A LABOUR councillor has slammed the SNP-led council for failing to take immediate action to stop blacklisting companies from getting council contracts.

Last week, council bosses defended their position, insisting they comply fully with national regulations relating to the engagement of blacklisting companies.

It was confirmed, however, that procurement procedures have been updated to take a tougher stance on the issue following recommendations from the Scottish Government in November 2013.

These measures - which include treating blacklisting as an act of “grave misconduct” - will formally be made a part of council policy after the Scottish Affairs Committee’s final report goes before the scrutiny and petitions committee on May 7.

Yet Labour Councillor Jim Montgomerie (pictured), who has raised the issue multiple times with the council over the past year, has been left frustrated with the local administration’s refusal to take decisive action at a much earlier date.

He commented: “There are a number of companies which have been known to run blacklists of workers that they refuse to employ.

“This is an illegal and pernicious practice which has been condemned from all quarters. It has no place in modern industry and it certainly has no place in the delivery of council contracts.

“I have raised this issue at least four times in the last year with the SNP administration, in motions and in questions to the full council. Each time the SNP has used a different excuse for doing nothing.

“The result is that in the last year the council has entered into contracts worth millions of pounds with known blacklisting companies. Even now, on the fourth attempt, the Nationalists have no coherent policy or response.

“It is deplorable that companies who act in this way are considered fit to do business with. It is even more deplorable that the SNP-led council continues to feed public money straight into the profits of organisations which act in such an anti-social manner.

“It is doubly frustrating that the SNP in North Ayrshire refuses even to implement their own party’s policy on blacklisting.”