly open secret at 2 High Street and can be revealed by The Courier.

It has been known for some time that the two independents, council leader Jimmy Doig and John Lloyd, as well as Lib Dem Provost Bob Scott will step down.

The SNP is set to lose the greatest number of sitting councillors, with Alistair Barr and John Culliven previously indicating they would go and Alan Telfer and Bob Lumsden expected to follow.

The remainder have also not been confirmed, but it is thought Tories Sandy Bushby, David Dow and John Mair and Labour veterans Margo Lennie and Joan McEwan will step aside.

The amount of the payout—introduced to ease the progression of sweeping electoral reform—varies from £5000 for up to 10 years’ service as a councillor to £15,000 for 10 to 15 years’ service and £20,000 for over 15 years.

An Executive spokeswoman confirmed it will not publish individual names until January because some authorities have extended deadlines while boundary issues are resolved.

The Executive wants a definitive list of all returning councillors and the level of payments before individuals are revealed.

Angus has already produced its list, but Perth and Kinross stated it will be “breaking the law” if it follows.

On not disclosing the identity of the councillors, a spokesman said, “When an individual councillor signs the severance form, the form makes it clear that the information is being provided for use in the administration of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Severance Payments) regulations 2006 and that the information will then be forwarded on to the Scottish Executive. Under law this information can only be used for the purpose stated on the form. Therefore Perth and Kinross Council does not have the authority to release that information.”

The Courier approached local political group leaders for a list of their members standing down, but none was willing to give names at this stage.

* The Courier yesterday revealed that 10 out of the 29 elected members of Angus Council intend to step down next May, a move which will guarantee them individual pay-offs of up to £20,000.

Details of which councillors in Fife will accept golden handshakes from the Executive before the next election will not be divulged until the new year.

Iain Grant, strategic policy committee manager, confirmed that elected members still had around three weeks to make their mind up.

“The deadline for councillors to apply for a severance payment is linked to the boundary commission’s review which has just been announced. In Fife, councillors have until November 15 to apply for severance.”

Dundee councillors who have indicated they do not intend to stand include deputy lord provost Charles Farquhar, his Labour leader and fellow Lochee councillor Jill Shimi, Tories Bruce Mackie and Neil Powrie, the SNP’s finance spokesman Joe FitzPatrick, fellow nationalist John Corrigan and Labour councillors Fiona Grant and Julie Sturrock.