[7] In June 2012, the council was criticised for banning a local primary student, Martha Payne (aged 9), from taking photographs of her school dinners for her online blog.

[8] The blog, NeverSeconds, had been praised by the celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver,[9] had attracted over two million visits, and at the time of the ban had raised nearly £2,000[10] for a food charity.

[14] In November 2012 a book written by David Payne, Martha's father, revealed the background to the council's attempt to censor and bully a 9-year-old girl.

Thinly veiled attacks on our parenting on national radio and an abusive phonecall stood out as examples of a public body sick to the very top.

"[15] Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system, introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004.