An Inverness councillor has told officials they can “shove” a planned meeting to discuss the £300,000 tilting pier artwork proposed for the city’s riverbank – unless the provost is replaced as chairwoman.
Central ward member Donnie Kerr has questioned Helen Carmichael’s impartiality because she has helped steer the arts project in her other role as head of an arts working group.
He has questioned the purpose of next week’s private debate, pressing for it to be held in public because of the level of criticism there has been about the project. More than 2,000 people have backed an online petition opposing it while a rival campaign has the support of 100.
Councillor Kerr emailed council chiefs asking if the meeting would be “as tediously boring as the past briefing, where size and cost were not available?”
He also claimed the provost suppressed a previous discussion on what is one of the region’s hottest talking points.
“Perhaps the meeting should be chaired by someone else,” he said. “I cannot help but think she may have a conflict of interest that will not lead to a fair hearing on the arts issue.
“If so, you can shove your briefing.”
The provost could not be contacted yesterday. (THURS) But the council’s city manager David Haas confirmed that councillor Carmichael would chair the meetings “following usual protocol.”
He added: “Decisions are not made at these briefings as the debate on the merits is reserved to the meeting.”
