SNP SLAM MORAY COUNCIL REPORT AS DICTATORIAL AND UNDEMOCRATIC.

Councillors today reversed a decision to spend more than £40,000 on the first phase of an improvement scheme on the Buckie to Keith road.

They voted 13-11 in favour of removing the expenditure from this year’s capital plan.

Only two months ago it was agreed to include £42,000 for work on the stretch of road between Ryeriggs and Reafin.

The decision was taken as part of a review of the council’s capital spending plans and within the context of the current range of council service provision being financially unsustainable.

Today councillors were told that it has since come to light that the £42,000 was to be spent on land acquisition and design work associated with the proposed road improvements.

Corporate services director Mark Palmer reminded members that, given the council’s financial position, it was unable to commit to the entire road improvement project.

He added: “Since phase one is restricted to the purchase of land and design work associated with the project, there is a significant risk that such expenditure could be abortive.

“It is clear that the council is not in a position to commit to the road improvements and until it is in such a position it should not commit to potentially abortive costs of £42,000.”

Mr Palmer said that at their March meeting councillors had demonstrated their understanding of the council’s financial position.

“In light of this, a substantial case for increasing expenditure would need to be made to avoid such action being regarded as financially irresponsible.”

However, SNP Councillors have slammed the Council’s decision to overturn the decision made just two months ago.

The report stated that the Council’s Standing Orders - one of the Council’s most important constitutional documents - did not need to be considered to change the decision, originally taken at the Council meeting on 30 March.

Buckie SNP Councillor Gordon McDonald was scathing in his response saying:

“The Standing Orders of the Council is the fundamental rulebook that we work to. They are hugely important and govern the way that the Council makes its decisions. Most importantly they are fundamental to protecting democracy.

“Our argument is less about the actual decision, which is over a very small amount of money in comparison to the Council’s overall budget, but rather the undermining of the fundamental principles by which the Council operates.

“The complete disregard for the Council’s constitution is dictatorial and totally undemocratic. It creates a very unwelcome precedent that could allow Administrations and Council Officers to bring reports straight back to committee if they are unhappy with the original decision and want it changed.

“The undemocratic process that has been followed has seriously angered SNP councillors and soured what we felt, prior to this decision, was an improving relationship with senior Council Officers. The SNP are unanimous in their dissent to the way this issue has been dealt with.”