Objectors battling a controversial £150million waste incinerator project planned for Aberdeen have become locked in a war of words with the council’s chief executive.
Last October, councillors caused outrage in some quarters when they backed the £150million Tullos project, which will convert waste from homes in the Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray into energy.
The energy from waste (EfW) facility aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the local authority, in advance of tough Scottish Government regulations due to be imposed by 2021.
But long term objector Bill Skidmore questioned the legality of the decision given that councillors could not base their decision on any financial information on the scheme presented to them.
Concerns have been raised that the multi-million pound project could become a “stranded asset” with more countries moving away from waste incineration.
Mr Skidmore has written to the council several times on the issue and some of his complaints are with the public ombudsman.
He has written to chief executive Angela Scott in June but has been informed that since his complaint came more than six months after the decision it won’t be taken forward.
But Ms Scott replied: “It is considered that all the financial considerations relevant to determination of the application are clearly articulated and explained in the committee report.
“No further information – whether this be from the business case, or from elsewhere, was required to inform the judgement that was made.”
Mr Skidmore said: “This council operates in its own little bubble with systems in place to protect it; it is virtually impossible to hold the council to account.”
A council spokeswoman said: “In relation to the complaint of maladministration raised in June 2017, as this was outwith the 6 month deadline to lodge a formal complaint, the subject was responded to as a query. We are satisfied the concerns raised are answered in the response.”
