Aberdeen’s ruling council administration has been accused of “running scared” of a debate on the controversial Marischal Square project.
The Lord Provost has still not set a date for a special council meeting called by the opposition SNP group on February 19. Under local government rules, it has to be held within 14 days.
The Nationalists originally tabled an urgent motion for the Muse Developments’ scheme to be discussed at the scheduled full council on Wednesday, March 4 – but the request was thrown out as it did not comply with council procedures and standing orders.
The 15-strong SNP group then requisitioned a special meeting, which has to be convened if it is supported by 10 members.
Public opposition to the £107million office, hotel and restaurant plans snowballed in recent weeks after the publication of an unofficial video showing how the multi-storey development could look.
Graham Dickson, SNP group spokesman, said: “The administration clearly seems to be running scared of this debate. Their indecision is such that they can’t seem to make up their mind when to have it.
“We are already going to have a full council meeting on Wednesday, that would be the perfect time to have this debate, it is a date that has been in everybody’s diary for some time.”
Mr Dickson suggested the administration was trying to ensure that none of their members would miss the meeting, while being as “disruptive” as possible to the opposition.
Labour group secretary Willie Young said: “It is a matter for the Lord Provost, it has got nothing to do with the Labour group or the SNP group for that matter.”
A council spokeswoman said the Lord Provost was still looking at diary dates. She added: “It takes time because people have lots of different commitments.”
The planning application for the Broad Street was voted through by 23-18 in October last year, but councillors have since come under sustained pressure from the public.
The administration holds a majority of three in the chamber, but at least one member – Tory Ross Thomson – is openly opposed to the plan.
Muse has already agreed a deal with the Marriott hotel chain and has reported strong interest in the restaurant and bar space at the new complex. Work on site is due to start next month.
However, some councillors believe that the proposals can at least be improved, if not redrawn altogether.
The SNP wants council officers to produce a report on the implications of withdrawing from the contract with Muse.