South Lanarkshire councillor could be investigated over expenses

Feb 4 2010 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

AN SNP councillor who defected to Labour could be investigated by South Lanarkshire Council’s chief executive over allegations concerning his expenses.

The council’s SNP hierarchy have written to chief executive Archie Strang requesting a probe into claims against councillor John McNamee.

The claims against councillor McNamee emerged on Monday after he announced that he was quitting the SNP group and joining Labour.

The SNP group say they began their investigation after allegations concerning councillor McNamee’s behaviour last year at a social function.

Councillor McNamee, who lives in Fairhill, Hamilton, insisted there was nothing wrong with his expenses and said any allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” at the social function had no substance.

The SNP say they investigated councillor McNamee’s expenses over the past three years.

Between January 1 and November 10 last year, he claimed £932 for a public transport zone card and £638 in taxi fares.

Mr McNamee was issued with a four-zone card so that he could travel to Strathclyde Fire Board meetings in Glasgow, surgeries in Blantyre and travel and council meetings in Hamilton.

However, his SNP colleagues say that instead of using the travel card, Mr McNamee claimed for taxis.

According to a file seen by the Advertiser, councillor McNamee claimed £131 for taxi fares from May 2007 to December 31, 2007.

In 2008, he claimed £472 for taxi fares plus a zone card.

Between January 2009 and November 10, he claimed £638 for taxi fares and £932 for a zone card.

SNP leaders wanted to know why he claimed taxi fares from his home in Fairhill to council offices – despite being issued with the zone card and living about 150 yards from a bus stop.

And they also questioned his decision to take taxis costing £3 from the Furlongs to the council’s offices in Almada Street, a short walk away.

SNP sources believe councillor McNamee was breaking council rules by claiming for lunch while working at the council headquarters in Almada Street and for evening meals while attending surgeries in the Blantyre area.

The source added: “He was claiming once for his zone card and then again for taxis which, to me, is something that merits investigation.”.

The SNP group say they tried to discuss the allegations with councillor McNamee in November, before he embarked on a seven-week holiday to Australia and New Zealand.

He failed to attend meetings to discuss the matter and the SNP began disciplinary proceedings against him.

SNP leader Councillor Anne Maggs said: “We have given John every opportunity to explain and he ran away from it.

“We had the integrity of the SNP group and the council to think about.

“Although John may think that it is the end of the matter, for the SNP group, we think it should be brought to the public’s attention and are giving our files over to the chief executive to investigate.

“It is good riddance to him and I don’t know why Labour are taking on someone with baggage.”

In 2008-2009, Councillor McNamee was given £17,994 in salary and expenses.

He collected £15,838 for his councillor salary and £1498 for other expenses and £658 for phone and ICT expenses.

The Labour party in London have still to agree Mr McNamee’s membership.

If they do, it will give Labour one more councillor on the council. The party split would be Labour 32, SNP 22, Conservative 8, Liberal Democrats 2 and Independents 3.