East Lothian Courier | News | Report is 'insult to residents' intelligence

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 25th October, 2007 09:00

Report is 'insult to residents' intelligence

A STALWART of the former Labour-led administration has ridiculed a scathing report into the machinations of the previous East Lothian Council.

Councillor Willie Innes, now leader of the opposition, dismissed The Audit of Best Value and Community Planning by Audit Scotland as a work of fiction akin to The Emperor’s New Clothes.

The report, published earlier this month, highlighted various operational deficiencies and slammed the previous council for agreeing a £149,000 ex-gratia payment as part of a redundancy package for former chief executive John Lindsay – a decision later overturned by the incoming SNP/LibDem ruling coalition.

It criticised the old council for a lack of openness and accountability.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s council meeting, an unrepentant Mr Innes reiterated his stance that the old council had done nothing wrong, and accused the new council of trying to claim the kudos for projects undertaken by the former regime.

He said: “Only a few weeks ago, I was taking exception to the Controller of Audit’s report. It does a great disservice to the people of East Lothian.

“Most fair-minded people will know that this report is an insult to their intelligence.

“Why do people chose to live here? They do so because of what East Lothian can offer them.

“We have the highest performing schools, the best quality of life, the lowest crime rate and the best leisure and recreation facilities.

“Compare that with what the Best Value report says. . . I have great difficulty in understanding what the report deems to be best value. We have the lowest council tax rate across the Lothians – only seven other Scottish councils are lower. That is best value.”

He added: “It is a bit rich for administration members to be happy to be photographed at the opening of leisure facilities that were built by the previous council.

“The report is a classic example of The Emperor’s New Clothes. It is trying to make us believe in something that doesn’t exist.”

Council leader, Councillor Berry, told the meeting that eight of the 14 recommendations in the Audit Scotland report were already being addressed.

Councillors voted 15-8 to “note, consider and accept” the findings of the Accounts Commission, and to instruct officials to bring forward a more detailed report to the next council meeting.

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