By Alex Dowdalls

A COUNCIL committee was thrown into farce and chaos recently as heavy snow hit Clydebank.

The council’s infrastructure, regeneration and economic development committee, was due to meet at Clydebank Town Hall council chambers at 10am on February 28, but a culmination of mixed messages and red tape saw the meeting declared inquorate and postponed until a later date.

It left some councillors, who had battled and braved the elements, fuming and Labour group leader Martin Rooney hit out at his SNP counterpart, council leader Jonathan McColl.

When the meeting was due to start at 10am only councillors McColl and John Mooney were present in the chamber along with four council officers, public and press.

By 10.10am, under standing orders, the meeting was due to be postponed, but Cllr Mooney called for a roll call, believing two other councillors Rooney and David McBride were en route.

Less than two minutes after the roll call was completed and committee officer Nuala Quinn-Ross, officially called a halt to proceedings and abandoned the meeting as not having reached a quorum of four, the two other councillors walked in.

The officer refused to change her decision and no business could be dealt with.

Lomond councillor Rooney said afterwards: “I am told Councillor McColl had earlier phoned round everyone to tell them the meeting was off.

“I got a message at 9.26am to tell me it wasn’t and had 24 minutes to get to the chambers.

“Cllr McBride and I made it from Alexandria through the snow to be told we were two minutes late.

“Jonathan’s actions, given the weather, may have been well intentioned but not helpful.

“The convener cannot cancel a meeting. He exceeded his powers. It was with good intent, but instead caused mayhem.

“It wasn’t as if there was anything contentious, but it prevented community asset transfers from going through, for one example.”

The agenda included the approval of the lease of Wylie Park, Renton, at the rear of 344 Braehead, Bonhill, and the Phoenix Community Centre, Dumbarton.

Another item due to be discussed was to further investigate or enter into a joint venture between the council and a private sector partner for the erection of a windfarm on Pappert Hill, land owned by the council.

Another item which will have to wait until a later date was a decision on the continued use of the football pitches on the former Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School site in Dumbarton.

A special meeting may be called, but standing orders dictate councillors must be informed two weeks before the meeting is held.

Cllr McColl was unavailable for comment.