Aberdeen City Council’s finance chief was embroiled in a fresh storm last night over claims that redevelopment plans for the former local authority HQ were a “done deal”.
Labour’s Willie Young faced a backlash after his comments in the Press and Journal that it was “already determined” that the £107million Marischal Square project would go ahead.
SNP MSP Kevin Stewart accused his former council colleague of showing “utter contempt for democracy” and urged the authority’s chief executive to provide reassurances that statutory planning processes would be followed.
The political row erupted as retail giant John Lewis, backed by owners of the Bon Accord and St Nicholas shopping centres, called for pedestrianisation plans for Broad Street to be scrapped.
Closing off the street to traffic forms part of the overall proposals put forward by Muse Developments for an office, hotel and retail complex.
The council’s head of planning, Margaret Bochel, has recommended that councillors agree next week to hold a public hearing on the application.
In a letter to council chief executive Angela Scott, Aberdeen Central MSP Mr Stewart said: “Councillor Young’s comments that the Marischal Square development will go ahead regardless of public opinion demonstrate that he has an utter contempt for democracy.
“Before planning consent has been granted, he is branding the proposal as a done deal and that flies in the face of everything that the planning process stands for.”
Mr Young is not a member of the council’s planning committee.
However, it is expected that the scheme will be considered eventually at a full council meeting before a decision is made.
The councillors’ code of conduct states that elected members should not give grounds for others to doubt their “impartiality” on planning issues.
It adds that councillors “must not make public statements about a pending decision, to ensure that you are not seen to be prejudging a decision which will be made at the meeting”.
Prior to his comments yesterday, Mr Young had also said “because the council decided over a year ago that there will be two office blocks, a hotel, shops and restaurants along with a civic square for that area, that is what will happen”.
However, Mr Young insisted last night there was “no reason” why he should not consider the application if it was put before the full council.
He said: “I have not commented on the planning application, I have not seen the planning application yet, it has not been put in front of members. I have no problems whatsoever in dealing with it.
“Planning is non-political, so therefore there is no political interference from Labour or any other member on this issue.
“It worries me, however, that Kevin Stewart has put this out because it proves there is political interference at a high level in the SNP, and that has to be investigated.
“We may need to take that forward with the Standards Commissioner.
“You should also remember the SNP did not want the £107million development. They wanted St Nicholas House to remain as it is.”
Mr Stewart said any such investigation would be “a complete waste of the Standards Commissioner’s time”.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen Civic Society chairman Dominic Fairlie welcomed plans for a public consultation.
His organisation has raised concerns about the “overpowering” nature of the development.
He said: “We would be delighted to be involved.”