Brechin and Edzell ward has been served by “two and a bit” instead of three councillors since Mairi Evans was elected an MSP, it was claimed at a fiery meeting of Angus Council.
Arbroath Councillor David Fairweather brought forward a motion which asked the council’s chief executive to write to Ms Evans asking her to “consider her position” as a councillor on Thursday.
Ms Evans attended her second meeting of Angus Council since being elected as the Angus North and Mearns MSP in May to as her dual role was discussed.
Mr Fairweather said: “It’s nice to see Councillor Evans MSP here today.
“Just for the record, this is nothing personal. This was bought to me by a gentleman from Brechin.
“(Prior to today) there have been five meetings of this council and Councillor Evans MSP has been in attendance once.
“Whether that’s being responsible to her constituents of Brechin is for her to decide.”
Seconding the motion, Brechin and Edzell Councillor Bob Myles said it was difficult to see how the roles of MSP and councillor could be reconciled and added that Ms Evans’ absence had been noted in the constituency.
He said: “This motion echoes what I have heard over the constituency – what is Councillor Evans doing? I have no answer.
“There are numerous roles and responsibility for a councillor and I can also appreciate that there are roles and duties for an MSP.
“It is difficult to see how they can be reconciled together.
“I know her absence has been noted by many at meetings in our constituency.
“I recognise that Councillor Jim Houston has done his best to cover, as have I, but it’s a big constituency and we can’t be everywhere at once.
“If we go up to next May’s election then that will have been a year that the Brechin and Edzell ward has been run with two and a bit councillors.”
No amendment was offered, so the motion passed.
Ms Evans stated in yesterday’s Courier that she intends to continue to hold both roles.
Addressing the meeting, she said: “Well I think I can quite easily save the chief executive’s time and I could have saved Councillor Fairweather’s time if he had actually bothered to come and discuss it with me.
“But then he wouldn’t have been able to get a headline out of that because regardless of what he’s saying I know that is petty politics and I wouldn’t expect anything else from him.
“I will quite happily let you chase publicity at my expense David as I have better things to do with my time.”
