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Are council bosses trying to ‘stymie’ oversight by banning public budget debates until March? The opposition voiced fears about the move





Highland Council headquarters. Picture: James Mackenzie
Highland Council headquarters. Picture: James Mackenzie

Highland Council bosses have been accused of being a “couldn’t care less administration” after a move critics say would “close the door” on consultation and oversight in the run up to the budget.

So far it is clear the council is considering a 35 per cent raid on household incomes until the end of the decade, in part to fund investment but it is a matter of extreme sensitivity to many, including councillors.

The issue became an area of concern as the council delivered more information about its financial situation now the UK and draft Scottish budgets have been issued outlining the local government settlement.

Concerns were raised by a move by council leader Raymond Bremner to effectively ban special meetings regarding budget setting until the local authority sets its budget on March 6.

Special meetings can be requisitioned by any councillor with sufficient support if they feel particularly incensed about an issue and believe it requires more in-depth discussion or debate.

The add-on called on councillors not to hold a special meeting about the “review, discussion of or receipt of an update in respect of the council's annual budget or budget preparation work” before the budget meeting on March 6.

Cllr Bremner noted that the move was prompted by consideration for the workload of officers who are preparing for the budget as by not having any special meetings they would not have to gather information or write papers for them.

Councillor Alasdair Christie: “I can feel the need for FOIs because I have asked repeatedly for this information and nothing has been shared”. Picture: James Mackenzie.
Councillor Alasdair Christie: “I can feel the need for FOIs because I have asked repeatedly for this information and nothing has been shared”. Picture: James Mackenzie.

That sparked a critical response from Lib Dem opposition leader Alasdair Christie who said the move effectively would “close the door” on collaboration across the chamber.

Cllr Christie said “there is no pace and urgency – instead there is secrecy” while adding that “this is not the way to run a council” and describing the elected leadership as “a couldn’t care less administration”.

He highlighted that point by describing two near identical lines from the report under consideration and one from the October meeting of the council outline that “there are a number of workstreams underway” before listing them.

Cllr Christie said: “When will we see identification of new additional savings proposals and other strategies being shared with this council? They will be out 10 days before budget day – that’s not collaborative working at all.

“When will we see the new income generation proposals that have been worked on since October and I can feel the need for FOIs because I have asked repeatedly for this information and nothing has been shared”.

Labour Cllr Andrew MacKintosh disagreed slightly, saying: “It is not quite true, Cllr Christie, that we don’t know what is going on – if you read The Inverness Courier you can keep up to date because they seem to get the information before anybody else in this chamber does.”

He continued: “Stopping any debate outwith their control would stymy even the small amount of democracy we have in this chamber.”

Councillor Raymond Bremner: 'The work that we all have to do – especially the officers – will all end-up being channelled towards papers for a special meeting taking a whole load of time away from getting the budget delivered'. Picture: Callum Mackay
Councillor Raymond Bremner: 'The work that we all have to do – especially the officers – will all end-up being channelled towards papers for a special meeting taking a whole load of time away from getting the budget delivered'. Picture: Callum Mackay

Cllr Bremner answered his critics by saying: “The reason I have brought this additional recommendation this and last year is because, if I don’t then the work that we all have to do – especially the officers – will all end-up being channelled towards papers for a special meeting taking a whole load of time away from getting the budget delivered. Cue: The opposition having a crack at the administration for a poorly prepared budget.

“As for the secrecy – do you think that the Scottish Government and the Westminster government hand over their work in respect of their budgets as part of the process of delivering it? No, I don’t think they do. Is that secrecy or do our nations recognise that as the democratic process?”


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