Councillors in Aberdeenshire have been cleared of any wrongdoing over their handling of a wind turbine application.
Proposals for three 328ft masts at Hill of Tillymorgan, Culsalmond, near Insch, were approved last year, first by the Garioch area committee and then by the authority’s infrastructure services committee – despite planning bosses recommending them for refusal.
Planners were concerned about the cumulative impact of the scheme on the area, but councillors were satisfied that the developer had reduced this by moving the turbines further down the hill.
During their deliberations, the committees heard Friends of Insch Hospital would own a sixth of the development, and would put their profits towards the ongoing £3million campaign for a new hospital.
However, councillors told the group – and landowner Callum Burnett’s representatives – that financial benefits were not a relevant consideration, and stressed their decision had to be based purely on planning matters.
After the plans were approved, a complaint was lodged with the Public Standards Commissioner, claiming councillors had breached the code of conduct and may have been “unduly influenced by the community benefit”.
The watchdog has now ruled their was no breach.