A political row is brewing after Angus Council’s new “voice” on the board of NHS Tayside failed to attend the first meeting held since his appointment.
Former council leader Bob Myles has been accused of “falling at the first hurdle”, following concerns about the area’s lack of presence at crucial meetings over the past year.
It comes at a time when NHS Tayside is firmly under the microscope following revelations about the Carseview Centre where Angus mental health patients were transferred after the closure of the Mulberry Unit at Stracathro Hospital.
Mr Myles was given the £8,000-a-year NHS board position after Arbroath Independent councillor David Fairweather took over the council leader’s role in a coup completed last month.
Both Mr Fairweather and Arbroath Conservative councillor Derek Wann previously sat on the NHS Board, but SNP group leader Forfar councillor Lynne Devine has been highly critical of their lack of attendance.
“We had a situation where Angus was represented just once at six meetings, when there were important matters relating to Angus going on, and there is an incredible frustration that we have not had a voice on this important body,” she said.
“We then discover that at the first board meeting after Councillor Myles was appointed, he does not attend it or offer his apologies.
“It is unforgivable the way this has all been handled when it is something so important, and to have no Angus representation on this important body at so many meetings is so irresponsible,” said Ms Devine.
Brechin and Edzell Independent Mr Myles said his appointment had yet to be confirmed by Scottish ministers and he had not received an agenda for the recent board meeting, so he did not consider it appropriate to attend.
“There are steps to be completed before I can attend the board, but I have requested meetings with the chairman and others,” he said.
“There has to be an induction and my appointment must be ratified before I can attend.
“It is nonsense to suggest I didn’t attend the meeting – I didn’t have an agenda and these important matters had not been dealt with.
“This is an important post and I aim to attend as many meetings as I can, as soon as I can.”
Council leader Mr Fairweather also rose to his administration colleague’s defence, saying: “I am furious with the suggestion that is being made and it is nothing more than the usual SNP political posturing.
“These things just don’t happen in a couple of weeks, it’s an impossibility, and I am sure the public will see that all the SNP are trying to do is cause upset.”
