Fife’s new provost Jim Leishman has come under fire after it emerged the Pars legend lives in Perth and Kinross.
Mr Leishman was born and brought up in Lochgelly and has a long association with Dunfermline Athletic Football Club but he now lives just outside the Fife boundary in Keltybridge.
In order to be eligible to stand for election in Fife, the provost gave his address as East End Park, where he works as director of football.
This is above board according to electoral law, which states that individuals can stand in regions where they don’t pay council tax as long as their place of work is inside the local authority boundary.
But Fife’s Liberal Democrat leader Tim Brett questioned Mr Leishman’s morals for taking a £28,000 provost’s salary while not contributing to his own council’s coffers. He also called for clarity on whether the former footballer can claim travel expenses or even take part in crucial council votes.
In a statement issued to The Courier, Councillor Brett said: ”While Jim Leishman does appear to fulfil the legal criteria for being a councillor, we are disappointed that this has clouded what looked to be a promising start for him, given his great potential to serve Fife.
”The Labour Party and (Fife Council) chief executive should clarify as a matter of urgency both his ability to vote on the budget if he is not paying council tax, and whether or not the new provost will claim expenses for travel to his home outwith Fife.
”There is obviously also a moral issue about taking money from a council which you do not pay into, and we would hope that Mr Leishman, the Labour Party and the chief executive would issue a statement urgently clarifying these matters.”
The outburst puts Mr Brett at odds with the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie, who described Mr Leishman’s appointment as ”an inspired choice”.
Speaking after Mr Leishman was chosen by councillors, the MSP, who lives in Kelty, he said: ”Although a political opponent, Jim is a great ambassador.”
Mr Leishman was elected provost by 42 votes to 35 at the first full meeting of Fife Council following elections on May 3.
After the vote, the Dunfermline Central councillor, who picked up more than 1,600 first preference votes in the local elections, said: ”This is an immensely proud moment for the Leishman family and I’m finding it difficult to find the words. I was born in Gardiner Street, Lochgelly, from a mining background.”
It is understood Mr Leishman’s home is just yards from the border between Fife and Perth and Kinross.
Fife Council’s chief executive Ronnie Hinds was quick to clarify the law.
”Councillors must either live or have worked in the local authority area for at least a year before the date of nomination. Jim Leishman clearly meets this requirement,” he said.
When contacted by The Courier Mr Leishman declined to comment but said he was happy for Fife’s Labour leader, Alex Rowley, to speak on his behalf.
Mr Rowley said: ”Jim lives a few yards on the Kinross side of Keltybridge and therefore it is true, as the Lib Dems say, that his council tax is paid to another council.
”That said, Jim is employed by Dunfermline FC and spends his wages in his home village of Kelty and his home town of Dunfermline and is a very proud Fifer born and bred.
”The key fact for me in putting Jim forward for provost was his total commitment and passion for Fife and for its people.”
Mr Leishman is also well known for raising thousands of pounds for the charity, the Mary Leishman Foundation, he set up in memory of his wife, who died in 2009.