MISCONDUCT COUNCILLORS MUST BE REMOVED TO ENSURE GLASGOW DOES NOT LOSE OUT

04 Feb 2013

The Labour councillors condemned for misconduct by the OSCR must be removed from all boards and trusts following concerns over the use of public money.

It was reported in Saturday’s Herald Newspaper that the Big Lottery Fund has serious misgivings about any continued role of Councillor Jim Coleman or Councillor George Redmond in the administration of public funds.

The two councillors were heavily criticised for ‘misconduct’ in a recent report by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) after approving a £500,000 severance package for Ronnie Saez, Chief Executive of the now defunct Glasgow East Regeneration Agency – action which OSCR have described as ‘wholly unacceptable’.

In order to ensure that Glasgow does not risk losing out on any public money, SNP MSP for the East End, John Mason, has called on the Labour administration to remove Councillors Redmond and Coleman from all boards and trusts.

Commenting, John Mason MSP, said:

“Sadly it comes as absolutely no surprise to hear that the Big Lottery Fund – or any organisation handling public money for that matter – have serious concerns about Coleman and Redmond’s financial misconduct.

“As we expected, the financial misconduct by these Labour councillors’ is now beginning to reflect badly upon our Council, our city and our communities, and I would be extremely angry if organisations missed out on funding purely because the Council hasn’t removed these two councillors from charities and trusts.

“Glasgow City Council must act immediately to remove Redmond and Coleman from all boards and trusts on which they represent Glasgow City Council.”