A petition has been launched calling for Aberdeen City Council to scrap plans to send out a “legacy” report on the work of its Labour-led administration.
Councillors approved plans to send out the 12-page magazine with next year’s council tax bills on the work of the local authority over the past five years.
But members of the opposition SNP and Liberal Democrat groups at the town house have criticised the posting as “propaganda” and said the £40,000 cost could be better spent elsewhere.
Now a public petition has been launched, gathering more than 70 signatures so far.
The campaign was created by prominent Marischal Square critic Lorna McHattie, who has been keenly involved in the workings of the council since the controversial approval of the development.
She said: “The vote to proceed was approved by 20-18, indicating that there is not broad cross party support for this waste of public money.
“My view is that this report is blatant electioneering. As the public debate of the letter was along party lines, this letter is seen as a political letter in the eyes of the public and should not be funded by the public purse.
“Many people are fully aware of the ‘legacy’ of this administration and do not want to pay for more propaganda.
“I do not give Aberdeen City Council permission to send me one of these ‘Legacy’ reports. I consider it unsolicited mail, under the Mail Preference scheme.
“I will write to the council separately and ask for confirmation that they will arrange for the ‘legacy’ report to be omitted from my council tax notification letter.”
The Labour-led administration was heavily criticised for sending out pro-union letters with council tax bills in the run up to the independence referendum in 2014.
Finance convener Willie Young said: “The legacy report will allow citizens the opportunity to have a look at what their council has been doing and where their money has been spent.”
