Transparency champion accused of "breaching confidentiality"

 by DOUG COLLIE

A lifelong advocate of local government transparency is facing a Standards Commission hearing for allegedly sharing confidential information with the public in his role as...A COUNCILLOR.

Hawick-born John Ross Scott, with distinguished careers in both journalism and public service, has apparently incurred the wrath of 15 fellow members of Orkney Islands Council (OIC) who submitted a complaint to conduct watchdog the Standards Commission for Scotland earlier this year.

Mr Scott is a former leader of Scottish Borders Council and served as chairman of the Orkney health authority for eight years after leaving the Borders in 2003. He is credited for introducing a much more open regime while at the health board.

As a newspaperman John, affectionately known in the Borders as 'JR', was chief reporter at the Southern Reporter for 16 years during which time the title picked up prestigious awards. He also occupied the editor's chair at the Hawick News for a time.

His CV also shows he was elected a Roxburgh District Councillor from 1980-85 representing Jedburgh South then won a by-election in Hawick West for a seat on Borders Regional Council (1985-1996). Served on that council as Chairman of Planning and Development and Chairman of Roads and Transportation then was elected to Scottish Borders Council (1995-2003) where he was Chairman of Technical Services then Council Leader.

He also served as Honorary Provost of Hawick from 1999-2002.

Following his move to Orkney Mr Scott was appointed editor of the newly formed Orkney Today newspaper and later became freelance editor of Living Orkney magazine, a post he still holds. He was elected as a councillor for the Kirkwall East ward of OIC at the 2017 council elections.

Not Just Sheep & Rugby understands that since Mr Scott became a councillor - his campaign slogan was 'add spice to the mix' - he has been trying to foster a greater degree of openness within Orkney council.

After all, the authority's website declares: "OPEN GOVERNMENT - We are well aware that local authorities can be seen by some as remote, mysterious and bound up in red tape. But the principle of open government is important to us."

But allies of Mr Scott say his attempts have been frustrated by the group of senior members who 'run the show'. Among the initiatives shot down in flames was an attempt to introduce a leaders' question and answer session, and a bid to give young people a greater say in council affairs.

According to The Orcadian newspaper which covered the controversy in its latest issue Mr Scott is one of the most 'visible' Orkney councillors.

The paper tells how news broke in May that Councillor Scott had been excluded from weekly briefings. He first became aware of concerns being raised by fellow members when he was accidentally copied into a group email.

The complaint to the Standards Commission is believed to centre on a Facebook post by Mr Scott in March in which he posted information in the wake of a private meeting relating to the breaking Covid-19 pandemic.

"A group of councillors had organised a meeting to discuss the Facebook post Councillor Scott had made but he was not invited to attend", reports The Orcadian.

OIC is populated by 18 Independent councillors (including Mr Scott), two members of the Orkney Manifesto Group and a solitary Scottish Green. The Orcadian suggests the two 'political' groups at OIC regard Mr Scott as their "opposition".

Not Just Sheep & Rugby contacted Mr Scott for comment but he explained he was not able to talk publicly about the forthcoming hearing at the Standards Commission. He hoped everything would become clear after that hearing and indicated that he had received numerous messages of support since the story broke locally.

The Commission website has the hearing of Mr Scott's case listed for January 18th 2021.

Sanctions available to the watchdog range from dismissal of the complaint up to disqualification as a councillor for up to five years. In between are Censure (a reprimand) and Suspension, involving a ban from attending council meetings for the duration of the 'sentence'.