There were angry scenes when Aberdeen councillors met yesterday to debate how to “move the city forward” in the wake of the £250million City Region Deal announcement.
Administration councillors and the opposition SNP members on the finance committee clashed, leading to scenes which were reminiscent of 2014’s independence referendum.
The ruling group, comprised of Labour, Conservative and Independent members, used the debate as a way to demand further devolved powers from the Scottish Parliament.
They called for the likes of council tax, air passenger duty and tourism charges to be controlled directly from the Town House, following the lead of finance convener Willie Young.
But the SNP members on the committee raised an amendment for the council to write to Scottish Secretary David Mundell and ask Westminster to “match” Holyrood’s additional £254million additional infrastructure pledge made on the same day.
The money will be used for numerous projects, including improving high-speed rail links between the north-east and the central belt.
Councillor Stephen Flynn of the SNP said the call for more powers was “verging on laughable” and accused the administration of using the debate as a way to attack the Scottish Government while not holding Westminster to the same standard of scrutiny.
He said: “The reality is that our city deserves better (from the administration), but we also deserve better from the UK government.
“Despite receiving £300billion in oil and gas revenues into the treasury, the UK government hasn’t done it’s bit in this deal.”
He was echoed by party colleague Graham Dickson who accused the Labour members of going against party policy with the words: “I don’t think we should be coming to a dead stop in requesting money from the UK Government.
“Kezia Dugdale has already promised to spend the air passenger duty money if she is elected, so I would like to see what the Labour party conference would have to say to councillor Young’s motion.”
Group leader Jackie Dunbar added: “We had (councillors) going around 18 months ago saying we are “Better Together” and now they want Aberdeen to go it alone….they should put their money where their mouth is.”
But administration members poured scorn on the amendment saying the Scottish Government money had been announced “four times before”.
Committee vice convener and Conservative councillor, Ross Thomson, ridiculed the opposition stance.
He said: “I think the politics of grievance has sunk to new depths since this deal was landed.
“Our focus must be on making sure we get what’s best for the people of Aberdeen.”
Liberal Democrat representative Councillor Ian Yuill supported the motion adding: “I am puzzled by the amendment which seems deliberately confrontational.
“We should seek additional funding through ongoing dialogue.”
Labour council leader Jenny Laing said she would “stand up for Aberdeen” in negotiations.
And she added: “I would have no trouble sitting down with Kezia Dugdale (to talk about the issue) because, unlike the members opposite, I don’t have a slavish devotion to the leader.”
Her speech ended with administration members banging their tables in support. And their motion was carried by 11 votes to six.