Published: Thursday, 19th June, 2008 11:00
Conflict over Lochgelly Community Council grant
By Peter Swindon
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Ernest McPherson
The chairman of Lochgelly Community Council has admitted handing hundreds of pounds of council cash to his brother.
Ernest McPherson gave lucrative contracts to carry out ‘floral enhancement’ in the town to Leven-based business Balcurvie Plant Centre, owned by his brother, Alex.
The community council is entitled to claim a £750 Floral Enhancement Grant every year, which Ernest McPherson then paid in full, by cheque, to Balcurvie Plant Centre.
Alex McPherson was open about the arrangement.
He said: “I did it three years in a row. The first year I supplied 30 barrels, compost and flowers at a cost of £750. But they never watered them so, the following year, I charged £750 for replacement flowers and compost - those barrels hold a lot of compost.
“The third year I supplied plants again.
“Ernest would give me a cheque from the community council. Although the last time I had to wait to get paid - there was a problem with the treasurer or something.”
The Times confronted Ernest McPherson at last week’s meeting of Lochgelly Community Council. Initially, he was reluctant to confirm the arrangement.
“It was a contractor,” he said, before admitting: “It was Balcurvie Plant Centre.”
Shortly before the admission Mr McPherson was questioned by community councillors about the Floral Enhancement Grant.
Linda Erskine asked: “How is the floral grant spent?”
Mr McPherson said: “It’s spent on flowers and barrels. But the last two years I have went to nurseries in Dundonald and, off my own back, I’ve emptied the barrels and replaced the flowers, with the help of Rab Miller and David Hempseed, at no cost to the community council.”
Linda Erskine pressed further. “How has it been done in the past?” she asked. “Does the chairman approach someone and ask them to do it?”
Mr McPherson said: “Yes. How else do you suggest it should be done?”
Secretary of the community council, Alex Sharp, defended Mr McPherson: “There’s no concern,” he said. “We’ve been carrying out our remit. We get £750. We spend that. We get it in one hand and give it out with the other.”
The meeting was then abruptly closed by Mr McPherson when Eileen McKenna threatened to leave, shouting: “I’ve had enough.” Pointing at a section of fellow community councillors she added: “I’m sick of you people slandering the community council and all the work we’ve done for years.”
Iain Grant, a standards and governance senior manager with Fife Council, said: “Almost certainly there’s been a conflict of interest...I have approached the chair of the Community Council regarding this and await a response.”
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