Published: Thursday, 17th December, 2009 6:00am

Council leader denies offering track chief 'compensation' to stand down

by Alex Lawrie

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Council leader David Berry

EAST Lothian Council leader David Berry has categorially denied he suggested to independent councillor John Caldwell that he could be financially compensated to soften the blow of standing down as chairman of Musselburgh Joint Racing Committee (MJRC).

At last week's East Lothian Council meeting, Mr Caldwell was controversially sacked as chairman and booted off the board - despite being univerally acknowledged as having performed well in the role since 2007.

Councillor John Caldwell

The ruling SNP/Lib Dem administration says it acted to give it majority control of MJRC, a partnership between Lothian Racing Syndicate Ltd and race track owners East Lothian Council.

This week, Mr Berry said he "strongly refutes" any suggestion that he offered Mr Caldwell a higher salary or "any other form of remuneration" to step down.

Mr Caldwell's place on the board has been filled by Provost Sheena Richardson, with the position of chair widely expected to go to Fa'side SNP councillor Kenny McLeod.

Following his dismissal, Mr Caldwell released a statement which alleged that Mr Berry had suggested he could in some way be compensated for standing down as MJRC chairman.

It said: "At a meeting in June with the leader of the council, he told me that he no longer wanted me to hold the position of chairman of the racecourse, but to remain as a director, as I had done a great job as chairman.

"He surprised me by saying that if there was any way he could compensate me for this he would. For example, if he could increase my salary he would have, and that if there was anything within his power at the council I wanted, I only have to say. (It was ) a strange statement to make as there is no remuneration as chair of the racecourse - I can only assume that it was down to a guilty conscience."

Mr Caldwell declined to voluntarily relinquish his position, so the local authority had him removed from the board completely at last week's East Lothian Council meeting.

As reported in the Courier last week, Mr Caldwell believes the council administration had "no sound reason" for sacking him.

Council leader Mr Berry confirmed this week he had met Councillor Caldwell twice to discuss the matter, but had "a quite different recollection of the discussions".

"In particular, I strongly refute any suggestion that I offered him a 'higher salary' or any other form of remuneration, by way of compensation for his standing down as the chair of Musselburgh Joint Racing Committee (MJRC)," said Mr Berry.

"While I expressed my gratitude to Councillor Caldwell for his work as chair of the MJRC, I explained to him that it was the considered view of the council's administration that someone else should now take the chair.

"In answer to his question as to who the new chair might be, I did confirm that Councillor Kenny McLeod had previously expressed an interest in the position, but I did not say that this was certain to be the outcome.

"In any case, that appointment is a matter for the other members of the joint racecourse committee, not for me.

"I also expressed my view to Councillor Caldwell that despite him being asked to stand down as chair, he would nevertheless have the support of myself and other administration councillors if he wished to continue as a member of the MJRC.

"And while I also raised with him the possibility of further discussion about other committee memberships he might have a particular interest in, no deals were on the table and no promises made."

Councillor Caldwell was chairman of both MJRC and Musselburgh Racecourse but this joint role has now been separated.

The four councillors who sit on MJRC will now decide which of them is to be chairman of MJRC.

While Group Captain John Prideaux has taken over from Mr Caldwell as chairman of the racecourse.

Mr Prideaux, who is chairman of Lothian Racing Syndicate Ltd and sits on MJRC, has lengthy experience as a racecourse steward at Musselburgh and other tracks.

Lothian Racing Syndicate's role is to safeguard and promote horseracing at Musselburgh.