Four out of every five complaints made against Scottish councillors in 2014 were for Aberdeen City Council’s administration members, it has been revealed.
Scotland’s Ethical Standards Commissioner Bill Thomson told the Scottish Parliament’s local government committee that 524 of 672 complaints regarded Aberdeen councillors making up nearly 80% of those recorded.
Aberdeen Central SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said the volume of complaints against the Labour-led council was “embarrassing”.
He said: “This is not good for the reputation of our city.”
It is believed that nearly all complaints were made about a council tax letter sent out during Scotland’s independence referendum last year.
Some residents felt the taxpayer-funded letter, which contained reference to the council administration’s support for staying in the UK, was a misuse of funds.
Aberdeen City Council finance convener Willie Young, Labour, stressed the standards commissioner had yet to uphold the complaints.
He said: “What we have to remember is a complaint is not a breach.”
A public hearing by the Standards Commission for Scotland into the letter was only partly heard earlier this year because former chief executive Valerie Watts wasn’t available to give evidence after being called to a last minute meeting.
A Standards Commission spokeswoman said: “The public hearing resumes on April 15.
“As yet, given that the hearing has not been completed, the panel members from the Standards Commission have not made a decision on whether or not the Councillors have breached the Code.