The Labour and SNP groups in Aberdeen yesterday clashed over claims from the city council leader that the Scottish Government was “asset stripping” in the north-east.
Barney Crockett argued that centrally-based agencies could cash in to the tune of about £13million by selling off publicly-owned properties.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has put Craiginches jail on the market, while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is selling part of its North Anderson Drive complex.
There is also speculation that Police Scotland is examining its Queen Street offices as part of an estate review, while public counter provision is also being scaled back.
But SNP group spokesman Graham Dickson yesterday described Mr Crockett’s comments as “disingenuous”.
He said: “These are individual organisations making decisions on their own property assets.
“If these organisations were to step in and try to tell the council how to run their assets I am sure that Labour councillors would be the first people to jump up and down about other organisations interfering in the running of the council.
“Labour is using any old excuse to attack the Scottish Government.”
Mr Crockett said he accepted bodies such as the SPS and SFRS were making their own decisions. However, he pointed out that all the moves were in the “same direction” and “under the influence” of the SNP. He said: “They have all been given targets to meet and the easiest way to save money is to sell assets in Aberdeen.
“The danger for the Scottish Government is that they largely evacuate an area that is driving the economy.”
North-east Labour MSP Richard Baker has tabled questions to the Scottish Parliament, calling for a breakdown of the number of public sector jobs.
He said: “The Scottish Government seems to be determined to reduce the public sector presence in Aberdeen, more so than in any other part of Scotland. I will be asking what the government’s plans are for supporting the area in the future.”
The Scottish Government has dismissed Mr Crockett’s comments as “nonsense”, and insisted the region would benefit from the move to single fire and police forces.