An independent reappraisal, carried out by Brodies LLP, into how Fife Council handled complaints about former Labour councillor David Graham has concluded, but councillors have continued to raise concerns over the findings.
A committee agreed in December to appoint the law firm to examine how concerns raised within the council had been handled prior to Graham’s conviction.
Complaints handled informally
The complaints were made to council leader David Ross by two colleagues. Among other concerns, they included Graham distracting staff and contacting colleagues outside working hours.
Councillor Ross previously said the complaints were not “sexual in nature”. The complaints were handled informally after he had spoken directly to Graham rather than referring the matter through formal procedures.
Findings debated by councillors
The findings were discussed by a cabinet committee on Thursday, 5 March 2026. Brodies LLP concluded that the informal handling of the complaints had been adequate. However, SNP councillor Carol Lindsay questioned how that conclusion could be reached when no written records existed and the review relied on recollections from nine years ago.
SNP councillor John Beare also challenged differences between the wording of the review originally agreed by councillors and the one used by Brodies LLP.
The original review approved last year referred to:
“The handling of any complaints or concerns raised within Fife Council, whether to officers or elected members, regarding former Councillor David Graham prior to his conviction.”
The review carried out by Brodies LLP focused instead on:
“Only the handling of a concern about former councillor Graham’s conduct in 2017 to one member of staff.”
Councillor Beare said: “These are two different things.”
Whether this change had any effect on the review by Brodies LLP is unknown.
Criticism over review process
SNP member David Alexander criticised the process after saying he had not been interviewed as part of the review.
He told the committee: “I wanted to be there to ask and answer questions, as I knew stuff that others say they could not remember.”
Lindsay Thomson head of Fife Council’s legal services said she had no recollection of this and it was not reflected in the cabinet committee minutes.
Tensions rose during the meeting between Councillor Alexander and Labour councillor Altany Craik. Councillor Craik said he was “disgusted by some of the behaviour around the report”, prompting further exchanges across the chamber before Councillor David Ross intervened.
Councillor Ross named Councillor Alexander while calling for calm, prompting Councillor Beare to question why Labour members had also not been named. David Ross responded that disruption had come from both sides and said he wanted the matter to end.
Vote passes 13 to nine
A motion to accept the report’s recommendations was put forward alongside an amendment. The motion passed by 13 votes to nine.
The full meeting can be watched here.
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