Director quits but council won't say why

Jamie MacDonald • Published 25 Aug 2010 09:30 5 Comments

Clackmannanshire Council’s Director of Services to People, Grahame Blair, has resigned from his post.

Mr Blair had been on gardening leave “by mutual consent” since earlier in the year after concerns were raised over the implementation of the Telecare scheme he was behind.

Internal and external audits had been ordered by the local authority into events going on behind the scenes in several projects after it emerged Mr Blair’s wife, Lynn, was employed as a consultant, believed to be at a rate of £300 per day, on the Telecare project that provides a service for the elderly and disabled. Mr Blair was not directly involved in the selection process.

The report into Telecare had originally been scheduled to go before councillors on 17 December 2009 but was pulled at the last minute. It was subsequently passed at a council meeting on 11 March.

Mr Blair joined the council in February 2009 after being employed by West Lothian council since 1996.

The Advertiser has heard that as he leaves Mr Blair has received £40,000, six months pay to cover his notice period, although the council has declined to confirm or deny the rumour.

We also contacted the council to enquire why, if an employee has resigned, he would have received a pay-off and why the Director of Services was on gardening leave in the first place.

A spokesperson for the authority said, “Clackmannanshire Council respects the privacy of its employees and cannot give out personal details.”

Both the internal and external audits have now been completed. When asked about either audit’s findings the council has again decided not to detail the results with a statement saying, “The Telecare project was reviewed as part of our usual annual audit cycle. This review was recently completed by our external auditors.”

A statement was posted on Clacksweb, the local authority’s website, by Chief Executive Angela Leitch, on Wednesday to announce Mr Blair had left.

The statement read, “Given our current restructuring and ongoing budget engagement process, it is likely that we will want to keep our options open for the time being, while we reconfigure our services to be as effective and customer focused as possible.”

SNP group leader on Clackmannanshire Council, Gary Womersley, said he was disappointed a senior member of staff had left with councillors not informed as to what had gone on.

He continued, “Without commenting specifically on the resignation of the Director of Services to People, I am disappointed at the complete lack of information in general. I am aware of two senior council officials who have been subject to an investigation, which at least on the face of it, as far as I am concerned, could have potential criminality involved and am none the wiser - how can we account to the voters when we ourselves are being kept in the dark?

“We keep getting 'assured’ that things are okay, but with the greatest of respect, often by the same people who would no doubt have a vested interest in keeping matters quiet. At least as an opposition we try to highlight these issues, whereas the current administration just lives in a complete world of denial.”

Mr Womersley added, “I will be pursuing the general issue in the strongest terms with the council and if needs be will even need to refer matters to the police.

“I’ve long advocated for the council having a prosecutions policy. It may be that yet again this is something that the SNP Group will need to seize the initiative on again and put before council.”

Independent councillor Craig Holden said, “I don’t know much about the investigation. It is sad we have recruited someone and lost him so soon.

“No one has indicated to me there has been a pay-off. I think it is important we don’t let the actions of one individual tarnish the image of the council.

“I think the matter has been dealt with quickly and satisfactorily.”

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• 

  alloaman
  Unregistered User
  Aug 25, 19:00
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  so is this part of the black hole ,is there criminal goings on will we ever be told or just kept in the dark and hope we dont mention it again.it is the people of clackmannanshire who elect the council yet it appears that they seem to forget that .
  
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• 

  taxed
  Unregistered User
  Aug 25, 23:35
  Report comment

  Who is kidding who here
  
  Internal and external audits had been ordered by the local authority into events going on behind the scenes in several projects. When are we going to see these audits? Surely the external one will be a public record. When were these completed?
  
  This smells of a cover up by the leader of the council and the chief executive
  
  This guy is been gardening since March on full pay.
  
  Time us taxpayers had some answers to whats goin on in this council SNP group leader Gary Womersley should be looking for a external investigation or he should just call the police.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  midge
  Unregistered User
  Aug 29, 01:09
  Report comment

  so yet we are left to wonder WHY no reply, I really think the clan are so closed in local councils that they think they are above the law, give voters an answer and save face and stop pussy footing around, now the public can give open reply it makes me wonder how much has been spent covering up over the years not just this council but up and down the country if johney bloggs is caught at work doing wrong he is slung out with NO hand out the whole scenerio stinks
  
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• 

  redhopi
  28 posts
  Aug 30, 21:37
  Report comment

  Not just the scenario that stinks, this whole council stinks, and to high heaven!
  
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• 

  CRed
  Unregistered User
  Sep 18, 13:30
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  "the actions of one individual tarnish the image of the council. " what a quote the image of the council tarnished, they are corupt and everyone can see that why don't they call in the police and make all accountabe for the wrong doings?
  
  As for gardening duties have you ever heard the likes of it? No wonder the council is in such a state. People are very unaware of how bad things are, in our schools we can't afford paper or ink for any printers so how are children expected to learn this is only the tip of the iceberg things are far worse than anyone can imagine!!!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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