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Note Of Decision Web Version

Complaint no. LA/AB/342 Concerning an alleged contravention of The Councillors' Code of Conduct by Councillor Allan Macaskill of Argyll and Bute Council

1. Complaint number LA/AB/342 alleged a contravention of the Councillors' Code of Conduct ("the Code") by Councillor Allan Macaskill ("the respondent").

2. It was alleged that the respondent had contravened the Code, in particular, the key principle of Respect in section 2 of the Code.

3. The person complaining ("the complainant") alleged that when she, and members of her family, met with the respondent for a business meeting he greeted them by saying "this is just like a Women's Rural outing." The complainant considers this remark to be sexist and intended to demean and demoralise her and her family.

4. The respondent acknowledged that he made a remark in the terms described by the complainant but he claimed that it was intended as a light hearted comment which, in his view, was not sexist or derogatory. He considered that the remark had been taken in the manner in which it had been intended and that it had not caused offence. He expressed regret if this had been the case.

5. It was the respondent's recollection that he made the remark at the conclusion of visit, rather than on meeting the complainant and her family, but the timing of the comment is not critical to the point at issue.

6. Having considered the information available and, in particular, the respondent's explanation, I found that the respondent made a remark to the complainant and members of her family, in the terms, or similar, to that which she alleged. I also found that, while the remark may have been intended as light hearted, it was clumsy and ill advised but that it was not intended to be disrespectful and could not reasonably be regarded as offensive.

7. I concluded that Councillor Allan Macaskill had not contravened the Councillors' Code of Conduct.

D Stuart Allan,
Chief Investigating Officer.
Forsyth House
Innova Campus
Rosyth Europarc
Rosyth
Fife
KY11 2UU
11 November 2005