Council leader quits and provost resigns after row over tape details published in Sunday Mail

SOUTH Ayrshire Council's Tory administration is close to collapse after the Sunday Mail revealed leader Martin Dowey appearing to offer to help "pals" win multi-million pound contracts in a recording.

- BY JOHN FERGUSON

In the tape he calls officers at his local authority "f****** useless", and boasts "All the top ones I can sack". He appears to tell a businessman he can help him win work, including a deal to demolish the fire-ravaged Station Hotel in Ayr.

After our story Dowey said he was stepping back from his role "temporarily". But after a furious council meeting he resigned with immediate effect, while his deputy Bob Pollock was removed from his position on the council.