Councillors have hit out at Aberdeenshire Council’s ruling administration for recycling opposition policies in their new budget.
Yesterday, the Press and Journal exclusively revealed co-leaders Richard Thomson and Martin Kitts-Hayes were considering a host of cost-cutting measures, including selling off their HQ to plug a £50million black hole.
But when the administration presented their priorities to the chamber, the SNP-led Partnership was accused of recycling proposals devised by the previous administration.
Opposition leader and Conservative councillor, Jim Gifford, said: “You’ve had five months to decide and the solution is to sell the family silver and sell Woodhill House.
“Selling Woodhill House was an option 18 months ago when oil was at £100 a barrel and people were clamouring for office space. Now you couldn’t give it away.”
His thoughts were echoed by former provost Jill Webster. She said: “I can’t see evidence of anything innovative.
“In a way I’m pleased by that – a lot of what’s been mentioned are initiatives we put forward.”
And Liberal Democrat group leader councillor, Karen Clark, then reeled off a long list of capital projects delivered by the past administration including sports facilities in Banff and Fraserburgh, new academies in Means, Alford and Ellon, and a commitment to build a new secondary school for Inverurie.
But Mr Kitts-Hayes hit back at the claims, and said that the administration had pledged to put together a business case for a replacement Peterhead academy.
“If an academy is delivered in Peterhead, it will be by this administration,” he said. “Let’s put politics out of the way and move away from this bun fight.”
At the end of more than 90 minutes of heated debate, councillors unanimously agreed to launch a public engagement campaign later this month.
Council officers believe the scheme could throw up new ideas, or reveal areas of council spending where residents would support cuts.