CONCERNS have been raised after a Labour councillor previously suspended for bullying was placed in charge of an anti-bullying taskforce in Stirling.
Danny Gibson was suspended from taking part in council business for five months last year after he was found to have breached the councillors’ code of conduct for behaving disrespectfully towards council officers and bullying a senior council officer.
But following a recent reshuffle of Stirling Council office bearers, Labour and Tory councillors backed Gibson’s appointment as convener of the children and young people committee, which will oversee efforts to tackle bullying and harassment in the city’s schools.
SNP councillors have now called a special meeting of the council to challenge the “ridiculous” appointment on Thursday.
The Standards Commission for Scotland said following a hearing last year that “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.”
It found Gibson’s behaviour to be “entirely inappropriate and unacceptable”.
SNP group leader Scott Farmer said he found the appointment “baffling” insisting it would send an “appalling” message to Stirling’s young people.
He said: “We’ve called a special council meeting to challenge this wholly unacceptable appointment.
“The message this sends to Stirling’s young people is absolutely appalling. Councillor Gibson’s behaviour over a long period of time fell consistently below the standards we all expect of our public officials.
“Rewarding him with the responsibility of looking after our young people is baffling. Our motion will urge Stirling Council to rescind this frankly ridiculous appointment.”
In one incident, Gibson was also found to have acted disrespectfully towards an applicant’s representative at a licensing board meeting.
At that meeting, Gibson – who previously served as deputy council leader – was further found to have breached the provisions in the code that require councillors to act fairly and being seen to act fairly; take into account only relevant and material considerations; and when making decisions on quasi-judicial and regulatory matters which would include licensing applications.
Gibson was also found by the panel to have become inappropriately involved in operational matters by attempting to pressure officers to take certain courses of action, in respect of issues relating to a development site and regarding the future of a community hall.
Witnesses told the hearing he belittled council staff, issued a “personal attack” and behaved disrespectfully on a number of occasions.
SNP councillor Brian Hambly said: “The communities we represent across Stirling deserve far better than placing bullies in positions of authority, particularly in such an important and influential area of policy like children and young people.
“As a dad myself I detest bullying with every fibre of my being. This is a terrible look for Labour and the Tories and this decision should be reversed immediately.”
Gibson has been approached for comment.
