Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of work to an Aberdeen footpath at the centre of a political storm is expected to be formally approved today.
Last month it was discovered that large scale repairs, funded by a grant from Sustrans, had been approved on land at Wellington Brae without ever going through a council committee for approval.
The local authority suspended the project and launched an investigation when it emerged they had approached former finance convener Willie Young as the landowner for permission to start construction.
But it has since been revealed that it is owned by Mr Young’s father David.
The former Bridge of Don councillor has always denied any wrongdoing and produced legal advice from a council officer that said there had been “no conflict of interest” in the matter.
Now councillors on the infrastructure committee will be asked to back the work using the Sustrans grant after formal approval from David Young has been given.
The report adds the findings of the council’s probe are due later in the year.
SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said: “I still have some significant concerns on why public money is being used to conduct repairs on a private individual’s land.”
Liberal Democrat group leader Ian Yuill first raised concerns to chief executive Angela Scott around a month before the probe was launched.
Last night he said: “I think clearly that the work needs to proceed now so that the pathway can re-open. I know cyclists are missing it and we need to make that key part of the route available again.
“I think the important thing for now is that this issue is dealt with in exactly the same way as any other application and that the rules are now followed as they always should have been from the start.”
Meanwhile government body Audit Scotland has not ruled out its own investigation into the incident following the conclusion of the council’s own probe.
The opposition SNP group had written to the organisation calling for them to investigate the incident.
An Audit Scotland spokeswoman said: “Aberdeen City Council is conducting its own investigation into Wellington Brae.
“The external auditor will review the scope, approach and results of that investigation and any actions arising. Any significant matters will be reported in the auditor’s annual report in September.”
Willie Young did not respond to requests for comment.
