A former north-east school that has cost the taxpayer thousands could finally be sold – but details of the deal will not be shared with the public.
Aberdeenshire Council will ask members of the public to leave a meeting of the Buchan area committee next week so that councillors can discuss moving on a prominent Peterhead property to a new owner behind closed doors.
The Glenugie Business Centre, on Windmill Street, has been for sale for about two years while taxpayers continue to fund its business rates.
The former school building once housed council offices but was taken out of service when the authority made the switch to the £5million bespoke Buchan House – a move council chiefs said would significantly cut its running costs.
Despite this, taxpayers have paid about £100,000 in business rates for the empty property since.
And last night, a spokeswoman said it was “entirely appropriate” for details of its sale to be heard in private.
She added that the right to discuss it in private was protected under local government law, which states any contract negotiations for the sale or purchase of council goods or services can be dealt with by the interested parties on their own.
“As this report is considering the disposal of property and contains sensitive commercial [information] regarding the sale, then it is entirely appropriate for the paper to be discussed in private,” she said.
Earlier this year, the Press and Journal revealed that Aberdeenshire residents were still paying business rates for the Glenugie Business Centre.
At the time, the authority offered assurances that it would be sold on.
It was being optioned on the open market for bids of over £450,000.
Buchan House officially opened in 2015 and has space for 200 staff from its communities, infrastructure, business, education and children’s services.