A so-called “invisible” Fife councillor is “reconsidering his position” after it was revealed he is living in Austria and has attended only one meeting in six months.
Kirkcaldy East SNP representative Arthur Morrison apologised to constituents following the admission that he misses most council meetings because he has spent four out of five weeks more than 1,100 miles away in the federal republic.
Mr Morrison said the project which he works on as a consultant in the semi-conductors industry had “run over far longer than anticipated”, and said sorry to constituents who may feel “short changed” on account of his £16,234 salary.
The admission came after the publication of details about the SNP councillor’s working schedule.
Labour councillor Kay Carrington, who represents the same Kirkcaldy East ward as Mr Morrison, said she had not seen him at a meeting for two months.
Mrs Carrington said: “It’s appalling and it’s not fair for folk who voted for him.”
But Mr Morrison, speaking from Austria, told The Courier he does not think being in the constituency that he represents full-time is “strictly necessary”.
He said: “I would clarify a couple of points. I do not ‘run a business’ in Austria.
“I am consulting only and actually live in a hotel so no roots. The project I am working on has run on far longer rather than anticipated and I am looking to work back full-time in Scotland as soon as possible.
“Not being full-time in the constituency was not something I had anticipated when first elected or for the first year.”
Mr Morrison said that, in terms of council meetings, he prioritises community meetings where he “hears the problems and ideas of constituents directly”.
He added: “To be honest, the ruling Labour group dominate the council meeting agendas and block vote the outcomes. Regrettably my attendance makes little real difference.
“I arrange to be at key meetings such as the budget meetings as directed by the SNP group and can fly back at short notice.
“On the question of salary, I am back in Scotland for weeks at a time and in that time I work diligently and exclusively on constituency and constituent-related matters and, of course, do not earn anything else when back.
“I discussed the salary issue with Fife Council some time ago about if it would be possible to forego it but this was difficult to do, apparently.
“I am certainly not a career politician and see being a councillor neither as a full-time, or any kind of alternative, to normal employment.”
He agreed recent headlines were “highly embarrassing”.
He added: “Before this blew up I had already planned to be back next week for area committee and hope to get things back to normal as soon as possible.
“I really apologise to my constituents if they, justifiably, feel a bit short-changed at the moment.
“In terms of the future, I will look to reconsider my position as a councillor immediately after the referendum and certainly if it is a Yes vote.”
Fife Council said the elected member was not breaking any rules as councillors are only required by law to attend one meeting in a six-month period.
An party spokesman said: “The SNP expects and requires all its councillors to provide a high standard of service to their constituents. Any complaint will be investigated in accordance with SNP procedures.”