West Dunbartonshire SNP won't follow Glasgow City in hiring Labour 'sleaze finder', leader says

Susan Aitken, leader of the council, has appointed Colin Mair, of the Improvement Service (IS), to review “past decisions and practices” of her predecessors.

The post has been dubbed a “transparency Tsar”, but some believe it is a “sleaze-finder” to uncover any potential underhand practices.

Labour is not opposed, but questioned why the appointment was made outwith any committee or the full council.

West Dunbartonshire Council leader, Councillor Jonathan McColl, said such a review had already been carried out locally.

He told the Post: “Audit Scotland did a pretty good job of finding where the bones were buried in what was dubbed ‘Wild West’ Dunbartonshire pre-2006.”

At a full Glasgow City Council meeting, Cllr Aitken insisted she was “acting within the decision making procedures of the council”.

Garscadden/Scotstounhill Labour councillor Bill Butler said: “A transparency Tsar is something we have no problem with. But we would have thought the process of how it was appointed would go through the normal procedures of the council. It is contradictory.”

The council and the Improvement Service are finalising the remit of the review, with the IS keen for it to be overseen by an all-party group of elected members and the final report submitted to the full council.

Mr Mair is understood to recommend community representatives also be involved.

A social media platform for the public to make suggestions is also being considered.

A GCC spokesman said: “The city government was elected on a commitment to lead Glasgow in a spirit of openness, listening and responsiveness. The Improvement Service is a widely respected centre of excellence for local government practice.

“They will help us to consider the best way to ensure public participation and confidence in our decisions and they will do it in a way which involves all parties in the council and most importantly the citizens of Glasgow.”