Councillor rapped for bad behaviour

Jun 26 2008 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

SCOTLAND’S standards watchdog has criticised a South Lanarkshire councillor for his “distasteful” conduct and “intolerance” towards council colleagues.

Jim Docherty, the council’s business manager and an ally of Council leader Eddie McAvoy, had beenaccused of breaching the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

The complaint prompted an investigation by the Standards Commission.

However, despite the criticism of councillor Docherty’s behaviour, he was cleared of breaching the code.

It was the third time in three years that councillor Docherty has been exonerated by the Commission.

The latest investigation centred around his conduct at a meeting last year of the East Kilbride Area Committee.

A member of the public who attended the meeting reported the councillor for his “aggressive” behaviour towards other elected members.

Commissioners concluded that councillor Docherty’s conduct was at times “distasteful” and that he “showed a degree of intolerance” towards other councillors.

They decided, however, not to censure the councillor for East Kilbride South.

He welcomed the determination and accused opposition politicians of a campaign against him.

He vowed not to change his combative style, and added: “Three times in three years I have been reported and each time I have been exonerated. On the first two occasions it was Tory councillor Stan Hogarth and SNP councillor Archie Buchanan respectively. On this occasion it was a member of the public who was at a meeting where I was debating with opposition councillors. If you ask me, it sounds like a campaign by the opposition because I am business leader at the council.

“I have a certain style of politics and I know it’s not to everyone’s taste. If I seem to be forceful in putting forward arguments then it’s only because I am passionate about the issues I’m talking about.

“Anything I’ve said to other councillors I’ve had said back to me and I take it on the chin. I don’t go and report it for them to be investigated.

“I’ve been a councillor for 16 years and I’m not going to change now.”

jrowbotham