Aberdeenshire Council’s opposition leader has pounced on a statement from the authority’s chief executive that moving to a new headquarters in Inverurie is a political and not public sector ambition.
Earlier this month, the Press and Journal revealed the local authority was in discussions with Inverurie Loco Works FC about developing their Harlaw Park ground into a new central office.
The news sparked a bitter row between the SNP and Labour-led administration and their opponents, who branded it a “vanity project”.
Now, the authority’s chief executive Jim Savege has clarified earlier remarks that a move to the Garioch town was a “council ambition”, and revealed it is currently only an aspiration of the political leaders.
Conservative group leader Jim Gifford immediately welcomed the statement and said: “You will see that what you were told is incorrect – the council does not have an ambition to move the HQ, but the current administration does.
“That is absolutely fine, but that isn’t what was said and we welcome this clarification from the chief executive that the statement put out in his name was wrong.”
Mr Gifford claimed he and his fellow members were “looking forward” to seeing the business case brought forward by the leadership, so they could reach a “reasoned judgement” on the issue.
The controversy has been re-ignited even as parties continue to campaign in Inverurie ahead of the council by-election on Thursday.
A space in the council ward opened up when former council leader Martin Kitts-Hayes resigned after the summer’s Legogate scandal.
Last night, the current ruling group in Aberdeenshire hit back at Mr Gifford’s remarks.
Council co-leader, Richard Thomson said: “We’ve been clear all along that building a case to move the council HQ from Aberdeen was an administration priority and will be bringing a paper in front of members later this year setting out the case for a move to Inverurie.
“Equally, councillor Gifford has been clear all along the Tory and Lib Dem opposition he leads doesn’t see it as a priority so, in that respect, the chief executive’s email isn’t really telling anyone anything new.”
Labour co-leader, Alison Evison, added: “Jim Gifford is clearly trying to move away from what people believe to have been a premature and rash judgement, made before the case for a headquarters move to Inverurie has been presented.”
