The leader of Dundee City Council is to face a disciplinary hearing over alleged personal comments he made about a city teacher.
Ken Guild will be ordered to appear before the Standards Commission for Scotland at a public hearing in Dundee over accusations that he revealed personal details about Norma Seith, who was the principal teacher of the Young Mums’ Unit at Menzieshill High School at the time.
The comments are alleged to have been made at a public meeting held in Dundee City Council chambers last February, when councillors were discussing budget proposals.
It was claimed that Mr Guild revealed at the meeting that Mrs Seith had signed herself off school sick for one month.
Afterwards, Councillor Kevin Keenan, the Labour group leader on Dundee City Council, said: “Making sensitive and confidential data a matter of public knowledge is just wrong.
“The individual teacher should be talking to her trade union or legal representative on how to take the matter forward.”
Mrs Seith subsequently reported the matter.
The complaint was initially heard by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life In Scotland (CESPLS).
At the beginning of last month, the commissioner decided that the matter should be referred to the Standards Commission.
It held an initial meeting into the case last week and decided that the matter should now go to a full hearing. This will be held in public in Dundee within the next 12 weeks.
Mrs Seith’s husband, Bob, said that Mr Guild had written to his wife to apologise for the comments.
He said: “I am concerned that the apology only came later to win Norma’s sympathy and to justify his unprofessional behaviour.
“He was completely wrong to reveal personal information about my wife.”
Mr Guild had not responded to repeated requests for comment at the time of going to press.
Cases are considered by the Standards Commission after the CESPLS has concluded an investigation into an allegation that a councillor or member of a devolved public body has contravened the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.
Mr Guild was speaking about the YMU at a meeting when councillors took the decision to move the unit and reshape it, as part of budget savings.
The same month, Mrs Seith was told to go home from her work and stay away until further notice amid claims she was unfit to be there.