Four councillors reported to Standards Commission
The Standards Commission has been asked to investigate complaints about the way in which Independent councillor John Caldwell was sacked as chairman of Musselburgh Racecourse.
Mr Caldwell's removal from the Musselburgh Joint Racing Committee in December by the East Lothian Council's SNP/Lib Dem administration was condemned as a "political stitch-up" by Conservative and Labour councillors, who were unsuccessful in opposing the move.
It also caused outrage among some Musselburgh residents concerned about the treatment of Mr Caldwell and the impact the decision could have on the running of the racecourse.
Mr Caldwell, who believes he was ousted from the post to make way for SNP Councillor Kenny McLeod, is now asking the Standards Commission to investigate the way in which the decision was taken.
Lodged
In his complaint, he claims that his fellow members of the joint racing committee — Councillors McLeod, Roger Knox (SNP) and Barry Turner (Lib Dem) — breached the councillors' code of conduct by failing to declare an interest, which would have excluded them from the vote when the decision was taken during a meeting of the full council.
Alan Hay, who was Councillor Caldwell's election agent, has also lodged his own complaint with the Standards Commission about the conduct of Council Leader David Berry and Councillor Kenny McLeod in removing Councillor Caldwell from office.
Click here for the Councillors' code of conduct
Full report in the Musselburgh News and the East Lothian News, January 29, 2010
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