Meeting Details

In terms of Standing Order 20 and the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, there were no declarations from Group Leaders or Spokespersons in regard to any prior decisions taken on how Members will vote on any item on the agenda or any declarations of Member’s interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

Prior to agreeing the resolution Councillor Gatt stated that he wished to highlight as a matter of public record, that Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council had their report and Appendices A, C and E in public and therefore he wished to politely condemn Moray Council for excessive secrecy when, in his opinion, there was no need.

In response the Legal Services Manager advised that there had been discussions as Moray Council had been working jointly with both these Councils, however it was considered there are inherent difficulties in splitting the report between the open and confidential sections as it does lead to some confusion and the need to stop debate because it has crossed into an Appendix that is in the confidential section due to them being integral parts of the report and therefore the view was taken that it would be more appropriate to take the entire matter in confidence and to then agree an appropriate press release, in discussion with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils, following the meeting in order to allow full discussion and no confusion considering that there are matters which should remain in confidence.

Councillor Feaver stated that whilst she appreciated the advice given, the wording in the reports from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils was almost identical to the wording in the Moray Council report other than what is specific to Moray with percentages replacing figures giving the public information that shows that the council is dealing with a major project.  She further stated that in her opinion if Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Council can manage to split the report between the open and confidential sections, Moray Council can manage that also and would hope that in the future the council looked at how reports are presented without in her opinion such excessive secrecy which was not good for democracy.

Thereafter Council resolved that, in terms of Section 50A (4) and (5) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as amended, the public and media representatives be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the items of business appearing at the relevant paragraphs of this minute as specified below, so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in the appropriate paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.