A MOTION has been tabled calling on Fife Council to end an "unfair" car-parking perk for councillors.

Tory councillor Dave Dempsey said cones have been put out at Fife House in Glenrothes to reserve spaces for members.

At a time when the council is taking the controversial step of introducing charges for their car parks on a Sunday, he said the practice should be driven out.

Cllr Dempsey, who represents Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, said: "I received an email from a worker at Fife House who said spaces reserved for councillors were stopping others from getting parked.

"I delved into it as I didn't know about it and soon discovered a lot of councillors were unaware of it.

"But a small number are aware and do use them."

Cllr Dempsey has tabled a motion for the full council meeting today (Thursday) asking the chief executive to "end the practice of reserving car-parking spaces for councillors" at Fife House.

He said: "I don't know how long it goes back but the fact that you've got workers and members of the public that come along to the car park and can't use these spaces seems so unfair.

"I first raised it in the cross-party leaders group but it's dragged on too long and I'm fed up with the slow pace of solving problems.

"Let's just abolish them."

The Conservative councillor continued: "They stick some cones out first thing in the morning near the entrance to reserve them.

"I think it's single figures normally, four or five spaces, but they reserve much more on council meeting days.

"I've noticed the cones before but never paid much attention as I always assumed they were there for a good reason.

"I certainly wouldn't move them and park there!"

And he said: "It's fairly upset the bigger groups, who I guess are the ones that have the councillors that use the spaces.

"The only argument against seems to be that 'it's always been like that' and they got used to it."

The motion will be debated at the meeting in Fife House.

Cllr Dempsey stated: "People may say 'Have you nothing better to talk about?' but one of the other motions is about a trade agreement between the EU and Canada – what on earth has that to do with Fife Council?

"Nothing we say will make the slightest bit of difference there. At least the issues our group raise, they invariably are something that Fife Council has control over."