Aberdeenshire councillors have admitted the “Legogate” fiasco has turned the authority into a “laughing stock”.
The authority’s co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes, who finally resigned his post as a councillor and exited the political stage on Wednesday, brought an end to two months of scandal surrounding a truncated conference trip to Denmark.
During an emergency session yesterday, councillor Richard Thomson told the chamber there were lessons to be learnt from the debacle.
He added: “I’m genuinely sorry Martin Kitts-Hayes has decided to resign as a councillor.”
However, Mr Thomson – who is now acting as the sole council leader – disputed a remark made by his former confrere.
Mr Thomson said: “There was a comment made on his departure that I cannot let pass – that it is not worth the effort to be a councillor.
“There can be no greater privilege and no greater honour than to serve the public.”
Conservative councillor and former provost Jill Webster claimed the events of the past three months had cast a shadow over the chamber.
The Banchory member added: “Our reputation has been second to none, but that has been challenged by this fiasco.
“We’ve become a laughing stock.
“It is an embarrassment. It is a privilege to serve as a councillor, not a passport to receive privileged treatment. I frankly cannot believe what has happened.”
And Liberal Democrat leader councillor Karen Clark said: “This is a sorry day in a sorry episode in the history of this great council.
“This whole mess has tainted us as politicians.”
Following the emergency session, which was called after the leak of the confidential report, councillor Thomson said it was time for the authority to draw a line under the issue.
He added: “Obviously, events have moved on in the last day and I hope we can now learn the lessons in the report, move on and do the work the people of Aberdeenshire expect us to do.”
Opposition leader Jim Gifford responded: “Councillor Kitts-Hayes’ resignation has resolved many of the issued raised during today’s meeting and cleared the air a bit.
“If we could get back to that more positive and consensual way of operating, it would be beneficial to the council and everyone in Aberdeenshire.”
The Legogate debacle has forced a shakeup in the leadership of Aberdeenshire Council.
