Latest news with #MartinDowey
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
'Contracts for pals' crisis deepens at Scottish council as two senior figures step aside
South Ayrshire Council faces urgent calls for an inquiry over alleged misconduct by local chiefs following a Sunday Mail investigation. Two senior figures at a local authority have stepped aside amid a widening police probe into contracts for 'pals' allegations. South Ayrshire Council's conservative leader Martin Dowey resigned in April after the Sunday Mail published a recording in which he appeared to offer to help a company with lucrative work. We can reveal police are now assessing a further recording of the local authority's CEO Mike Newall, who also stepped aside after we received it. A businessman who claims he is owed more than £400,000 has also now written to the council demanding an inquiry into the scandal is launched immediately. David O'Neil's letter states: 'I am writing to formally raise serious allegations involving misconduct, abuse of position and potential fraud.' In the latest recording to emerge CEO Newall appears to tells a company boss he wants to hand him key work. Newall is heard stating he wants to 'weave a way through all the bureaucracy and procurement stuff so we can make you the preferred bidder so as you get the work'. He added: 'What I have to deal with is a head of legal services who is very risk averse. 'She says, 'Oh you can't do this and you can't do that.' It's can't, can't, can't.' Newall added: 'I want this to happen.' The audio was recorded at the council's HQ around a year ago and related to a project to redevelop a shopping centre in Ayr town centre. Newall, 63, who earns £135,000 a year, took a leave of absence from his role as CEO citing family reasons days after the Sunday Mail asked for the council to comment on the recording. Newall can also be heard telling the businessman: 'I'm being candid with you here…we have to be careful what we're saying. 'The bottom line is you're the preferred person to do this but we haven't got any agreements or council approval.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The leaked tape comes two months after the council's former Conservative leader, Martin Dowey, stood down amid another recording row revealed by the Sunday Mail. Dowey has been reported to police but has insisted no wrongdoing took place and vowed to clear his name. Police confirmed they had 'received additional correspondence which is being assessed.' In a tape, Dowey calls officers at his local authority 'f****** useless' and boasts: 'All the top ones I can sack.' And he appears to tell the businessman he can help him win work including a deal to demolish Ayr's Station Hotel, which was devastated by fire in 2023. In the recording of a meeting at the council's offices that year Dowey, a former police officer, states: 'You will be told the quotes are coming out. You put in your price, we will give you a guestimate of what is 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. The problem arises if you are not in the final three, I can't do anything about that. It's up to us getting a proper price from you.' In the wake of our story deputy leader of South Ayrshire Council Bob Pollock was removed in May following an angry meeting. Provost Iain Campbell resigned after admitting he was 'totally disgusted' by the behaviour in the chamber. 'An investigation into the awarding of council contracts is already under way and some of these allegations form part of that investigation.'
Daily Record
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Tory council close to collapse as chief 'offers multi-million pound contracts to pals' in tape recording
In the tape he calls officers at his local authority 'f****** useless', and boasts 'All the top ones I can sack'. 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.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. 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.'
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
South Ayrshire Council face calls for independent inquiry into contract awards as fallout from Martin Dowey row continues
South Ayrshire Council is facing calls for an independent inquiry into the awarding of its contracts. Labour MPs Elaine Stewart and Alan Gemmell tonight wrote to all councillors asking them to support such a probe. And they're also calling on Scottish Tory Party leader, Russell Findlay, to investigate the allegations which have rocked County Buildings this week. South Ayrshire's Tory leader, Martin Dowey, announced he was to step aside from the role following the emergence of an alleged recording taken in his office in 2023. In it, he appears to discuss potential demolition contracts with a businessman and was heard to brand senior officials as "f*****g useless." That led to Central Ayrshire MP, Mr Gemmell, raising a point of order in the House of Commons to put on record his concerns. And now he has joined with Ms Stewart, the MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, to call for an outside probe. They said: "The allegations set out in the Sunday Mail's story are serious. We are asking both Russell Findlay and South Ayrshire's councillors to support an independent review into the awarding of building contracts, and their subcontracting arrangements since Martin Dowey became leader in 2022. "A review would help restore public confidence that no conflict of interest or breach of the council's processes has arisen."
The National
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Scottish Tory council boss steps down 'temporarily' amid police probe
Martin Dowey, the leader of South Ayrshire Council and husband of Conservative MSP Sharon Dowey, has stepped back from his role amid the ongoing investigation sparked by a story in the Sunday Mail. In the recording, taken at council offices in 2023, Dowey is also reported to have told a businessman he could help him win a multi-million-pound deal to demolish the fire-damaged Station Hotel in Ayr. READ MORE: Maggie Chapman survives in key Holyrood committee role as SNP oppose Tory motion Dowey insisted that as a former police officer he knew 'the law and I respect it at all times' – claiming he had 'reported the approach from this individual to the police and the local authority myself long ago because I suspected something was not right'. On Monday evening however, he went a step further, saying: "I have decided to step aside temporarily as leader to prevent this becoming a distraction from important local issues. "I would welcome a further detailed investigation to fully clear this up." At a meeting of the council cabinet chaired by depute leader Bob Pollock on Tuesday morning, South Ayrshire chief executive Mike Newall made a statement which has been read as a swipe at Dowey. While not mentioning Dowey or his comments directly, Newall made it clear his words were a result of the Conservative councillor's attack. He said: 'I'd just like to take this opportunity as chief executive to thank all council employees for all their hard work in delivering essential council services. 'I know that the corporate leadership team respect and appreciate their endeavours and values their contribution towards making a difference every day in South Ayrshire. 'Any suggestion to the contrary is wholly unfounded. 'I am sure that every member of the cabinet would fully endorse this.' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are in receipt of correspondence and it is currently being assessed.' A spokesperson for South Ayrshire Council added: 'We note that this matter is with Police Scotland, and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.'
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
South Ayrshire Council chief backs staff in wake of leader's "f*****g useless" rant
The chief executive of South Ayrshire Council has taken a thinly veiled swipe at the local authority's leader, Martin Dowey. Conservative Councillor Dowey, who last night said he intends to temporarily step down from the leadership role, had described council officials as "f****** useless" in a recorded conversation with a construction company boss. He had also claimed he could sack senior officials, complaining about the slow pace of progress at the council and suggesting he could help the company win a contract. At a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Depute Leader Bob Pollock on Tuesday morning, South Ayrshire CEO, Mike Newall, made a statement backing staff. While not mentioning Cllr Dowey or his comments, he made it clear his words were a result of the Conservative councillor's attack. He said: 'I'd just like to take this opportunity as chief executive to thank all council employees for all their hard work in delivering essential council services. 'I know that the corporate leadership team respect and appreciate their endeavours and values their contribution towards making a difference every day in South Ayrshire. 'Any suggestion to the contrary is wholly unfounded. 'I am sure that every member of the cabinet would fully endorse this.'
