Councillor refuses to step down over fraud charges
A SENIOR West Lothian councillor has refused to step down from his role following charges by police with alleged fraudulent activity.
Action To Save St John's Hospital councillor, Gordon Beurskens, 46, is expected to appear in court this week after he and a 50-year-old woman were arrested in connection with alleged incidents dating back to 2006.
A Crown Office spokesman added: "We can confirm that a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in Edinburgh concerning a 46-year-old male and a 50-year-old female, in connection with incidents between August 2006 and December 2009."
Labour councillors in West Lothian have called on Mr Beurskens to step down from the various positions he holds as part of his duties as a councillor to maintain public confidence.
Leader of West Lothian Labour councillors, Graeme Morrice, said: "Last week West Lothian councillor Gordon Beurskens was arrested and charged with alleged financial fraud.
"In view of this, West Lothian Council Labour Group is demanding that councillor Beurskens steps down from all his council positions until the outcome of his trial.
"We are not making any presumption on his guilt or otherwise, but due to the serious nature of the situation we believe it is in the interests of public confidence that councillor Beurskens is no longer in a position of responsibility during this time."
When asked if he was considering stepping down, Cllr Beurskens told the Herald & Post: "No, absolutely not." He could not comment further for legal reasons.
Cllr Beurskens was elected to the council as one of three St John's councillors in 2007. The trio are pivotal in the SNP-led council administration keeping a majority to stay in power.
He is chairman of the council's audit committee and performance committee, and vice-chair of both the culture and leisure PDSP and Whitburn and Blackburn LAC (local area committee).
He is also a member of the planning (development and control) committee and avoidance of disputes committee.
A council spokesman said: "This is a police matter, and it is not appropriate for us to comment further."
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Monday 21 May 2012
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