Concerns over ‘irregularities’ in the council’s selection of a senior officer were discussed while its webcast was switched off, the Herald can reveal.

Councillors heard how several elected members quit the Staffing and Recruitment Committee in protest after the points-based system used when selecting the Executive Director for Economy and Communities was overridden, resulting in a different candidate getting the job.

Independent and Tory councillors last week complained of not being allowed back onto that committee to choose the next chief executive after Elma Murray’s retirement was announced last month.

At last week’s Full Council Meeting, Independent Cllr Ian Murdoch, who earlier questioned the make-up of the committee, asked if Tory leader Tom Marshall could explain why he quit it back in 2014 – prompting Provost Ian Clarkson to turn off the online webcast and council leader Joe Cullinane request he remove the press and public.

One council insider said: “The motion was proposed by Cllr Marshall and seconded by Cllr McNicol and Cllr Marshall stated that three members of the committee resigned after the meeting to select a senior officer on July 21, 2014 due to irregularities during the meeting.

“It was revealed during debate that a candidate had been selected for the position under the correct procedures, then the voting on the position was changed and selection of the candidate was then made with a show of hands. Another candidate was then selected for the job.”

Minutes state Karen Yeomans was ultimately appointed to the post at the committee meeting back in July 21, 2014.

Present at the meeting were Chief Executive Elma Murray, Fiona Walker, former Council leader Willie Gibson, ex-councillor Peter McNamara, councillors Marie Burns, Alex Gallagher, Tom Marshall, Ronnie McNicol and Robert Barr – who wished to have his dissent to the appointments process noted in the minutes.

Those who quit were Cllr Marshall, Cllr McNicol, Cllr Barr and nominated substitutes ex councillors John Hunter and Robert Steel.

This came to light after a motion was proposed stating that ‘council expresses regret at the failure of the administration to allow the Conservative and Independent members representation on the committee that will appoint the new Chief Executive’ – before the motion was voted down by Labour and SNP members.

Independents plus Labour, SNP and Conservative leaders declined to comment on the meeting’s confidential section.

However in a statement Conservative Group leader Cllr Marshall said: “The Conservative group are disappointed to be excluded from staffing and recruitment committee particularly in view of the appointment of the new chief executive. It means one third of the council are not represented and there was no reason why the timetable could not be adjusted for the Independent and Conservative members to join.

“This might call in to question the confidence we would have in the new chief executive.”

Asked why this should have been held in private, a North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The webcast was suspended for as short a time as possible to allow full debate by elected members.

“This was because members started to debate private, confidential matters relating to specific individuals.

“The council’s Standing Orders allow for the webcast to be turned off.”