Agenda item

(1)               To ask the Convener for Finance and Resources if he is aware of the regulations regarding Allowances and Expenses for Councillors and if so does he recognise the words of an anonymous Administration Councillor who said in the Press and Journal on 2^nd July 2010 “he had been given an envelope of cash for a trip abroad and there were no instructions about how to hand any change back” regardless of his awareness of the regulations can he confirm or otherwise if giving an envelope to a Councillor full of cash meets the requirements of any Act or Regulation laid down by statute and will he refer the matter to the Audit and Risk Committee for scrutiny for them to investigate this and other matters relating to Councillors receiving cash in envelopes?

(2)               To ask the Convener for Finance and Resources what instructions if any has been given by him, his predecessor or by Council officers in relation to ensuring that cash given to Councillors to spend on trips abroad or within the UK given in an envelope or otherwise but unused is returned to the Council?

(3)               To ask the Convener for Finance and Resources to provide Council with a detailed breakdown of all monies given to Councillors for trips abroad or within the UK and the amount returned by Councillors from these trips either within or without the envelope given to them at the start of the trip from May 2007 to present.

(4)               To ask the Chief Executive if she can confirm or otherwise if this Council fully conforms to the regulations laid down by Scottish Ministers in relation to the reimbursement of expenditure incurred on approved duties by Councillors?

(5)               To ask the Chief Executive to confirm or otherwise if Councillor Fletcher’s claim published in the Press and Journal’s letter page on Wednesday 24^th June 2010 and the Evening Express letter page on the same day which states and I quote “I will finally admit that I, too, have waived a significant amount of salary, over £33,000, and not submitted one claim form for councillor expenses, since 2007” is either incredulous or incredible given the fact that the STATEMENT OF ALLOWANCES & EXPENSES FOR ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL PAID TO AND ON BEHALF OF ELECTED MEMBERS FOR THE YEAR 1^st April 2009 to 31^st March 2010 confirms that Councillor Fletcher has claimed a significant amount of expenses. Will the Chief Executive confirm the amount of claim forms submitted by Councillor Fletcher since 2007 and also the amounts claimed?

The Council had before it five questions, of which due notice had been given in terms of Standing Order 20(2), which had been placed on the agenda as Councillor Young had indicated that he was unhappy with the responses.

Councillor Young

QUESTIONS -

To the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee

(1)               “To ask the Convener for Finance and Resources if he is aware of the regulations regarding Allowances and Expenses for Councillors and if so does he recognise the words of an anonymous Administration Councillor who said in the Press and Journal on 2^nd July 2010 “he had been given an envelope of cash for a trip abroad and there were no instructions about how to hand any change back” regardless of his awareness of the regulations can he confirm or otherwise if giving an envelope to a Councillor full of cash meets the requirements of any Act or Regulation laid down by statute and will he refer the matter to the Audit and Risk Committee for scrutiny for them to investigate this and other matters relating to Councillors receiving cash in envelopes?”

(2)               “To ask the Convener for Finance and Resources what instructions if any has been given by him, his predecessor or by Council officers in relation to ensuring that cash given to Councillors to spend on trips abroad or within the UK given in an envelope or otherwise but unused is returned to the Council?”

(3)               “To ask the Convener for Finance and Resources to provide Council with a detailed breakdown of all monies given to Councillors for trips abroad or within the UK and the amount returned by Councillors from these trips either within or without the envelope given to them at the start of the trip from May 2007 to present.”

ANSWERS (by Councillor Kevin Stewart) -

(1)               I am aware of the Allowances and Expenses regulations but can relate to the quote in the Press and Journal as no information about returning unspent money was given to me on the first of three overseas trips I have made on behalf of the Council in my eleven years as a Councillor. I asked for that to be rectified on my return from Ireland. I received the relevant advice the second time I went away.

It does not require me to refer the matter to Audit and Risk as the Convener of Audit and Risk can ask for reports on matters of concern and I would be quite happy for the Audit and Risk Committee to look at all matters regarding overseas trips since the inception of this Council in 1996.

Councillor Young seems to be alleging other suspect activities in his line of questioning. If Councillor Young has any knowledge of any wrongdoing then I would urge him to contact the Police and the Monitoring Officer.

(2)               I refer Councillor Young to the answer I gave to Question 1. I cannot answer for any other Councillors who have held the Finance Convenership in the past.

(3)               I refer Councillor Young to the following information:-

In accordance with Standing Order 20(4), the Lord Provost ruled that the questions had been answered satisfactorily.

The Council resolved:-

to note the details.

QUESTIONS -

To the Chief Executive

(1)               “To ask the Chief Executive if she can confirm or otherwise if this Council fully conforms to the regulations laid down by Scottish Ministers in relation to the reimbursement of expenditure incurred on approved duties by Councillors?”

(2)               “To ask the Chief Executive to confirm or otherwise if Councillor Fletcher’s claim published in the Press and Journal’s letter page on Wednesday
24^th June 2010 and the Evening Express letter page on the same day which states and I quote “I will finally admit that I, too, have waived a significant amount of salary, over £33,000, and not submitted one claim form for councillor expenses, since 2007” is either incredulous or incredible given the fact that the STATEMENT OF ALLOWANCES & EXPENSES FOR ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL PAID TO AND ON BEHALF OF ELECTED MEMBERS FOR THE YEAR 1^st April 2009 to 31^st March 2010 confirms that Councillor Fletcher has claimed a significant amount of expenses. Will the Chief Executive confirm the amount of claim forms submitted by Councillor Fletcher since 2007 and also the amounts claimed?”

ANSWERS (by the Chief Executive) -

(1)               The City Council complies with the guidelines set down by the Scottish Local Authority Remuneration Committee.

(2)               Details relating to Councillors’ Allowances and Expenses are available on the City Council’s website at:

http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CouncilTax/fin/ctx_FinInfo_Home.asp

It is not for the Chief Executive to comment on the content of Councillor Fletcher’s letter to the Press and Journal.

In accordance with Standing Order 20(4), the Lord Provost ruled that the Question (1) had been answered satisfactorily.

The Council resolved:-

(i)                 to note the update from the Chief Executive that no claim forms for expenses had been submitted by Councillor Fletcher for the period in question; and

(ii)               otherwise to note the details.