A debate over the future of Aberdeen boiled over yesterday as council members railed against the participation of disgraced councillor Alan Donnelly.
The member for Torry/Ferryhill resigned as depute provost last year following his conviction for sexually assaulting a man at a function.
He was also stripped of all his council committee positions and resigned from the Conservative Party.
But he returned to the council chambers yesterday to vote on the proposed Aberdeen Local Development Plan (LDP).
After the motion to approve the LDP passed – subject to changes – by a vote of 24 to 19, bedlam erupted in the Town House as one SNP and Lib Dem member after another rose to register their dissent over Mr Donnelly’s participation.
Members were subsequently slapped-down by an irate Lord Provost, Barney Crockett, who told them they had “no right to say who takes part in the vote.”
Having failed in an effort to convince enough fellow councillors to support his amendment to the LDP, Alex Nicoll was first to express dissent at the participation in the vote of a “registered sex offender”.
Mr Donnelly was put on the sex offenders register at the end of last year and will be supervised by the council’s social work department until August.
Ian Yuill echoed Mr Nicoll’s dissent, leading to a wave of similar denunciations of Mr Donnelly from the majority of members on the SNP and Lib Dem side.
Marie Boulton, who put forward the LDP proposal adopted, said the Lord Provost was being “disrespected” as emotions heightened in the chamber.
A clearly angered Mr Crockett intervened, telling members: “You have no right to say who takes part in the vote. None whatsoever.
“I have no say in it, you have no say in it, this council has no say in it.
“It’s a matter for the Scottish government to determine the law that controls councils and councillors.
“You can express dissent over the decision, but not about the people who take part in that decision.”
Under the motion carried by yesterday’s vote, the LDP for Aberdeen will now go ahead.
It features a host of new proposals to drive forward the council’s vision for the city centre.
These include revamping landmarks, expanding the railway station and creating a new bridge across the River Dee.
The plans also include an Energy Transition Zone at Torry, as Aberdeen strives to remain Europe’s leading oil and gas city.
The LDP is now to be adopted by the council in early 2022.
