Aberdeen City Council’s top brass will be hauled before a Holyrood committee after being accused of snubbing a powerful group of MSPs.
The council had their knuckles rapped by city member Kevin Stewart over the “unacceptable” lack of attendance at a local government committee meeting.
Judith Proctor, chief officer of health and social care integration department, had been due to attend the meeting, but pulled out citing “work commitments”.
SNP member Mr Stewart yesterday said attendance was “not discretionary” and demanded chief executive Angela Scott and council leader Jenny Laing come to Holyrood to explain themselves.
But last night administration member Willie Young branded the call “way over the top”.
He added: “There was no disrespect meant to the committee. Our officers are under huge pressure and are busy doing the things the Scottish Government want us to do, but we are happy to come and explain that to them.”
Speaking at the committee yesterday, Mr Stewart said: “The clerk to our committee has had a series of conversations with Aberdeen City Council reminding them of our powers to compel witnesses’ and urging them to reconsider.
“When we have issued an invitation we expect witnesses to attend. We will cancel an invitation only in exceptional circumstances.
“We have powers to compel but we do not want to use them as we appreciate it that it is far better that people attend willingly.”
The committee, which was taking evidence as part of an inquiry into arm’s length organisations, then agreed that Mrs
Proctor – as well as Ms Scott and Ms Laing – should return to the committee on December 2.
Letters provided by Aberdeen City Council show they informed Mr Stewart on November 11 that Mrs Proctor would not be able to attend.
A spokesman for the local authority said: “The chief executive wrote to the local government and regeneration committee convener in advance of the session to say that the requested attendee, the chief officer for Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, would not be able to appear due to work commitments.
“It was made clear, however, that Aberdeen City Council is keen to work with the committee to ensure the inquiry is able to consider all relevant matters.”