Labour council accused of 'financial chaos' in row

SNP councillors have called a special council meeting next week to table a motion of no-confidence in the Labour administration’s financial management of Stirling Council.

- KAIYA MARJORIBANKS

SNP councillors say millions have been wasted on “new offices that didn’t happen, a new Tartan Centre that didn’t happen and a certain Christie Clock that didn’t survive”, putting them down to “Labour's failure”.

The group has also claimed “financial chaos is rife” behind the scenes with no audited accounts and a multi-million pound management system that has failed to accrue thousands of invoices.

SNP Group Leader Cllr Susan McGill said: “Labour's long, slow political decline is costing Stirling dearly. We are at a tipping point when something MUST be done.”

SNP finance spokesperson Cllr Gerry McLaughlan added: “Political failure and financial chaos are rife under Stirling Labour. Change is desperately needed and our no-confidence motion seeks to stop the rot. Stirling's communities deserve better.”

Labour, however, have in turn accused the SNP of unnecessary politicisation, with the council's leader, Labour's Cllr Gerry McGarvey, suggesting the SNP’s take on the accounts situation was “fake news”.

At a recent meeting of the council’s finance and economy committee, Cllr McGarvey said: “The committee wishes to express its disappointment in the following not be available for scrutiny at this meeting, the 2024/25 year end accounts and the revenue and capital accounts for the current year to date.”

He said the statement was made as “an observation” and the matter would be left there meantime.