Tory council close to collapse as chief 'offers multi-million pound contracts to pals' in tape recording
South Ayrshire Council's Tory administration is close to collapse after the Sunday Mail revealed leader Martin Dowey appearing to offer to help 'pals' win multi-million pound contracts in a recording.
In the tape he calls officers at his local authority 'f****** useless', and boasts 'All the top ones I can sack'.
He appears to tell a businessman he can help him win work, including a deal to demolish the fire-ravaged Station Hotel in Ayr.
After our story Dowey said he was stepping back from his role 'temporarily'.
But after a furious council meeting he resigned with immediate effect, while his deputy Bob Pollock was removed from his position on the council.
And provost Iain Campbell also resigned, saying he was 'totally disgusted' by the behaviour in the chamber.
He said: 'I have had the misfortune to work among some despicable people in this place, I've had to deal with people whose egos are better than their ability. I didn't sign up for this, I got into this to serve the people of South Ayrshire. I'm disgusted by the backstabbing, fighting, people who use twisted means to get into positions.'
Sources have said the council is likely to collapse. Local Labour MP Alan Gemmell raised the scandal in Westminster.
He said: 'May I seek your advice on how to put on the record my concerns and those of my constituents about worrying allegations in the weekend press about the awarding of contracts by Martin Dowey, the Conservative leader of South Ayrshire council.'
Dowey – a former police officer – has denied doing anything wrong and claims he told police of the meeting in August 2023.
However he has now admitted he only reported it 'informally' at that point and then made a formal complaint of 'extortion' in January 2024.
Police confirmed they received correspondence in relation to the meeting which is 'currently being assessed'.
In the recording of the meeting at the council's offices Dowey told a businessman: 'You will be told the quotes are coming out. You put in your price, we will give you a guesstimate of what's happening.
'If you are in the last three you will get the quote. You will get it. That's easy, that's not a problem.'
He added: 'If you are in the final three we decide who we pick but if you are not in the final three I can't say, 'Wait a minute, my pals aren't on it' or whatever, you cannae say that.'
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Dowey claimed the businessman was never given any cash by the council and that he didn't help them win any con-tracts.
A council spokesman said it 'would not be appropriate to comment' as the matter is with police.
A Scottish Tory spokesperson said: 'Martin has given us his side of events, so we will now wait for the outcome of any police investigation that may occur.'
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