Critics of Aberdeen’s controversial Marischal Square project have been told they can not quiz council chiefs on the £107million deal.
Opponents gained more than 400 signatures on a petition calling for a meeting with the city council’s finance committee to discuss the agreement.
But yesterday their hopes were dashed when councillors on the petitions committee said the meeting would not take place.
Instead, committee members promised officers would look through reports on the decision to see which could be publicly released – some in a redacted form.
Head of finance Steven Whyte told the heated meeting that much of what was discussed when selecting options for the former St Nicholas House site was still “commercially sensitive”.
A report by spending watchdog Audit Scotland, seen by the Press and Journal this week, has cleared the council of any wrongdoing over the deal.
But critics said the report was nothing but a “whitewash” which did not take into account of whether the scheme represented the ‘best value’ approach for the city.
They remain concerned about the terms how the 35 year lease and sale back arrangement with Aviva Investors and Muse came about.
Vocal opponent Bill Skimore said it was unclear how the council changed its mind from a “no risk” option to sell the former St Nicholas House site in 2011 to the “full risk” Marischal Square project.
He said: “In May 2013 the council approved awarding the contract to Muse but this was not the ‘no risk’ option presented in 2011, but a decision to take the full risk of a large commercial development.
“We believe the taxpayer has the right to engage with the council on this.”
But the committee convener, councillor Alan Donnelly, said: “In the interests of transparency, we are instructing our officers to identify all relevant reports on this issue dating back to 2003 and release them accordingly.
“However, we stand by the democratic process that was followed with regard to the disposal of St Nicholas House, the agreement with Muse Developments Ltd and the subsequent approval of the planning application.
“The project has been described as a catalyst for further regeneration of the east end of the city centre and forms a key part of our City Centre Masterplan proposals to improve the heart of Aberdeen.”