THE Labour leader of North Lanarkshire Council is to face a vote on his future after allegations over his failure to declare links to companies were made to the police.
The SNP have secured a special meeting, to be held within a fortnight, to call on Jim Logue to step aside as leader during the investigation.
Mr Logue was reported over his directorship of two recently dissolved companies linked to the council’s leisure trust which he failed to declare on his register of interests.
Auditors reported last year that the trust’s board had not approved the creation of the subsidiaries, ECSA UK Ltd and No Limits Leisure Ltd, while Mr Logue was chair.
The SNP’s motion also calls on the council to publish an internal audit report on “North Lanarkshire Leisure, its board, foreign trips and subsidiary companies”.
Labour runs the council as a minority administration with tacit Tory support.
Deputy SNP group leader Tom Johnston said: “The SNP has not taken this decision lightly but we made a promise to the people who elected us to fight for openness, transparency and accountability within this council.
“North Lanarkshire Council has developed a poor reputation over the years and Cllr Logue’s refusal to step aside is a further example of everything that is wrong in this area.
“It is imperative that opposition councillors, and the public as a whole, have the opportunity to see the content of these audit reports.
“Councillors should also support our motion to remove Cllr Logue as leader in order for this council to save what is left of its reputation.’
Deputy leader Paul Kelly welcomed the meeting but said the SNP had “jumped on a smear against Jim Logue" and “stooped to a new low".
A council spokesman said: “A request has been received for a special meeting which will be dealt with in accordance with the council’s standing orders.”
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