Councillor's fury over travellers' complaint

By Leanne Carter
Published: 03 October, 2008

COUNCILLORS trying to help end a local community's long-running misery over gypsy traveller camps have been warned they could be in breach of their code of conduct.

Elected members have been rapped after a travellers' group complained that councillors appeared to be supporting moves to block access to their caravans on the Speyside Way.

They have been told their conduct at a recent public meeting could be a potential breach of official guidelines because councillors must represent all sections of the community.

Councillors have also been told they must be careful about making comments at another public forum next week where unauthorised camps will again be under discussion.

The letter issued by chief executive Alistair Keddie has provoked a furious reaction from one councillor, who said the minority were ruling the majority.

Councillor Gordon McDonald organised last month's meeting in Buckie in response to dozens of complaints from residents in his ward.

They claim the long distance walking route is being left in a mess by unauthorised gypsy traveller encampments, and they want to restrict access to the area.

Councillor McDonald said: "If I am hamstrung like this, there is no way I or any other councillor can do their duty or act in the interests of their community."

Mr Keddie issued a letter to councillors after a complaint was lodged by the Gypsy/Traveller Education Information Project (GTEIP) over the conduct of members at the meeting.

In his letter, Mr Keddie did not outline the exact nature of the complaint but stated that it alleged a potential breach of the code of conduct for councillors, which has been put in place by the Standards Commission.

He said he had made investigations, and it could be interpreted that councillors were acting in a concerted manner to preclude gypsy travellers from accessing a traditional encampment area.

It has subsequently emerged that the complaint related to comments made by Councillor Allan Wright, who attended the meeting as chair of the Speyside Way management committee.

He said that he was "quite taken" by an idea mooted by the local community to create landscaped earth mound embankments to act as a barrier, adding that steel barriers would not be attractive.

That, complained the GTEIP, indicated that he supported the notion of blocking off the Speyside Way to travellers' caravans.

Councillor McDonald said he was disturbed by the implication that councillors could be reported to the Standards Commission for simply trying to help their constituents.

"I accept and appreciate the rights of the minority, but my definition of democracy is that it is the majority opinion that counts, and the residents there have made it abundantly clear to me and to others that they want something done about it," said Councillor McDonald.

"The residents wanted me to do something about it and in arranging that meeting to discuss a way forward, I acted in the best interests of my constituents to try and solve the problem.

"I came away from that meeting with the feeling that it had been a fairly constructive meeting, so this letter came as a complete surprise, especially because it did not specifically name who the complaint was against or what had been said. I assumed that I was in the firing line because I had arranged it, I chaired it and I did most of the talking.

"I understand that no one from this travellers project attended the meeting and they based their complaint on what they had read in the papers.

"I also understand that they complained that they had not been invited to the meeting, but this was a public meeting and if they were there they could have had their say, just as everyone else did.

"The situation on the Speyside Way has to be treated differently from any other unauthorised encampment, because it is a major tourist attraction and we cannot allow it to become a mess. It's a gateway to Buckie and very important to tourism, and that's what makes this situation unique."

Councillor Wright said elected members quite often found themselves in a position where they had to be careful in their comments, particularly in regard to issues such as planning.

"We do have to be careful at times, but I must say that this one came as a surprise to me. However, an official complaint has been made and the chief executive has had to react to that," he added.

More than 50 members of the public attended the meeting, where it was agreed that council officials would draw up plans to give the area, which spans along the foreshore from Portgordon to Buckie, a facelift.

An application for Euro-funding has been made to carry out the work, and some cash may also be available from the Buckie Town Partnership.

A meeting to discuss problems with unauthorised encampments in the Garmouth area is due to be staged on Monday evening, and in his letter to all elected members, Mr Keddie has reminded them about their duty to observe the code of conduct.

Councillor Douglas Ross, member for the Fochabers Lhanbryde ward, attended last month's talks, and will be at the meeting in Garmouth.

He said: "I certainly do not remember Councillor Wright saying anything at that meeting that could cause offence to the group, and I did not have any concerns about anything councillors said.

"The chief executive, however, received a complaint and he had to deal with that in an appropriate way.

"I will still try to be as open as possible with those at the meeting in Garmouth, but will be mindful that people are now watching what councillors are saying in regard to this issue."

A spokesman for Moray Council confirmed that a complaint had been received from the GTEIP. He added: "Elected members have been alerted to the situation and, in the circumstances, have been reminded of the terms of the code of conduct for councillors."

No one from the GTEIP was available for comment.