Calls have been made for a Scottish council leader to quit after he stormed out his Legoland digs in Denmark within hours of checking in for an overseas conference.
Martin Kitts-Hayes likened the Legoland Holiday Village in Billund to “Butlins in the 1970s” and described his wild west themed cabin as a “glorified shed”
The co-leader of Aberdeenshire Council demanded alternative accommodation be found for him and colleagues SNP councillor David Aitchison and the European policy and programme manager Martin Brebner.
But when his PA failed to find a suitable hotel nearby the group decided to “act as one” and ditched the conference to fly back to Scotland.
The actions of Mr Kitts-Hayes were unveiled today in an official report, which was leaked earlier this week after being seen in private by councillors.
The publication of the confidential report – which comes just weeks before the matter is due to be discussed at a full council meeting – prompted angry calls last night from opposition parties for the co-leader to stand down.
Leader of the opposition, councillor Jim Gifford, said: “When the report was finally issued to councillors on August 12 it was immediately clear that our very serious concerns over the actions of councillor Kitts-Hayes were more than justified but we were barred from making any public comment since the report had been marked as confidential.
“We are pleased that the report is now formally in the public domain and so can be read and considered by council taxpayers in Aberdeenshire.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that they will find councillor Kitts-Hayes’ actions and decisions – both in Denmark and afterwards – as indefensible as we do and conclude that he has no alternative but to resign immediately.
“We are frankly astonished that he hasn’t done so already.”
The report, by council business services director Ritchie Johnson, was ordered by council chief executive Jim Savage in the wake of scathing media coverage of the bungled trip.
The investigation found that Mr Kitts-Hayes was “unequivocal in his insistence” that alternative accommodation be found or he would be returning home just hours after checking in at the brick themed resort.
The report stated: “The standard of accommodation fell well below the expectations of Councillor Kitts-Hayes.
“He described the accommodation as a glorified shed which might be suitable for a young family but not a councillor, particularly one who is 6’2” and 17 stone, or a council officer.
“He expects a bed big enough that he can lie down comfortably. The shower area was too small for him to stand up in.”
The trio had flown over to attend the North Sea Commission (NSC) 2016 on June 14 and ended up coming back the same day – at the cost of more than £3,000.
The official report shows that Mr Kitts-Hayes had concerns about not attending the conference and even offered to resign from the executive committee.
However, his offer was rejected and conference bosses said that although the Aberdeenshire delegation had been missed, their absence had not caused any issues.
The report found Mr Aitchison was of the opinion that he could not change Mr Kitts-Hayes mind about leaving if alternative accommodation was not found.
It stated: “Cllr Aitchison considered that the accommodation was poor and inappropriate and that the delegation, being a delegation, should act as one.
“Councillor Aitchison recalls that Councillor Kitts-Hayes was the leader of the delegation and was of the opinion that without alternative accommodation being available that the group had no option but to return.”
Mr Brebner said he found the wooden lodges “clean and acceptable” but not like the hotels that delegates would normally stay in.
The report added: “He thought that the ‘cottage’ description which was applied to the accommodation was misleading and describes the cabin as more of a summerhouse structure.”
The investigation also found that it was “not known” if the council travel team had undertaken any research before booking the part into the themed cabins.
Mr Kitts-Hayes declined to comment last night ahead of the special meeting of the council, which is to be held on September 1.
