Angus Council’s leader has swept aside a call to step away from the prime role, branding a colleague’s criticism of his performance in the position as “fake news”.
And Brechin Independent Bob Myles has fired a Standards Commission warning in the direction of Carnoustie critic Brian Boyd after he branded the coalition which runs the authority as “dysfunctional and disorganised”.
Mr Boyd’s no holds barred attack was prompted by the resignation from the multi-party administration of fellow Carnoustie Independent David Cheape.
Mr Cheape is the second administration figure to quit since the coalition grabbed power after the local elections in May, leaving Carnoustie as the only Angus burgh without a representative on the ruling group.
The council leader said Mr Cheape’s resignation was a disappointment but pledged an open-door approach to all councillors.
Mr Boyd said: “After Cllr Cheape’s courageous move to step away from his role in the Angus rainbow administration I was stunned at Cllr Myles’ response.
“It beggars belief that he states his door is always open. Over six years of being a proper independent councillor the opposite has happened with the door slammed shut on many occasions.
“Why? Because I didn’t join his dysfunctional and disorganised rainbow alliance.
“Cllr Myles comment that the Carnousite situation is not a concern is simply not true.”
Mr Boyd said there had been a return to the “bad old days of the mismanaged Angus Alliance, stumbling from one crisis to another”.
“One by one they will desert the sinking ship. The solution is for him to be the next resignation, leaving someone else with proper leadership skills.”
The angry Carnoustie representative added: “It’s a shambles and I just wonder who will be next to go.
“What is strangest is the Tories allowing an “Independent” to lead the council. They hold eight seats in the alliance, they should be ensuring strong and stable leadership from within not wibbly wobbly from outwith.”
In response, Mr Myles said: “I don’t feel unjustified personal attacks are worthy of a response, the comments fall into the fake news category.
“They are so far off the mark, I am considering whether they may be deemed libellous and a matter for the Standards Commission.
“It is definitely not what is expected in the Councillor’s Code of Conduct.”
Conservative group leader, Councillor Craig Fotheringham said: “The Conservatives play a constructive role in the administration. We’ve scrapped expensive consultants brought in by the SNP and focussed on value for money.
“In five short months, we have worked with officers to improve the efficiency of Angus Council and thereby protect services as far as possible, despite the SNP Government’s cuts.
“Yes, there is more to do, but we have made a decent start serving the people of Angus.
“I know Councillor Boyd has had difficulty with Councillor Myles in the past, but he can be confident the Conservative group along with Independent and Liberal Democrat colleagues are working hard for Angus,” he said.
