A Moray councillor has raised concerns that the public purse could be raided to help fund private sector building developments.
Buckie member Gordon McDonald yesterday warned the authority against dipping into taxpayer cash to convince developers into building schools and roads to service sites.
Mr McDonald sounded the cautionary note during a meeting of the body’s policy and resources committee.
He said building firms had approached the authority about “forking out” for schools and roads.
His objections arose after the council’s head of financial services, Margaret Wilson, presented members with a report advising that the council could need to help finance some developments.
The report said: “The cost of infrastructure provision relating to education and roads may be more than the development can afford without affecting viability, leaving a funding gap that the council may need to fill.”
Mr McDonald asked: “Are we saying the taxpayer will have to fund the private sector?”
He added: “Certain developers have intimated in the past that the council would have to fork out if it was asking for them to contribute too much.
“If developers can’t see certain projects as being profitable, then they are saying the taxpayer will have to chip in.
“With the way our budget is, that would be a serious concern.”
Council leader Stewart Cree said that the body should seek funding from every developer whose housing has created the need for a new school.
He added: “If one developer tips that balance in a certain area, then I don’t think they should suffer the cost of a new school.
“But these are policy matters, and would be addressed during the planning process.”
Director for economic development, Rhona Gunn, added: “The policy is still subject to consultation, these are issues that members of the planning and regulatory services committee would have to weigh up.”