An exonerated Aberdeen councillor has said there was “never any doubt” he had stuck to the rules surrounding his second job.
Ross Grant was accused of failing to declare an interest when dealing with licensing applications involving members of the business improvement district (Bid).
The Labour councillor also works as a senior project manager with Aberdeen Inspired, the Bid operator.
Standards watchdog: Ross Grant ‘not required’ to declare interest’ over Aberdeen Inspired job
But watchdog the Standards Commission, tasked with looking into the accusations levelled by SNP group leader on the council Alex Nicoll, has dismissed the complaint.
It came as city politics heated up ahead of last May’s local election, and was described as “vindictive sour grapes” by Mr Grant at the time.
That’s because it came only days after the now council co-leader Nicoll faced his own scrutiny over his impartiality on proposals for a new Aberdeen FC stadium at the beach.
Mr Nicoll had attended a Dons match as the guest of his wife, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine Audrey Nicoll.
Several other parliamentarians had attended the Hibs game in October 2021.
But Mr Nicoll was urged to recuse himself of votes on the new football ground, pressured by Mr Grant.
Since taking charge of the council in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, Mr Nicoll has ended hopes of public cash being used to help build the stadium.
While brandishing “spiteful” charges at the Tillydrone, Seaton and Old Aberdeen member, the SNP chief told The P&J: “It seems astounding that Councillor Grant has sat on this many items at the licensing board and not declared an interest once.
“Someone who is paid to work in the interest of Bid levy payers cannot be seen to be impartial when determining applications that relate to Bid levy payers.
“I am sure this is something the standards commissioner (ESC) will take a great interest in.”
While issuing press comments to The P&J on the matter, Mr Nicoll has confirmed he did not report the matter to the watchdog himself.
Watchdog probe of Ross Grant’s interest with Aberdeen Inspired
Despite Mr Nicoll’s certainty, acting ESC Ian Bruce found the complaint to hold little water.
He considered claims Mr Grant failed to declare an interest when considering 17 applications to the licensing board.
And five of them concerned premises within the Bon Accord and Union Square shopping centres – whose bosses are vice-chairmen of the Aberdeen Inspired board.
Acting ESC: No breach of the rules ‘on the face of it’
But the investigation found Mr Grant was not on the board himself and “rarely” dealt with either of Craig Stevenson or Ryan Manson in his senior project manager role.
Acting commissioner Bruce said the relationships “could not reasonably be described as ‘close associates’.”
Even given some applications might have impacted the premises’ business rates – and therefore the levy raised for Aberdeen Inspired – Mr Bruce “nevertheless” was satisfied there was not a conflict.
Standards Commission executive director Lorna Johnston said: “The commission noted that the acting ESC had reached the conclusion that Ross Grant’s conduct did not amount, on the face of it, to a breach of the code.
“Having reviewed the evidence, the Standards Commission found no reason to depart from that conclusion.”
The complaint will be taken no further.
Mr Grant said: “I was never in any doubt that I have never acted improperly in carrying out my duties as a long-standing member of Aberdeen Licensing Board.
“I hope that the SNP in Aberdeen stops playing petty and spiteful politics to the cost of thousands of pounds to the taxpayer.”
A previous version of this article, published in November 2021, outlined the complaints against Councillor Grant.
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