Cllr Danny Gibson Suspended for Five Months After Multiple Breaches
Stirling SNP Councillors have expressed their disgust at the toxic workplace environment of Stirling Council, after senior Labour Councillor Danny Gibson was suspended for five months following multiple breaches of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.
The Standards Commission for Scotland held their hearing at Stirling Council’s Old Viewforth HQ on Wednesday 21st June, relating to multiple complaints over Cllr Gibson’s behaviour and conduct towards Council staff and officers. Spanning several incidents, witnesses testified to the panel they had been made to feel belittled, personally attacked and bullied by Mr Gibson, as he sought to interfere with operational and legal matters beyond his remit.
The panel concluded: ‘such serious breaches of the Code have the potential to interfere with the effective operation of the council, to undermine the important relationship between council officers and elected members, and to bring the council into disrepute – as well as potentially exposing it to successful legal challenge.’
Following the news of Mr Gibson’s five-month suspension, SNP figures are calling on Stirling Council Labour Leader Chris Kane to take immediate action to remove Cllr Gibson from all remaining internal and external representative positions of the Council – and remove his party membership.
Stirling SNP Council Group Leader Scott Farmer said:
‘Labour must make it absolutely clear they will not tolerate bullies, and remove Mr Gibson completely from the council administration and the Labour party. Failure to do so will send a terrible message, and only serve to further undermine the morale of Council officers who deserve to work in an environment of mutual respect and safety.
‘It brings me no pleasure to see Stirling Council brought so low through Mr Gibson’s actions. For months my group have raised concerns over a worrying deterioration in standards and behaviour by fellow Councillors towards staff and officers, and I fear with the increased workload and pressures of only four Labour Councillors trying to run the Council administration, we may indeed be heading for further trouble. The people of Stirling deserve better.’
Stirling SNP Councillor Gerry McLaughlan said:
‘Labour are now trying to run the Council with four Councillors. They do not have enough people to cover the roles and responsibilities required. The only reason they are still there is because they are supported by the Tories.
‘Our communities across Stirling face an immense cost of living crisis – they need a properly functioning Council. Labour are failing to do that and failing badly. They have created a culture where they accept that a senior councillor can bully staff.
‘I was especially disappointed to see Conservative Provost Dodds defend the actions of Mr Gibson during the hearing. The Provost role especially must be above the political fray, and rigorously uphold standards. Why he chose to defend and excuse a bully is beyond me, and one for him to explain to staff and his own constituents.’