Aberdeen councillors have voted against using technology more often to conduct important talks – because it is easier to see whether people are “telling porkies” in person.
Video calling has been adopted by organisations and groups of all sizes during lockdown including the council, which has staged various crucial meetings over the internet.
Councillors on Tuesday considered suggestions they could make more of technology that many more are now familiar with – including for talks about the authority’s pension fund.
Committee members have to undergo significant training to be able to oversee the fund, thought to be worth around £4 billion, and much of that takes place in the south of England.
Convener Tauqeer Malik said he “seriously did not agree” with the proposal, even though it would bring travel and accommodation costs down, and was been backed by administration councillors Jenny Laing and Phillip Bell.
Mr Bell said face-to-face meetings with London-based fund managers was “vitally important” as to “see the whites of their eyes so you know whether they are telling porkies or not”.
“Actually knowing you are getting a truthful story on a fund of this magnitude is vitally important,” he added.
“I would argue we already manage our carbon footprint by not bringing them up to Aberdeen and wasting money on hotels.”
The SNP’s Councillor John Cooke and Lib Dem Councillor Steve Delaney lost three to two in a vote on the suggestion.
Mr Cooke said: “This is not about reducing the amount of training or saying it all has to be done by video – the majority should be face-to-face.
“If 20 are flying from Aberdeen to London and back that would be more carbon and frankly, given the choice between supporting the hotel industry in Aberdeen or London, I would rather support the hotel industry here.”
