Published: Thursday, 9th October, 2008 9:30am

We"ll keep you out!

A ROW over the projected £3 million deficit in East Lothian Council"s adult social care budget has seen opposition leader, Councillor Willie Innes, warned he could face exclusion from future council meetings.

Mr Innes twice refused to leave Tuesday"s cabinet meeting in Haddington when ordered to do so by chair and council leader, Councillor David Berry.

The Labour member for Preston/Seton/Gosford was ruled out of order after he questioned Mr Berry on why a report outlining measures to tackle the overspend in the department run by Councillor Ruth Currie had been delayed.

September"s cabinet meeting had heard that the adult social care overspend stood at £1.1 million after the first quarter of the financial year, but could rise as high as £3 million by April unless corrective action was taken.

Members were also told at last month"s meeting that director of community services, Sue Ross, would report to the October cabinet meeting on how these measures would be implemented.

But when Dr Ross" report failed to appear on Tuesday, Mr Innes - whose party has accused the SNP/Lib-Dem administration of cutting vital services to the elderly and disabled - tried to force an answer from the council leader.

He was backed by shadow environment spokesman, Councillor Norman Hampshire, who declared: 'The longer the delay in taking decisions on this the bigger the problem and the bigger the cuts for elderly and vulnerable people in our communities.'

An irate Mr Berry said: 'I am not going to take questions from members of the previous administration who could not run the finances of adult social care properly!'

Mr Innes said: 'I am trying to ask for clarification.'

He was then warned by Mr Berry: 'If you do not hold your "wheesht" would you please leave the room.'

When Mr Innes again pressed for him for an answer, Mr Berry told him: 'I am going to close the meeting unless you leave the room. If you do not leave the room there will be consequences for you. You are out of order and I will move the next piece business.'

Much to the chairman"s irritation, a defiant Mr Innes refused to move from his seat on the back benches, declaring: 'I am also a member of the public. I"ve got a right to be here!'

When Mr Innes tried to intervene on the first item on the agenda - the proposed arrangements for developing the 2009/10 Single Outcome Agreement - Mr Berry placed a gagging order on him.

'I am not prepared to recognise Councillor Innes because he is not behaving in a manner befitting a councillor,' he said.

An unrepentant Mr Innes said afterwards: 'I had every right to ask the administration why the report was not ready. The leader"s response was ludicrous.'

Depute council leader, Councillor Stuart Currie, insisted Mr Innes" refusal to leave the meeting had not undermined the authority of the chair.

'Other councils have used the police to remove disruptive people, but we see that as a last resort,' he said.

'If Councillor Innes continues not to accept the standing orders of the council he could find himself barred from meetings.'

He added: 'We had hoped the report would be here at this meeting, but we have still to clarify a number of figures. It should be presented to the November cabinet meeting.'