An Angus councillor has come out fighting after being cleared of any wrongdoing by a standards watchdog.
Bill Bowles is now considering what action to take after warning that “those who have made these scurrilous accusations” will have to “answer for their actions”.
He is taking independent legal advice after the standards committee threw out complaints made by Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee general manager Graeme Duncan and Angus Council’s head of law Sheona Hunter.
Mr Bowles was reported by Mr Duncan after it was alleged he “inappropriately disclosed confidential information” after contacting a bank connected to the controversial £4.75m golf centre extension project at Carnoustie links.
Mrs Hunter complained that Mr Bowles had “misused council facilities” by sending a letter to the bank on headed stationary “to further his own political campaign or agenda which contradicted the earlier decision of the council”.
Mr Bowles was also reported by Mrs Hunter after referring to certain councillors who voted against a move to reopen a debate on the links project as “spineless octopi” in what she described as a “disrespectful and rude” email.
Mrs Hunter further alleged that Mr Bowles had shared confidential information concerning the business of an appeal sub-committee meeting in June with a member of the public.
Mr Bowles said: “I am obviously absolutely delighted that I have been completely exonerated by the Commissioner which proves my efforts, no matter how desperate the attempts to thwart them, are right and carried out in the best interests of those whom I was elected to represent.
“The sad and unjustifiable facts remain is that those who have made these scurrilous accusations against me in an effort to sully my name now have to answer for their actions.
“I am considering my position…and am taking independent legal advice on how I should proceed.
“It has to be understood, however, that for senior council officers to make unwarranted allegations regarding an elected councillor and his conduct is very serious and questions need to be answered as to why and for whose benefit were these complaints made.
“As for the General Manager of the Carnoustie Golf Links, Mr Graeme Duncan, I know that he was following instructions from the senior members of the Board of Trustees.
“It is once again, an indictment of them and their chair, Mrs Patricia Sawyers, that they try to bulldoze through, without proper accountability, transparency or consideration for the wider local economy and development plan a £5 million bar and restaurant.
“A far better investment would be to build a flood lit driving range at Carnoustie and invest in the coastal defences for Montrose Golf Links both of which meet the charitable objects of the Trust.
“I would hope that a letter of apology will be forthcoming for the upset caused to me by their actions in a futile response to a local elected member diligently carrying out his duties.”
The Commissioner said there was “no evidence of impropriety” with regards the bank complaint.
He did not consider the email conduct to be “disrespectful” and said it featured terms that were not “uncommon” in parliamentary exchanges as opposed to being “a personal attack of a demeaning, abusive, or overtly offensive nature”.
He took the view that the maintenance of proper standards in public life need not be dependent upon depriving local politics of the cut and thrust exchanges which are often an integral part of local democracy.
The Commissioner also found no “reliable evidence” that Mr Bowles had shared confidential information with a member of the public.
