Dundee City Council leader Ken Guild has claimed he told a public meeting a council employee was signed off sick because her co-workers were worried about their jobs.
The Standards Commission for Scotland hearing panel met in Dundee yesterday to decide whether or not Mr Guild had breached the Councillors’ Code of Conduct by telling a meeting the then head of the Young Mum’s Unit had been signed off for a month.
The incident occurred during the local authority’s Budget meeting in February 2015 when the administration put forward proposals to restructure and move the unit from Menzieshill High School to Baldragon Academy, which involved axing the post of principal teacher, held by Norma Seith.
A public campaign to save the unit had been launched but when Mr Guild visited the unit prior to the Policy and Resources Committee meeting, he was told she had been signed off.
As the SNP administration clashed with opposition councillors over the plans, Mr Guild said the principal teacher had been signed off for a month without affecting the service.
Mr Guild claimed that on his visit to the Unit the three other workers had been worried about reports the unit was to close and they would lose their jobs.
In a combative defence of his remark, Mr Guild told the hearing: “I find it quite ironic to be the first councillor from Dundee referred to the Standards Commission for telling the truth at a meeting when opposition councillors were making statements that were untrue.”
Mr Guild denied the information Mrs Seith had been signed off for a month was confidential as it is common knowledge when teachers are absent. Cross examined by Standards Commission senior investigating officer David Sillars, said he had been careful not to use her name in the meeting.
He also argued that his use of the phrase “signed off” did not necessarily mean there were medical reasons behind her absence and it could mean for training.
However, Mr Guild’s claim was picked up by hearing panel member Kevin Dunion, who also asked Mr Guild why he had not written to Mrs Seith to apologise for any unintended offense until January 7 this year, the day before he made his submission to the Standards Commission.
Mr Dunion said: “Does anybody in Scotland believe you can sign yourself off work for a month for training? Can employees of Dundee City Council sign themselves off for anything other than sickness?”
Mr Guild said he wrote to Mrs Seith after her grievance procedure against the council had concluded.
His solicitor Scott Martin urged the panel to rule Mr Guild had not breached paragraphs 3.14 and 3.15 of the Councillors’ Code. The hearing continues today.