Corruption claim pair will learn their fate soon

Nov 19 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

TWO West Lothian councillors embroiled in allegations of planning corruption should learn next week whether they are to face a public inquiry into their behaviour.

SNP Councillor Jim Dickson and hospital campaigner Gordon Beurskens have both been referred to the Standards Commission after an investigation into the pair identified potential breaches of the councillors’ code of conduct.

The Office of the Chief Investigating Officer (CIO) — appointed by the Scottish Ministers to investigate and report on complaints alleging a breach of the code — looked into allegations about the councillors’ behaviour on planning issues on West Lothian Council.

And after studying the evidence and carrying out numerous interviews with councillors and council officers the CIO has passed its final report to the Standards Commission.

A spokesperson for the Commission told the Courier that if the CIO has concluded a breach of the code has been found then the members of the Commission, which is scheduled to meet next Monday, must decide whether or not to hold a public hearing.

If a hearing is held, the Commission will decide whether there has been a breach and if so, what sanction (censure, suspension or disqualification) should be imposed.

At the moment the nationalists have a two-seat majority on West Lothian Council thanks to the support of the three hospital campaigners and Conservative Provost Tom Kerr.

But any suspension or disqualification of the pair could throw the SNP’s control of the council into doubt.

The Courier revealed in December last year that Councillor Beurskens, elected on an Action to Save St John’s Hospital ticket in 2007, was reported by Labour councillors following his role in an £8 million planning application in Whitrigg in East Whitburn for a hotel, 100 houses and a care home.

It was revealed he was doubling up as a member of the development committee at the same time as being a consultant for the firm behind the project.

He also warned SNP council leader Peter Johnston about the consequences of the application being delayed, stating in an e-mail that it would take “two minutes to change the complexion of a council”.

Councillor Dickson was also referred to the watchdog after documents released under freedom of information legislation showed he had pressured officials to drop their objections to a multi-million-pound housing development.

Councillor Beurskens said he could not comment on the case as he was bound by the “realms of confidentiality.”

Council leader Peter Johnston confirmed that the council had received a copy of the CIO’s final report.

He added: “We have been asked to treat it as confidential and I believe that this is the best course of action at this stage.”