Caithness committee leader resigns after 12 days in post
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THE leader of Highland Council’s new Caithness committee has resigned, just 12 days after being appointed, following a spat about responsibility payments.
Gillian Coghill claims she was subjected to over-the-top verbal attacks for her views on the issue and failed to win backing from the majority of her county colleagues.
Councillor Coghill said she was stunned by the “vitriol and venom” she received from a number of members about her stance on the remuneration of senior councillor positions.
Last Thursday, savings of £30,000 were made on the tab for special responsibilities.
This was largely achieved by not paying the leaders of the Caithness and other county committees.
What stuck in Mrs Coghill’s craw was that the chairwoman of the City of Inverness area committee would continue to receive an extra £8000 on top of her basic salary of £16,728.
It was also agreed to fund the chairman and vice chairman positions of newly set up audit and scrutiny, and communities and partnership committees.
This defeated an amendment that would have seen each of the seven area committee leaders get an extra £4000.
Mrs Coghill said her questioning about the fairness of the regime recommended by officials prompted what she claimed was an unwarranted verbal onslaught.
Left stunned by the reaction from councillors she declined to name, she felt she could no longer act as Caithness committee chairwoman.
She said: “I was elected by the people of Caithness to represent them and have endeavoured to do so for the last three years.
“Recently I was elected as the chairwoman of the Caithness committee, where I had aspirations for the county at an exciting time when we’re able to laud the council’s policies to fit the needs of our area.
“However, after attending a full council meeting in Inverness where I was subjected to vitriolic and venomous attacks by colleagues and so-called altruistic friends, in their desire to keep their enhanced pay packets, it has wiped out my belief in their sincerity.”
She said her views were supported by Thurso councillors Donnie Mackay, John Rosie and Roger Saxon, but she did not get backing from Caithness landward or Wick councillors.
“As only the Thurso councillors supported my position, I feel it would be pertinent and appropriate that I stand down, as I have neither the respect nor confidence of my colleagues to continue in the post,” she said.
While stepping down from the post, Mrs Coghill will continue as a councillor.
“I will continue to work as a Caithness councillor to the best of my ability and I will not let my electorate down, as I have been,” she said.
Councillor Saxon condemned the decision to fund vice chair positions and the leader of the Inverness committee, but not other area committee leaders.
He claims it goes against the localism agenda the local authority has been trying to promote.
“I am really angry at the utter hypocrisy and timing of this,” he said.
“At a time when we should all be fully focused on trying to close the £43 million budget gap, the administration and the SNP spent their time working out a deal to line the pockets of their own members, which is completely contrary to the localism agenda they have been trying to promote.”
He said the message the decision put out was: “Localism is a good thing, but only for Inverness.”
Inverness Ness-side councillor Alasdair Christie had proposed that each of the area committee chairmen and women received a pay rise.
Before the 33-22 vote, he said: “If you don’t support my amendment today then you don’t believe in localism.”
Vice-chairman Donnie Mackay has been appointed interim chairman of the Caithness committee.
