Council chief Sue Bruce in hospital after accident

Sue Bruce, chief executive of Edinburgh City Council and depute chief counting officer in the referendum, was due to attend Holyrood’s Local Government Committee today to scrutinise the Scottish Government’s draft budget.

However, she was replaced at short notice by the council’s head of finance Hugh Dunn.

He told the committee: “I would like to convey Sue’s apologies to the committee.

“She welcomed the invitation to give evidence and was very much looking forward to giving evidence, but she had an accident last night which meant that she has been detained in hospital overnight.”

Committee convener Kevin Stewart said: “We wish her a speedy recovery.”

An Edinburgh Council spokeswoman said: “Sue Bruce was admitted to hospital yesterday for a routine procedure following a minor accident.

“She is not expected to be back at work for the remainder of this week. Everyone at the council wishes her a speedy recovery.”