A Labour councillor has accused Dundee City Council of a lack of transparency over claims he was “silenced” at meetings.
Councillor Kevin Keenan has hit out at the council administration for “stifling debate” after he was prevented from speaking twice during committee meetings.
He has also complained to the council’s legal manager about the council’s social work and city development conveners, who he accuses of “hiding behind standing orders”.
He said: “On two occasions conveners chose to hide behind standing orders rather than allow me to question officers in the interest of my constituents and the taxpayers of the city.
“I find it particularly unacceptable that standing orders can be used in this way to stifle debate.”
In one exchange during a social work and health committee meeting, convener Ken Lynn said he was “unwilling” to let Mr Keenan continue, after he attempted to bring up a constituent’s fostering complaint.
The committee was considering an update on the fostering service, which had previously been given a damning report prompted by a complaint from a family.
Mr Keenan said: “I have a constituent who has written to a lot of councillors with complaints about the fostering service.”
However, he was cut short by the convener who said it was “wholly unorthodox to introduce a complaint that has already been dealt with” at a council meeting before abruptly closing the meeting.
On the decision, Councillor Helen Wright said: “That’s disgraceful.”
After the meeting, Mr Keenan said: “The convener himself is aware of the case which I attempted to talk about and his response was ‘that the matter has been dealt with and that’s the end of it’. This may well just be wishful thinking.”
Later the same night, during a private session of the city development committee, Mr Keenan said he was again prevented from questioning officers on an item of council spending.
He said: “This was a very large spend from the public purse and more time for scrutiny should have been afforded.
“It is really regrettable that the administration feels it necessary to stifle debate even in private session.”
Neither convener could be contacted for comment yesterday.
A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “Councillor Keenan has contacted officers about Monday’s meetings and a reply will be sent to him directly.”