An Aberdeen man’s petition calling for answers on the financial arrangements made for the city’s controversial £107million Marischal Square scheme is to be heard by councillors next week.
William Skidmore hopes to convince members of the local authority’s petitions committee to reveal more details of how the 35-year sale and lease back arrangement for the development came about.
He claimed that no risk assessment was carried out to support the deal with Aviva Investors and Muse Developments, meaning the liability will rest with taxpayers.
The petition, which was launched on July 1 and closed on September 3, has attracted 424 signatures and Mr Skidmore will now have the chance to make his case to the committee at its meeting on Tuesday.
It calls for “details of the investment decision process that Aberdeen City Council followed from the initial idea to vacate St Nicholas House through to the award of contact to Muse/Aviva for the Marischal Square development that ultimately led to the council’s decision to deliver guaranteed annual lease payments to Aviva over 35 years.”
The 67-year-old former oil worker said that the financial details of the arrangement had been “shrouded in secrecy”.
He said: “The main thrust is to get the council to be open about the process they went through.
“It seems to me there was no business case made so why did they think this was such a good deal for the city?
“The council has an abysmal record of running private enterprises, so why do they think this one will be better?”
City council leaders have repeatedly insisted that the proper processes were followed and that the Marischal Square deal was struck following a democratic decision of elected members.
Several complaints made by objectors to the standards commissioner have also been rejected.
Last night committee convener councillor Alan Donnelly gave assurance that Mr Skidmore would get a “fair hearing”.
He said: “He will get time to raise his concerns on the issues of the historic decision on Marischal Square.
“This has been through the courts and everything has been done above board.
“But he will have the right to have his say on Tuesday.”